K.A.R.I.N.A.

Drama Therapy in Women's Prison. This is a video in Bangkok, Thailand. It is a Drama Therapy with many individuals and groups in various kinds of issues and settings including prisoners. In this workshop, quite a few methods are used in drama-therapy such as, transitional objects, masks, story-telling and more. The main thing is to offer a space and time for them to be able to embrace new opportunities and make positive changes in their life, come to a higher level of understanding and appreciation as they let go of old problematic issues.

KARINA CAFE

Offers ART Relief in a relaxed café setting

By our experience and observation the people with special needs and their families need to be empowered with the resources and networking apparatus that will help them become more self reliant and give them peace of mind. Karina Cafe can give them opportunity to socialized, exchange ideas, receive the latest information on disability issues, and create a social network. We believe theatre, arts, music, and sports are all inclusive concepts that can inspire healing, prospering, emotional, social, and academic growth, recognizing and developing their gifts and talents.

Karina Café:  We intend to create a community space to provide a relaxed “café” setting for youth and parents to socialize and connect with others to exchange ideas, receive the latest information on special needs and disability issues, and create a community of support. It provides children, teens and young adults with special needs with a variety of fun activities which focus on socialization and inclusion, as well as speech development and interpersonal skills.

We believe Expressive Arts Therapy applied at our Cafe to be inclusive and bringing the community together; it can provide children, youth and adults with special needs with the opportunity to recognize and develop their gifts and talents which foster healing, as well as emotional, social, academic, and personal growth. Karina hopes to provide year-round recreational activities as well as employment of youth and adults with special needs to teach them about catering and hospitality, to enable them a barrier-free and active life.

Expressive Arts Therapy at Karina Cafe:

Art, music and dance are tools that are often used for creative expression, but they can also be used to help a person process and cope with emotional problems, including depression. Expressive therapy goes beyond traditional talk therapy by using creative outlets as a means of expression, especially for those who have difficulty communicating and conveying thoughts and emotions. There are several different types of expressive therapy, including art, music, dance and drama therapy. Each of these areas can be used to articulate emotions and life events that are difficult to verbalize. The modality is used for personal exploration and to facilitate communication, allowing the patient to express his or her thoughts and emotions through art.

Music Therapy is used to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each child, teen or young adult, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, children’s abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for children and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.

Drum Therapy

www.shamanicdrumming.com/drumtherapy

Current research is now verifying the therapeutic effects of ancient rhythm techniques. Recent research reviews indicate that drumming accelerates physical healing, boosts the immune system and produces feelings of well-being, a release of emotional trauma, and reintegration of self.

Other studies have demonstrated the calming, focusing, and healing effects of drumming on Alzheimer's patients, autistic children, emotionally disturbed teens, recovering addicts, trauma patients, and prison and homeless populations. Study results demonstrate that drumming is a valuable treatment for stress, fatigue, anxiety, hypertension, asthma, chronic pain, arthritis, mental illness, migraines, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, paralysis, emotional disorders, and a wide range of physical disabilities, produces deeper Self-Awareness by inducing Synchronous Brain Activity.
Drumming accesses the entire brain, induces natural altered states of consciousness. Drumming provides a medium for individual self-realization, places One in the present moment releases negative feelings, blockages, and emotional trauma.

Who can benefit from music therapy?
Children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer's disease and other aging related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, and acute and chronic pain, including mothers in labor.
Art Therapy, "When Words are not Enough" art therapy is a treatment based on strengths and interests as well as concerns. Conducted through art-making and verbal expressions, art is seen as a language and viewed as self-talk, bringing insight to beliefs and behaviors, while empowering children beyond treatment sessions. It is to be led by experienced art tutors/therapists, will enable children and youth to express their creativity through simple techniques such as color blending and collage making to familiarize them with different textures and materials. Art is not only a proven effective sensory therapy, but it will also provide youth with recreational and socializing opportunity. Art therapy can involve drawing or painting images that represent the person’s thoughts and emotions along with music therapy.

Dance therapy is used to help people, including those coping with mental and physical illnesses such as depression and cancer, express and process how they feel through movement. The therapy helps participants improve both their mental and physical health. One of the used methods is PanEuRhythmy which is a science which regulates the physical, spiritual and mental functions in man and is a synthesis of human thoughts, emotions and actions. These movements are in connection with the human thoughts and emotions. They have stimulating and rejuvenating influence upon mind and soul.  

Dance/movement therapy is focused on movement behavior as it emerges in the therapeutic relationship.  Expressive, communicative, and adaptive behaviors are all considered for group and individual treatment.  Body movement, as the core component of dance, simultaneously provides the means of assessment and the mode of intervention for dance/movement therapy.

It is practiced in mental health, rehabilitation, medical, educational and forensic settings, and in nursing homes, day care centers, disease prevention, health promotion programs and in private practice.

It is effective for individuals with developmental, medical, social, physical and psychological impairments.

It is used with people of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds in individual, couples, family and group therapy formats.

For over 50 years, dance/movement therapists have pioneered the understanding of how body and mind interact in health and in illness.

Whether the issue is the will to live, a search for meaning or motility, or the ability to feel love for life, dance/movement therapists mobilize resources from that place within where body and mind are one.

Cooking is a therapy and it's effective.

It  can soothe jangled nerves, heal broken hearts and cure boredom, insomnia and anxiety. We will teach serving freshly prepared and organic foods, including locally grown fruits and vegetables. A special chef/nutritionist will train families and young adults in cooking raw, fresh food to promote health and wellness as well as help fight depression. There will be cooking lessons with step directions written alongside with picture symbols. Measuring and mixing, serving and cleaning up allows all kids to have a turn and encourages motor skills, social and communication skills.

IT Corner will provide access to computers with special programs for brain stimulation. An occupational therapist will provide consultations according to individual needs. Karina Café also will provide one or more IPads with educational programs to help improvement on speech and communication skills, with the support of a therapist. While youth are participating, parents can use the time to REST and socialize in the café.

Karina Café will offer warm welcome to all and a great place to meet and make friends, connect with others, and relax while empowering everyone to nurture our communities.