Welcome to the Animation Therapy public site. After winning an
award for innovation in mental health from the National Endowment
for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), a variety of
animation techniques to complement therapeutic practice in a range
of therapeutic approaches have been explored.
Animation is about creativity, movement and imagination. It
offers the opportunity to bring an object, drawing or person to
life and the potential to make the impossible
Animation Therapy uses animation in two ways:
- By doing animation - The person, family or
group actively participate using a hands-on approach, with the
animation process for therapeutic purposes tailored to their unique
needs
- By watching animation - Watching animation
where the subject matter's content is sensitive, stimulates
discussion and generates new ways of looking at things that are
relevant to the person, family or group
Animation can be used as a strong yet sensitive tool in a
therapeutic context to help people to tell their stories and to
express emotions, thoughts and feelings. It enables people to
directly and non directly explore issues and needs therapeutically
in a visual, tactile and auditory way. Techniques can be used that
extend beyond words, to free up different ways of looking at
something that is relevant in a person's life or therapeutic
process.
Look at how the animator has chosen to draw her father as a
lizard.
Warning: This film contains language which some viewers may find
offensive.
If you have been affected by this film or any other films on
this site please refer to our Links page for details of
organisations which offer advice and assistance regarding where to
go for help.
'Doing' animation in therapy
Animation can also be created to compliment specific therapy
approaches:
By sharing experiences (We recommend that clients do not publish
work of a personal nature unless there is a specific therapeutic
aim)
NB: The Communicube structure was invented by Dr John Casson.
For more information about Communicube please visit www.communicube.co.uk
One of our clients has recently been featured by the BBC and
Open University, talking about his experience of working with
Animation Therapy and telling his story in his own way. Here is the
link: http://www.open2.net/mentalhealth/tony.html
Warning this film contains images of self harm that some people may
find distressing
Log into our Professionals area to find out more about our
unique approach to therapy, to watch our research based films and
to explore our interactive instilation 'Plato's Cave'. Scroll down
to watch our showreel.
For more information about how animation can be used within
occupational therapy please download the paper 'Dare to Dream'
below or use our 'contact us' page.
We have put together a show reel of short clips to demonstraite
the range of animation techniques that we use in our work.
Sometimes we use animation to create a 'performance' other times we
are working in personal or group therapy so it is about the process
not the end product.
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Finding a Therapist
Animation Therapy is due to launch its training programmes in
2010. Therapists who have completed the training can apply to be
put on a register of therapists who have received training in how
to use animation in their therapeutic practice.
Qualified therapists must hold a professional registration and are
regulated by a national body (for example the Health Professionals
Council HPC). You can check to see if your therapist is registered
by the HPC by looking on their registration website at:
We advise that animators should always be supervised by a
qualified therapist when engaging in therapeutic work with members
of the public. For more information please refer to the 'Links'
page.
Members of the public who wish to find therapists who have
attended the Animation Therapy training in their area will be able
to access this database by request from 2011 onwards.
If you would like further information about Animation Therapy, you
can e-mail the team at animation.therapy.direct@googlemail.com
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Animation can be a fun activity to do at home. With software
like Stop Motion Pro you can now animate easily in your own front
room. (See our links page for the Stop Motion Pro website.
We have put together a Pdf for you to use to get you started
animating at home.