Clowning as a form of therapy for Sunnybrook veterans
With the help of a unique program at George Brown College, the Veterans Centre is trialing a new initiative for residents living on K2 Centre, East and West. Since September, therapeutic clown instructors and their students from the therapeutic clowning certificate program have been visiting residents on occasional Fridays as part of their educational placement. The program is the brainchild of Helen Donnelly, an award-winning therapeutic clown teacher, practitioner and performer.
"It's inspiring to see how easily the student clowns are connecting with residents on the units at the Veterans Centre,” says Helen “Their artistic, medical and psychosocial studies they have accomplished since September are all paying off. They are very dedicated, talented and sensitive clown artists and I'm so proud of them.”
Working in pairs the students bring theatrical, arts-based practice to the interprofessional care already provided at the centre. The goal is to extend a sensitive, intuitive and personalized approach to imaginary play. This by no means is just clowning around. The students enrolled in the program are all professional artists who have extensive physical theatre training and receive ongoing mentorship in areas of artistic, relational and therapeutic approaches.
With plenty of worldwide research, the therapeutic benefits of laughter and authentic connection are numerous. Smiles are infectious and a healthy healing outlet for all emotions: pain, loneliness, stress or anxiety. Through playful connection and a light joyous presence, a bond with the clown duo is almost always made.
