"Make the friendship bracelets": Craft as a salutogenic leisure therapeutic modality

"Make the friendship bracelets": Craft as a salutogenic leisure therapeutic modality

Introduction
Leisure is a powerful activity that can provide meaning and purpose for individuals. Craft activities such as beading can be used with a broad range of ages, skills, and cultures to build a sense of connection and target therapeutic goals. At times, building a sense of rapport and trust with a service user quickly can be challenging. Targeting a service user’s interests with activities that are popular in contemporary society or draws on pop culture references can inspire volition to participate. Leisure activities can be a useful tool to subtly assess service user’s skills in a range of areas such as paediatrics, adult physical rehabilitation, and mental health.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this occupation station, participants will:
- Understand the value of leisure as a therapeutic modality.
- Explore leisure as a powerful means of connection and rapport building.
- Embed the activity into their current practice for functional assessment and encourage participation.
- Reflect on the value of occupation as a means.
Educational Methods
Participants will form pairs to emulate a therapy session or group to make beaded friendship bracelets. They will use this activity to share, collaborate and connect.
Relevance to Occupational Therapy Knowledge and Practice
In contemporary healthcare, Occupational Therapists are facing increased demands to complete assessments and write reports. Often, the value of participation in a meaningful and purposeful occupation can be lost. This activity will explore strength-base activity that target participant interest and provide meaning to encourage person-centred and collaborative approaches to practice.

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