Occupational Therapy News OTnews October 2019 | Page 18

FEATURE MENTAL HEALTH
‘‘
alongside trainers from the
‘It allows quality time to be
mental health professions.’
given
to yourself and deep
Occupational therapy
At an even later stage in
relaxation and concentration
has the unique qualities of
Jerome’s time at Effra, he put
to take place. When life’s
enhancing
wellbeing
and
forward an idea for a further
burdens become too
personal qualities, which may
group, along with another
intense, it allows you to
patient.
free
yourself – an essential
relate to those patients who,
‘It was my suggestion
skill in building up your own
like myself, develop through
that we should have a service
threshold in dealing with
experiential learning.
similar to the listeners in prison,
stress and intense thoughts.’
who listen to people’s concerns
Ron Maddox, the mindfulness
and who people can confide in,’ he
instructor at the Bethlem Royal
says. ‘Another patient suggested setting
Hospital, and member of the Chaplaincy
up a group.
team, says of the practical benefits of
‘We met with the activities practitioner, and together
mindfulness: ‘[The aim is] to loosen up (to put ourselves at
we came up with a group called “News and Views”,
ease), to overcome rigidity in our thinking, in our habitual
which would be a place where patients would be able to
attitudes, rituals, obsessions, and to open up the way.
express their opinions.
‘We are free to take the next step to the inner freedom
Jerome undertook a number of activities, including
chairing the group meeting and recording people’s views.
‘After a while, towards the end of my stay at Effra,
I began to reach out with regards to my occupational
therapy activities and to search for and get involved in
community-based activities,’ he says.
‘I began with drama therapy, before taking up play
reading and mindfulness and reiki.’
Jerome asserts that these activities have had ‘a life
changing effect’ on his stress levels and emotional state.
‘When taking part in drama therapy, I am able to
identify with my emotions and use things like the focus
exercise to centre myself and become aware of my
emotional state,’ he says.
‘Structure helps the mind to stay out of chaos. Play
reading helped massively with concentration, as it
facilitated staying focused and following the story; as
with any form of creativity, it allows your mind to expand
and look at different themes. Your mental stimulation
gradually expands and this helps with relaxation.’
Kate McCormack, drama therapist for the Bethlem
Royal Hospital, who also facilitates play reading, says:
‘Drama therapy is a non-confrontational therapy, based
in the knowledge that difficulties are resolved indirectly or
obliquely, through metaphor and using an inner language
that is initially non-verbal.
‘This symbol or image of language is expressed
through the use of movement, drama, touch, story
enactment, improvisation, and the use of voice, explored
in a safe and playful environment.’
With regards to mindfulness, this practice allowed
Jerome to control his thoughts and relieve stress, and to
stay in a balanced emotional state. ‘When I finished my
first session of mindfulness, my mind felt so free it was
unbelievable,’ he remembers.
18 OTnews October 2019
that was always ours, and to step away from fear,
distress, anxiety, the past or whatever else it may be that
restrains and limits us.’
Of practising reiki, Jerome says: ‘[It] is one of the
deepest forms of relaxation I have felt. It is a Japanese
healing art, where people lay their hands on your body. It
is mildly sensual, but allows you to free your mind and go
to a calm resting place.
‘The sensuality of feeling someone touching you gives
a calming presence that allows you to escape from difficult
emotional and mental states.’
Lilla Accord, reiki master and practitioner at the hospital
adds: ‘Reiki calms the body, stills the mind, releases
tension, is energising and can induce a sense of peace. It
never ceases to amaze me how rewarding it can be’.
On coming to the end of his journey, Jerome reflects:
‘Now that I’ve reached the end of my occupational
therapy journey I can see how much work went in to
bringing my level of functioning back up.
‘I have learnt that vocation has many dimensions to it
that contribute to a person’s make up. The future looks
very bright and now I am on the cusp of being discharged;
I have ended my journey by getting involved in career
related work and getting involved in wider society.
‘This has included signing up to be involved in
voluntary work, being offered opportunities for paid job
roles with occupational therapists, magazine writing and
applying for a masters degree.
‘Occupational therapy has the unique qualities of
enhancing wellbeing and personal qualities, which may
relate to those patients who, like myself, develop through
experiential learning.’
Jerome Sewell, service user at the Bethlem Royal
Hospital