Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Tree Theme Method as an intervention in psychosocial occupational therapy: Client acceptability and outcomes

Gunnarsson, Birgitta LU and Eklund, Mona LU orcid (2009) In Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 56(3). p.167-176
Abstract
The Tree Theme Method (TTM) is an intervention in which the client paints trees representing certain periods in his/her life. The intervention comprises five sessions, using trees as a starting point to tell one's life story. This study, which is part of an implementation project, aimed to examine the therapeutic alliance and client satisfaction, in relation to perceptions of everyday occupations and health-related factors, with clients going through a TTM intervention.



Nine occupational therapists recruited 35 clients, at general outpatient mental health care units, for the TTM intervention. Self-rating instruments, targeting therapeutic alliance (HAq-II), different aspects of daily occupations (Canadian Occupational... (More)
The Tree Theme Method (TTM) is an intervention in which the client paints trees representing certain periods in his/her life. The intervention comprises five sessions, using trees as a starting point to tell one's life story. This study, which is part of an implementation project, aimed to examine the therapeutic alliance and client satisfaction, in relation to perceptions of everyday occupations and health-related factors, with clients going through a TTM intervention.



Nine occupational therapists recruited 35 clients, at general outpatient mental health care units, for the TTM intervention. Self-rating instruments, targeting therapeutic alliance (HAq-II), different aspects of daily occupations (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Satisfaction with Daily Occupations), health-related factors (Sense of Coherence measure, Mastery Scale, Symptom Checklist-90-R) and client satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire), were administrated before and after the intervention.



A good initial therapeutic alliance, experienced by both therapists and clients, was correlated to increased changes regarding occupational performance and self-mastery. According to the therapists' ratings, a good initial therapeutic alliance was correlated to increased sense of coherence and a decreased level of psychiatric symptoms. The results showed positive significant changes in occupational performance and health-related factors. High ratings of the therapeutic alliance by the therapists were also related to high client satisfaction.



The TTM seemed to function well in psychosocial occupational therapy, but there is a need for further implementation studies to deepen our understanding of the treatment process, comprising both technique and formation of the therapeutic alliance. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
art therapy, therapeutic process, mental health, patient satisfaction, creativiness
in
Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
volume
56
issue
3
pages
167 - 176
publisher
Australian Association of occupational therapists
external identifiers
  • wos:000266241900004
  • scopus:66149140658
  • pmid:20854510
ISSN
1440-1630
DOI
10.1111/j.1440-1630.2008.00738.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Occupational Therapy (Closed 2012) (013025000)
id
070fca4d-8a8c-4650-927b-c4af11c66312 (old id 1454108)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20854510
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:19:35
date last changed
2022-03-21 17:56:29
@article{070fca4d-8a8c-4650-927b-c4af11c66312,
  abstract     = {{The Tree Theme Method (TTM) is an intervention in which the client paints trees representing certain periods in his/her life. The intervention comprises five sessions, using trees as a starting point to tell one's life story. This study, which is part of an implementation project, aimed to examine the therapeutic alliance and client satisfaction, in relation to perceptions of everyday occupations and health-related factors, with clients going through a TTM intervention.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Nine occupational therapists recruited 35 clients, at general outpatient mental health care units, for the TTM intervention. Self-rating instruments, targeting therapeutic alliance (HAq-II), different aspects of daily occupations (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Satisfaction with Daily Occupations), health-related factors (Sense of Coherence measure, Mastery Scale, Symptom Checklist-90-R) and client satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire), were administrated before and after the intervention.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
A good initial therapeutic alliance, experienced by both therapists and clients, was correlated to increased changes regarding occupational performance and self-mastery. According to the therapists' ratings, a good initial therapeutic alliance was correlated to increased sense of coherence and a decreased level of psychiatric symptoms. The results showed positive significant changes in occupational performance and health-related factors. High ratings of the therapeutic alliance by the therapists were also related to high client satisfaction.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The TTM seemed to function well in psychosocial occupational therapy, but there is a need for further implementation studies to deepen our understanding of the treatment process, comprising both technique and formation of the therapeutic alliance.}},
  author       = {{Gunnarsson, Birgitta and Eklund, Mona}},
  issn         = {{1440-1630}},
  keywords     = {{art therapy; therapeutic process; mental health; patient satisfaction; creativiness}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{167--176}},
  publisher    = {{Australian Association of occupational therapists}},
  series       = {{Australian Occupational Therapy Journal}},
  title        = {{The Tree Theme Method as an intervention in psychosocial occupational therapy: Client acceptability and outcomes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.2008.00738.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1440-1630.2008.00738.x}},
  volume       = {{56}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}