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IMPROVING COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS: A GROUP IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Author(s) -
Trap Jeffrey L.,
Garbesi Mary,
Loeb Andrea
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1630.1976.tb01054.x
Subject(s) - occupational therapy , feeling , group psychotherapy , communication skills , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , medical education , social psychology
This paper reports on a group conducted by two occupational therapists at Brentwood VA Psychiatric Hospital. This group met weekly in the occupational therapy clinic after patients had pursued individual activities during regular clinic hours. The goal of this group was to discuss feelings and interactions which had occurred in the clinic. Thus, this group was a verbal interaction group aimed at improving communication skills of patients. It is our feeling that discussion groups of this type are of definite value for psychiatric patients. At one point during this group, the two occupational therapists requested supervision. Occupational therapists may need some additional education in group dynamics and the process of individual supervision of group facilitators can be beneficial.