The Journey day service: an occupational group work programme for people with personality disorder
| Date | 14 December 2010 |
| Pages | 51-57 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/mhrj.2010.0740 |
| Published date | 14 December 2010 |
| Author | Alan Hirons,Rachel Rose,Kate Burke |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Mental Health Review Journal Volume 15 Issue 4 December 2010 © Pier Professional Ltd 51
Alan Hirons
Occupational therapy clinical specialist, UK
Rachel Rose
Former Journey day service group member, UK
Kate Burke
Occupational therapist, UK
The Journey day service:
an occupational group work
programme for people with
personality disorder
Abstract
This article, based on a presentation given at the First National Personality Disorder Congress, provides
a brief descriptive overview of the occupation-based intervention group programme, the Journey day
service, with contributions from a former group member, Rachel, of her experience of participating in and
completing the programme.
Key words
Personality disorder, therapeutic interventions, occupation-based intervention programme, therapeutic
needs, recovery needs.
Introduction
The Leeds Personality Disorder Managed Clinical
Network (PDMCN) provides three dedicated
group programmes as part of its range of services.
These group programmes are an occupation-
based intervention programme, a mini
therapeutic community (Pearce & Haigh, 2008)
and dialectical behaviour therapy skills training
group (Linehan, 1993). They offer distinctly
different modes of therapeutic intervention,
aiming to meet the complex range of therapeutic
and ‘recovery’ needs that are required by people
with personality disorder.
Occupation and personality
disorder
The term ‘occupation’ is derived from the
occupational perspective of health, in which
people are identified as occupational beings
having an innate need and desire to engage
in occupation – purposeful activities that
occupy time and give meaning to life (Wilcock,
2006). These activities are defined as being in
the following areas of occupation: ‘activities
of daily living, instrumental activities of daily
living, education, work, play, leisure, and social
participation’ (American Occupational Therapy
Association, 2008). People’s engagement
in occupation is regarded ‘as enabling the
development and integration of the sensory, motor,
cognitive, and psychological systems; serving as a
socialising agent and verifying one’s efficacy as a
competent, contributing member of one’s society’
(Fidler & Fidler, 1978, p305). The ability to
engage in occupation facilitates the achievement
of goals throughout life, which are defined
10.5042/mhrj.2010.0740
GROUP
WORK
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