A sweeter approach to healing
Occupational therapists at Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre have adapted a sweeter approach to treatment and use meaningful activities, including baking, to assess and treat their patients.
The deputy manager of Rand Aid Association’s treatment centre, Laetitia Goosen, has spoken about activities which are appropriate to the client’s interests, gender, culture, age, roles and needs.
Activities such as baking require the client to understand and follow the steps of a task using their concrete cognitive skills. This implements the appropriate delay of gratification needed to ensure a high-quality end product.
Goosen said, “In addition to this, the sweet, successful and tasty end products of baking feed constructively into the patient’s feedback system in order to stimulate positive feelings of achievement. This will further improve the client’s feelings of self-efficacy and overall self-esteem.”
Details: 011 430 0320 ; Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre
