Finding the words: An Interprofessional Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy Approach with an Adolescent presenting with Pervasive Refusal Behaviours
Gemma Warrington1, Karen Twyford1
1Perth Children’s Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
Abstract
Rehabilitating young people who present with pervasive refusal behaviours is challenging. This complex condition can include a variety of debilitating clinical symptoms, in which the young person often regresses and resists rehabilitation. In addition to withdrawing socially, the young person can lose or refuse the ability to eat, mobilise, or even speak. An interprofessional approach to the treatment of PRS is vital for successful recovery, but where verbal interaction is limited, it can be difficult to understand the young person’s needs. This case study will detail the joint approach of an Occupational Therapist and Music Therapist working with a young teenage girl with PRS within the context of an Adolescent Medicine inpatient team in an acute paediatric hospital setting. The process of working independently yet collaboratively using creative therapeutic mediums will be shared, as will an explanation of the therapists’ roles within the wider team. Examples of session content and outcomes will illustrate how the patient was able to engage with this process, and how this work enabled the team to gain insight into her world. We aim to highlight the effectiveness of utilising expressive therapies to enable opportunities for patient self-expression and self-reflection, and the value of interprofessional work.
Biography
Gemma is a Senior Occupational Therapist at Perth Children’s Hospital, in the department of Adolescent Medicine. She has worked in a variety of paediatric, disability and Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) positions over the past 20 years. She received her endorsement as a Medicare provider for the Better Access for Mental Health (BAMH) program in 2015. She has completed training in various modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), art therapy, and family therapy.
Karen is a Registered Music Therapist working at Perth Children’s Hospital, predominantly within paediatric neurorehabilitation, and also in private practice. Karen’s extensive clinical experience has involved work in Child and Adolescent Health Services (CAHS), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), as well as education and community sectors in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Karen has completed training in clinical supervision and advanced Neurologic Music Therapy techniques. She is a current PhD candidate at UWA, where the focus of her research is investigating the impact of music therapy on functional outcomes for children and adolescents following an acquired brain injury across the rehabilitation spectrum.