For this purpose, I usually choose a quiet corner in the ward. The interaction is reality based. The focus is on the steps of folds. This interaction creates an atmosphere for promoting social skills and personal hygiene.
When conducting an origami group, participants are encouraged to help each other. During this group, patients' mental states can be assessed by observing their response to instructions, their interaction with each other, their level of concentration and their general behaviours. Usually, at the completion of the last fold, there is a sense of joy and excitement in the group. It is very satisfying to share our joy. When I see someone smile, I know my efforts are worthwhile. Before I know it, a trusting relationship is developed among my patients and me.
I usually conduct an origami group around a table. There are occasions when they feel bored during the weekends or public holidays. Sometimes, I need to use origami on an one to one situation. For example, I have to keep a close observation on one patient, or to escort a patient to the other hospital for an appointment. It is handy to keep some paper in my pocket. An unplanned origami session can convert a long and boring waiting time into an interesting experience.
I invited him to sit down and see if anything I could do for him. He wanted to go out to buy a present for his girl friend. However his condition was not well enough to allow him to go home. I gave him time to ventilate his feelings. Then I told him that I like to fold something for him that might help. Sitting next to me, he watched with curiosity. He was quite amazed to see the heart when I completed the folding and gladly accepted that.
With the heart in his pocket he phoned his girl friend cheerfully. He told her that he got something special for her for the Valentine's Day. For the rest of the shift he was calm and co-operative with no more complaint.
This young man regained control of himself.
The origami session can be an opportunity for them to realise their potential to learn a new skill. Learning to fold a fish or a bird may be a small step towards learning a new skill. However, this small step provides a feeling of acceptance and a taste of achievement that helps to rebuild their confidence to face the reality.
Origami can become
I would love to hear about your experiences and comments.
* you are welcomed to e-mail me
I am very grateful to receive the following valuable messages which reflect the therapeutic benefits of origami. To respect confidentiality some contents are omitted or slightly changed. Thank you for sharing and understanding. ----------- George Ho
Message one -------------- Origami is one thing that really brings me hope
Hi, I came across your web site about the origami in therapy, and I found it very interesting. I guess I could confirm your studies in this.
Origami is often a great way of therapy for me. A few months ago, I was in a very unstable emotional state. I was diagnosed with major depression and other things. I was suicidal and so I was admitted into a psychiatric hospital.
I had been dealing with problems such as anorexia/bulimia and self- injuring. And then I found origami. I don't know how I got so interested, but one day I just decided to search it on the internet. I had learned some basic origami about three years ago, and so I knew a little about it, but I didn't realize it was such an extensive art. I started folding again, and I realized that it was a great coping skill. It could relieve stress in a positive way, and then at the end I had actually accomplished something. It was my creation, something that I had total control over. Sometimes when I felt like I had no control at all, I would do origami and feel confident in myself again.
Whenever I feel stressed, or depressed, I know that I can go and find some paper (and paper is the kind of thing that you always have around somewhere) and start folding. Just to have the feel of paper between my fingers helps me now. It helps me concentrate and think logically rather than irrationally.
Sometimes something as little as a bad grade on a paper can make me feel in despair and become suicidal. But if I wait for a couple hours before I do anything, I usually feel much better about the situation and I'm not overreacting. Sometimes a few origami models can be the gap between hurting myself and being safe.
Another thing that origami does is help me to keep my mind off of food and my weight and other things like that. When I feel the need to purge or to restrict, I can do origami and it relaxes and calms my anxiety. I can really concentrate, and think about what I want to do. Things always seem a lot clearer when I'm folding.
I'm still on medication, but that will soon be reduced. Origami is one thing that really brings me hope!!!
Just thought I would share my experiences with you. Not sure if you can get anything from this, but I am excited that you are using origami to help others!!!
C B S --- 1999 U.S.A.
Message two ---------------------------- Origami helped me too
I have suffered from manic depression and auditory hallucinations since 1990 and origami has been such a blessing to me.
In the beginning, doing the origami helped me to endure the besiege of voices that incapacitated me. It was difficult for me to concentrate on anything. Since I knew how to do origami, I was able to concentrate on doing origami to battle the other "voices" by ignoring them.
Doing the origami was a diversion to allow me to focus on something so strongly while I was experiencing an attack (like a radio on full blast was taped to my ears). This allowed me to not give in to the "voices", especially the ones that were scary for me at that time or the ones that were telling me to do what I believe to be wrong actions that were irresponsible and even violent. In doing origami, I was able to cling to the silent voice of my consciousness that guided me to know right from wrong. Origami was my instant weapon. By focusing on doing my origami, I was able to withstand and ignore the "voices".
Last year, I ended up in a psychiatric hospital and was hearing "voices" again. While being an inpatient, I started doing origami again. I made special boxes for the many people at the hospital that were caring for me. They were so impressed that they even asked me to teach a class to the rest of the patients.
Thank you so much for allowing me to share my experiences. I truly hope that it can help others and make a significant contribution to someone else's life.
G. K. R. 1999 NJ U.S.A.
Message three ---------------------------- Origami gives me a sense of empowerment
Folding for a few years origami has become a passion of mine. I suffered from "bipolar" and have been working hard to peel this label off. I taught my psychologist origami. I am so happy that she can share the skill with others who are facing challenges.
I learned to make Tomoko Fuse's box from a friend. Sally used origami papers which I could not afford. I started using magazine papers. This pattern uses eight pieces of paper. The challenge of finding papers for making a beautiful box helped me to concentrate and plan. I had to work out a system for getting and sorting duplicate magazines. This was good for problem solving skills. Plus cutting the paper into perfect squares was a relaxing task. I became absorbed and let my negative self-talk shut down.
As I started sharing boxes, people wanted to know if I sold them. I felt there was a copyright problem. This led me to develop a way to manipulate the ink on clay coated paper, so that I could still use the magazine paper. I took about two years to come up with the right materials and the environmentally friendly technique. Many people encouraged me to apply for a patent. There are stores locally that carry my work for sale. I am working with an engineering department to see if the process can be done by machine. Also I really would like to be self-supporting and get out of the government disability support. All of this has brought me into contact with many people. In the past I would have felt unable to communicate with those business people and professional in many fields.
Origami has given me creative problems to focus and work out, helping to take my mind off my "illness". Working in solitude prevents me from getting over stimulated by others and I find it gives me a sense of empowerment. I can work at my own pace and on my own schedule. And the best part of all is having had a way of connecting with others in the community and around the world in a fun and non-intimidating way. It has been a bridge preventing me from feeling isolated, lonely and broken somehow. I feel I have something to contribute and that I am appreciated as a person of worth. Art for me is truly a healing force.
Without Sally and the ONE origami box which she taught me none of this would have happened. She has no idea the valuable gift she share with me and how it has impacted my life. She died of cancer not long after she showed me the box. I feel as I continue to work with the boxes and the paper project that it honors her memory. It is a way to pass on a part of an extraordinary friend whom I loved and missed.
In writing this account for you I am reminded how far I have come in my recovery. Seeing it written down has been a help in itself. Thanks for asking.
M.G. 2000 AR U.S.A.
Message four ---------------------------- I am now a much happier person.
I want to share with you my recent discovery of Origami. I have depression for about 8 years. I never realized how much I was emotionally shut down. One day, I discovered that I had depression and was later treated with medication.
I also had psychotherapy that helped to re-open the emotional side that I repressed for many years. As a student, I put all my concentration using my left-brain and shut down my right brain. As I went through therapy, I was able to regain social contact and develop communication skills. I rediscover how to relate to others and how to deal with conflict situations involving human interactions. I was able to find a good job and be able to function normally.
Recently the ending of my psychotherapy was approaching. I noticed the only thing I need to work on was my emotion that was so important for me. Two weeks ago, I went to an art store. Out of curiosity I decided to try paper folding. You couldn't imagine my surprise when I realized how ORIGAMI had helped me.
Origami has reshaped my thinking. It has allowed me to explore the artistic and emotional sides. I rediscover my personality. It liberates me from fears and negative thoughts. Origami develops my focus, concentration, energy, enthusiasm about life and positive thinking. I have the pleasure of doing things that I usually lack of motivation to do so. e.g.: cooking, washing clothes and dishes. Since 2 weeks ago, I have become a new person, I began to explore different things in life: reading, shopping, walking, writing and listening to music. At work, I make Origami to deal with stress. I make cranes, Spanish boxes, birds and flowers. I give them to my fellow workers.
Origami brings out the best in a person. It can be therapeutic: physically, psychologically or as an art. What Origami did, was to enhance my internal focus and arouse my interest in the simple things of life. For example, taking the time to talk to someone, to enjoy the pleasure of life: smiling or listening to someone, showing appreciation for a co-worker. I try to bring the very best of myself in everything I do. I have the motivation and the FOCUS. I am now a much happier person.
People cannot imagine the joy that Origami has brought me. PASSION is the word. With passion one can easily make things move. Now I can appreciate the pleasure of life - one day at a time. I hope this testimony can help others to discover the joy of life.
L. M. 2002 Montreal, Canada
* Welcomed to e-mail George Ho if you like to share your experiences on the benefit of origami.
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