Complementary Therapies Program
Complementary therapies add an extra dimension of care to hospice’s commitment to nurturing the body, mind, and spirit. Trained professionals use creative arts therapies and touch therapy to promote comfort and wholeness for both patients and their families. In addition, creative arts therapists offer bereavement groups, both at hospice and throughout area school systems.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is often an important part of the grief journey of clients of the Grief Counseling Center. Through the use of art media, images, and the creative art process, a Board-Certified Art Therapist helps both children and adults explore and express emotion in safe, non-verbal, and symbolic ways.
With hospice patients and their families, art therapy may be used to enhance communication; decrease depression, pain, and anxiety; encourage personal insight; and provide opportunities for reconciliation, release, and empowerment.
Art therapy sessions include the use of a wide range of art media such as clay, paint, collage, and photography. In addition, the art therapist employs play therapy techniques, particularly the use of the sand tray.
Music Therapy
Music becomes a powerful tool for physical, emotional, and spiritual growth when used in intentional ways within the therapeutic relationship. Music therapy sessions generally utilize live music as a medium for achieving patient goals that have little to do with musical outcomes. These include decreased anxiety and pain, improved shortness of breath, relaxation, improved communication, emotional exploration and expression, and life review. In addition, music therapy can be an important support to patients and families when death is imminent. A Board-Certified Music Therapist uses a wide range of music experiences to mold sessions to best meet individual patient and family needs.
"My mother was very upset because her pain was severe. I could visibly notice her body relax…her stress level was decreased during her dying experience.” –hospice caregiver
“(Music therapy) added to the sense of peace and restfulness that we both needed.” - hospice caregiver
Massage Therapy
The benefits of massage therapy for hospice patients include physical symptom management as well as emotional comfort and support. Area Licensed Massage and Body Therapists currently partner with Hospice & Palliative CareCenter to share in providing comforting touch to patients and their families.
