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For Professionals Working
in Neurorehabiliation Melody Weightman is our specialist Art Therapist working in Neurorehabilitation. Context Art Therapy is available to people who have an acquired brain injury and traumatic brain injury. Practitioners are often found in specialist Neurological Rehabilitation Units in the NHS and community settings such as Headway. Why Art Therapy on Neurorehabilitation? When an individual suffers from a neurological condition such as stroke, MS or brain injury, the experience is not only physical but emotional. This has an impact on how that individual can function. Like fatigue, the emotional impact is invisible, and can be hard to detect. In looking at the emotional side of rehab the individual needs help coming to terms with severe trauma and its lasting effects, with the experience being even harder to express if verbal communication skills have been affected. Whether dealing with stroke rehab, brain injury rehab or management of a neurological illness, art therapy can bring huge benefits for patients.
Who can benefit?
Art therapy can address the functional skills of individual patients and encourage improved social skills, while providing the emotional outlet that is necessary for patients and families involved in a rigorous physical rehabilitation programme, and begin to explore new approaches to life.
Art Therapy in a Neurorehab Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Art therapy brings another dimension of the person to the MDT discussion such as goal planning that may allow further insight enriching the MDT treatment. Art therapy can support the emotional aspect of the client to help the individual engage more with the physical rehabilitation side of rehabilitation.
Art therapy can be used in joint sessions with
other therapeutic team in a centre, supporting all aspects of rehab.
The art work will be used as a voice for the client to share with
his/her therapy team, and can be presented (with the permission of the
patient) in areas such as goal planning and team meetings.
Art Therapy in Practice Through referral we can provide either individual or group Art Therapy, on a weekly basis for a designated period of time. An ideal time to work in Art Therapy is post-hospitalisation in the community. Art Therapists can assist with ongoing assessment of physical abilities and psychological wellbeing. Individuals referred to an Art Therapist do not need to have had previous experience or skill in art. The Art Therapist is not primarily concerned with making an aesthetic or diagnostic assessment of the art work. Throughout the course of Art Therapy we liaise regularly with staff and key workers for any ongoing concerns. We are able to contribute to the care team’s assessment of the individual through initial and continuous assessment and are able to contribute to reviews and multi-professional meetings. If you work in neurorehabilitation and you would like discuss how art therapy may be used within your services please contact contact us to arrange a discussion with Melody Weightman.
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