Most animators need therapy of some kind (not actually true - D+CFilm lawyers) but an Exeter-based occupational therapist has been using animation in her work with young people from the Ashfield Young Offenders Institute.

Helen Mason, the occupational therapist, developed a programme to promote self esteem and self worth through animation with the young people. There were constraints, it was difficult, but it was also worthwhile.

Helen told D+CFilm: “Animation enables the creator and audience to project into a world where anything is possible and difficult issues can be explored within a safe environment.

“The animation process works on many levels therapeutically, from working practically to symbolically. Within occupational therapy, in child psychiatry play, is the main occupation and learning tool for the clients we work with.

2Within the modern world the use of computers within play is very much engrained within the child’s reality. Animation can be used to build relationships between parent and child encouraging child lead exploration. I have also found it useful with teenagers as a tool for motivation and to evoke change.”

The work was done over an intensive four-day programme, and supported by Animated Exeter. Hurrah!

The work, themed around carbon footprints, can be seen at the festival at the Exeter Phoenix on Saturday, February 23.

Posted by Captn

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 at 10:16 am and is filed under Local, News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.