Pathways to Resilience III: Beyond Nature vs. Nurture

Theraputic Methods:

Abstract #123
Resilience Enhancing Stress Model
Presenter: Roberta Greene
Abstract:
There is a burgeoning of information and research about resilience. Yet, the term is often vague, poorly defined, and applied in a variety of situations and circumstances. What can be done to avoid these pitfalls and what sometimes may be false dichotomies? Clearly, there is a need for a holistic model suitable to describe the process of risk and resilience both for individuals and systems, and for various populations experiencing stressful/ adverse events. 
This paper presents the Resilience Ecological-Stress Model (RESM) to illustrate how people and the various systems in which they live build on their innate ability to function effectively in their environments. The premise is that resilience needs to be seen as nested within multiple layers of individual and collective adaptive factors that explain how people cope with stress and maintain their daily functioning. 
The paper outlines the major assumptions and terms used in ecological-systems theory, describing how these theoretical concepts lead to a better understanding of the origin(s), development, and maintenance of resilience. In addition, the RESM has practical applicability, describing how the ability to respond well to stress can be learned in natural settings and enhanced through therapeutic intervention.

Abstract #132
How Therapeutic Clowning Contributes to Child and Family Resilience within a Pediatric Health Centre
Presenter: Cleve Sauer Co - Presenter: Alan McLuckie
Abstract:
Children faced with threats to their physical well-being can experience high stress levels within hospitals and during medical procedures, which can contribute to mental distress and emotional difficulties. Many children demonstrate resilience, arising from their inner resources and nurtured through supportive relationships and interactions with caregivers, family members and medical staff.  This paper presents how the work of Buddington, the therapeutic clown at The IW5850/58K Health Centre contributes to the resilience of children who are hospitalized or visit the IWK for medical procedures. Since, 2006 Buddington has been a key member of the Child Life Program at the IWK providing developmentally sensitive therapeutic-play interactions for children and their families from across the Maritime Provinces who access the pediatric inpatient units and outpatient clinics at the IWK.  Never coming out of ‘character’ Buddington moves throughout the hospital environment engaging all he meets through gentle and inclusive play and humor. Theory, research and practice-based evidence, along with experiential activities guided by Buddington, will be threaded together within this paper presentation to demonstrate how this strength-based intervention can reduce mental distress in children by harnessing and maximizing the potential of the young person, caregivers, family members and hospital staff.

Abstract #163
Arts and Resilience
Presenter: Renata Maria Coimbra-Libório Co - Presenter: Bernardo Monteiro de Castro
Abstract:
This presentation will focus on the links between arts and resilience, grounded in researches carried out with at risk youth and people with disabilities.
(i) Arts as a means of expression
It is very common to hear from different artists that their work is therapeutic. An esthetical expression can be useful either to externalize a psychological pain or to organize a subjective conflict. Since art offers resources for a non-rational discourse, its outcomes provide, for one who expresses by this means, a deeper sense of wholeness and self-understanding. It will be presented a short-documentary about a poet woman with disability.
  (ii) Engaging in esthetical experience
Although art is not precisely defined, combining verses is not enough to write a good poem. However, someone who is not a good dancer can feel very well having dance classes. The experience of feeling the body expressing affects and ideas can help an individual to have a better consciousness of him/herself and to realize that the existence of some problems is not sufficient to avoid good emotions and pleasure. Grounded on the theoretical approach of Barbara Rogoff, it will be presented data about the “Negotiating resilience research” carried out in Aquarela project in Brazil.