Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is used in the treatment of various conditions. It is used for conditions such as epilepsy, Down syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism.
At our hospital, occupational
therapy aims to help him reduce his symptoms, maintain his health, and socialize; to help him develop his self-confidence, various skills, and abilities; to encourage him to apply these skills and abilities in daily life, and to help him gain awareness that making productive use of his free time will improve his quality of life. To this end, we conduct occupational therapy sessions that include music, art and crafts, sports, and ebru art.
Based on the principles of occupational therapy, when individuals are mentally and physically engaged in an activity and focus their full attention on the task at hand, they naturally experience a sense of relaxation and live in the moment; for this reason, it is important to spend free time engaging in a variety of activities. Artistic activities and sports are also used as a means of communication, and the result is often a sense of relief from stress and tension, as well as a feeling of purification and renewal.
Occupational therapy supports creativity through therapies involving music, painting, and marbling art because creativity is the ability to solve problems and generate new ideas—it is seeing something different when looking at the same thing as others and producing a new creation. Those who can ask questions, act boldly, enjoy thinking differently, use diverse techniques to solve problems, and possess a vivid imagination are more creative.
For these reasons, creativity is vital in complex societies fraught with challenges. People cannot develop themselves if they are not nourished by art. Art is a stage in the mutual interaction between humans and nature. It possesses a social character.
Art is a phenomenon that humanizes life. Art can be used to shape and strengthen the boundaries of one’s personality and to establish connections between inner experiences and external reality. Enabling clients to express their problems through drawing and helping them relax by discussing their artwork is one of the therapeutic methods we use. In our Occupational Therapy Unit,
we support our clients’ treatment by teaching them various work and activity-based therapies in different rooms.
Our areas of interest may include music, painting, sports, dance, photography, ceramics, model-making, reading, gardening, poetry, writing stories, cooking, sewing, and crafts; These activities allow us to step away from daily chores and the hustle and bustle, do something for ourselves, and
take a break to relieve the day’s fatigue and tension.
Occupational therapy activities are divided into various therapeutic approaches. Occupational therapy sessions continue using the therapeutic method best suited to the individual.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a therapeutic method that uses music and musical activities to address individuals’ physical, psychological, social, and mental needs. Music therapy includes singing, keeping rhythm, listening to music, and playing instruments. Music dates back to the dawn of human history; singing is particularly important because, even in the most primitive stages, the human voice and song existed first.
Listening to music creates a sense of peace and tranquility in the brain; learning to play a favorite instrument—regardless of age—develops and enriches one’s personality. Music helps him become more self-aware, enhances his capacity for emotional expression, and calms and relaxes him by influencing brain waves; for this reason, it is also used for mental and physical relaxation. Research on music and the brain shows that rhythm exercises help stimulate the release of hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline, and regulate breathing rhythm and heart rate.
History books document that mental illnesses were treated with music centuries ago. In ancient civilizations such as Rome, China, and Egypt, music was used to treat illnesses. Islamic scholars such as Farabi and Ibn Sina used music for therapeutic purposes and conducted various studies on the subject. During the Ottoman period, music was used in hospitals for treatment and therapy.
Art Therapy
Art therapy aims to help clients express and share the subconscious emotions and inner worlds they are hesitant to discuss, afraid to address, unable to express verbally, or perhaps not even aware of themselves, thereby fostering self-awareness.
Works created using various paints—such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and dry media—on different types of paper, wood, and canvas, sometimes freely and sometimes based on a given theme, are evaluated and shared in individual or group therapy sessions.
What matters is not the aesthetic value of the clients’ artwork, but rather the creative process and its content.
When the artwork is appreciated, individuals’ self-confidence and self-esteem increase. In situations where verbal communication is absent, spontaneous, improvisational drawings can express emotions such as anger, anxiety, sadness, helplessness, and pain; therefore, art can serve as a starting point for both the therapist and the client.
Ebru Therapy
Occupational therapy using Ebru: Ebru is a very ancient Turkish decorative art whose history dates back to the 9th century and has been passed down to the present day through the master-apprentice tradition. At our hospital, it is practiced for therapeutic purposes using traditional Ebru materials. While technical assistance is provided during the Ebru process, care is taken not to hinder the free expression of innate creativity and naturalness.
The continuity of ebru therapy sessions and the observation of clients’ attitudes throughout the therapeutic process are essential. Before evaluating a client’s ebru work, numerous factors are considered, such as whether his participation in the activity is consistent, whether he is able to adapt to the group, and whether he can maintain active participation until the end of the session without becoming bored. It is difficult for negative thoughts to enter his mind while he is creating Ebru, because it is not a static activity—there is movement, and the colors and patterns in the water are constantly changing.
Ebru requires patience, and the fact that control does not lie entirely with him teaches him to “accept what is.”
Ebru provides peace of mind by taking the person away from his daily life.
The person creating Ebru can express his current emotions and thoughts through color and pattern, gaining a whole new perspective on himself; when he focuses his attention on the water and the movement of the colors, his tension eases, and he loses track of time.
Ceramics
Occupational Therapy Ceramics: The history of ceramics is as old as human history itself. This therapy combines the soothing properties of clay—the material used in ceramics—with creativity to explore different forms. These activities not only provide the extraordinary feeling of creating a new object but also help individuals disconnect from the flow of daily life and find relaxation. Through clay, our patients are given the opportunity to express themselves using a different, nonverbal technique.
Arts and Crafts
In occupational therapy arts and crafts sessions, we use various types of paper, acrylic paints, beads, felt, natural materials, and wood to create free-form and collage works. These projects help our patients develop their fine motor skills and socialize within the group; displaying their work and receiving praise and appreciation fosters a sense of validation and boosts their self-confidence.
Physical and Movement Therapy
Occupational therapy—specifically, physical and movement therapy—helps individuals relax mentally and physically, stay fit, and improve blood circulation. Improved blood circulation ensures better oxygen flow to the brain, which reduces anxiety and stress and facilitates healthier thinking. Participation in physical and movement therapy boosts his self-confidence, fosters his adaptation to group cohesion, and promotes mutual respect. Breathing and relaxation exercises are also incorporated into this therapy.
Sports
Occupational therapy and sports therapy: Sports play a vital role in maintaining health and building resilience against illness throughout life, from childhood to old age. To improve our quality of life and protect our physical, mental, and psychological health, we must make exercise a regular habit.
Sports help individuals relax mentally and physically, stay fit, and reduce excitement and stress by increasing blood circulation and ensuring better oxygen flow to the brain; they also boost self-confidence, foster group cohesion, and promote mutual respect.
Sports activities, which help us become more aware of our bodies, also provide energy and thus help maintain the energy needed for daily life. Because it allows for the release of physical energy and emotional tension, sports have therapeutic value.
The fact that people who exercise feel happy is the result not only of psychological but also of biological effects. Sports contribute to the development of attention and concentration. Engaging in sports helps reduce stress, promotes fun and joy, and, in short, helps us enjoy life.
Kitchen Workshop:
In the kitchen workshop—one of our occupational therapy activities—we begin implementing the goals tailored to his specific challenges through a personalized therapy program developed by the occupational therapist. In this therapy, conducted with a focus on his safety, he gains organizational and managerial skills, enabling him to acquire the fundamental attitudes needed to function in a social environment.
The sense of accomplishment derived from the products created during therapy, along with the resulting happiness, helps him feel good about himself. This leads to gains that support his ability to live independently in daily life. As a social being, his psychological and biological well-being is supported through this therapeutic approach. For individuals who experience difficulties in daily life due to sensory issues (such as sensory sensitivity or low sensory registration), therapy begins with activities in the kitchen workshop. Work can also be conducted with individuals who have sensory issues, those who avoid social interaction and communication, those struggling with social adaptation, those with obsessions, and those with physical challenges.
