Emily Sager

5 February 2018
Activity Day 1

1. Therapeutic Origami

2. Sources-
Activity-
Origami: Diagrams,
dev.origami.org/diagram.cfm?CurrentPage=2&complexity=I&pdf_sort=title

Adaptations-
Browne, Rosemary. “Origami: Therapeutic Magic.” Origami: Therapeutic Magic | Here to
Help, 4 Nov. 2011, www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/social-support-vol6/origami-
therapeutic-magic.

Wei, Marlynn. “5 ways Origami Boosts Mindfulness.” Psychology Today, Sussex

Publishers, 2 Sept. 2016, www.psychologytoday.com/blog/urban-
survival/201609/5-ways-origami-boosts-mindfulness.

“Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Gets Out of Control.” National Institute of
Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-
gad/index.shtml

3. Equipment- Origami Paper: squares or rectangles

4. Activity Description- Patients will create different origami pieces with the paper
provided. Paper instructions will be provided but also an instructor will be demonstrating
how to do each piece. Patients can be set up in small groups or individually sitting at a
table. Patients will have to use their hands and arms in this activity. The key point to
complete this activity is to listen and follow directions. By the end of this activity
patients will have created one or multiple origami pieces.

5. Primary interaction Pattern- A interaction pattern that could describe Origami could be
Aggregate. Origami is usually organized in groups but each person is directed towards
the paper. Each person is not socializing with each other, instead their attention is
focused on the object, which in this case is the paper to make the origami.

6. Adaptations- A disorder that I have researched is generalized anxiety disorder. To adapt

this activity to the disorder you could play calming and relaxing music. Having music
played in the background will help relax the patients and focus on the activity. The
music will also help reduce the worries that the patients have in their life. You can pick
different level models depending on the patients. Most patients will start on low mediate
 models. This activity is in an non-threatening social setting and there is no pressure for
the patients to talk or socialize. They have the opportunity to but there is no requirement
to socialize. Creating origami provides a distraction for the patients and focus on
something other than their thoughts. Another adaptation you can make is decide how big
the group should be depending on the patient. Maybe if a patient has a high level of
anxiety you can start them with a small group and slowly make the group bigger over
time as they become more comfortable. You can also change up how many origami
pieces you have your patients make depending if they get tired quickly or if they do not
have a very long attention span. Origami can help to let go self judgement and
perfectionism. Patients can learn that from folding the paper that it may not always be
perfect and precise just like us humans.

7. Origami Directions