Approaches & Training

Occupational Therapy are health professionals who have expertise in facilitating and supporting people to solve practical problems in everyday life. We support our clients to engage in the activities, roles and processes that enable them to live a meaningful life as individuals, groups, and the communities to which they participate and contribute to. The range of models and approaches drawn on at the Wellbeing Atelier include, but not exclusively the following:

The Model of Human Occupation

Also known as MOHO, this Occupational Therapy model of practice is a range of assessments, intervention and assessment tools. It addresses people’s “motivations for occupations, the routine patterning of occupational behaviour, nature of skilled performance and the influence of the environment on occupation” (Keilhofner & Barrett, 1998, p. 527)

The Kawa River Model

Kawa is the Japanese word for ‘river’. The Kawa Model uses the natural metaphor of a river to depict one’s life journey. The varying and chronological experience of life is like a river, flowing from the high lands down to the ocean. Along its meandering path, the quality and character of its flow will vary from place to place, from instance to instance. Occupational therapists try to enable, assist, restore and maximize their clients’ life flow.

Teoh, J.Y. & Iwama, M.K. (2015) The Kawa Model Made Easy: a guide to applying the Kawa Model in occupational therapy practice (2nd edition). Retrieved from: www.kawamodel.com

Mindfulness Based Approaches

A combination of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) designed to help people who suffer chronic pain, repeated bouts of depression and unhappiness. It integrates cognitive therapy and meditative practices and attitudes based on the cultivation of mindfulness, exploring the science behind the, the in-body connection and how to practice mind and body awareness. The heart of this work lies in becoming acquainted with the modes of mind that often characterise pain and mood disorders while simultaneously learning to develop a new relationship to them.

Compassion Focused Therapy

Compassion focused Therapy (CFT) helps those who struggle with the shame and self-criticism. CFT teaches clients to cultivate skills in compassion and self-compassion, which can help regulate mood and lead to feelings of safe, self-acceptance, and comfort. The technique builds on practices used within MBCT.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a counseling method that helps people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation needed to change behaviours. It is a practical, empathetic and short-term process that takes into consideration how difficult it is to make changes.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a therapy often used to help people with depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorders, addictions, eating disorder, and PTSD. It supports in taking control of your thoughts, emotions and relationships through teaching four core skills of mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.

1. Mindfulness - the core skill in DBT is being able to non-judgmentally observe yourself and your surroundings. You will become more aware of the physical and mental triggers that cause runaway emotions.

2. Distress Tolerance - deal with painful situations. When you can't change the situation, learn how to tolerate it, accept it, and move forward.

3. Emotion Regulation - learning to make your emotions work for you. Learn to recognize when an emotion is unproductive and change it into a more productive emotion.

4. Interpersonal Skills - change the way you communicate so you get more out of your relationships. Learn to communicate what you want. Become comfortable saying no.

Currently only available for individual sessions. Group sessions available from February 2024, email to inquire about being placed on, the waiting list.