The Reciprocal Relationship Between Art and Occupational Therapy Practice
Files
Description
Susan Burwash, Ph.D., OTR/L is an occupational therapy professor and artist based in Washington State. She currently serves as Chair and Professor for the Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern Washington University. To Professor Burwash, lamp work glass bead making is the perfect blend of art and science, spiritual and practical. Professor Burwash believes the relationship between art and occupational therapy practice is reciprocal. Art can be used to explore interests, improve social skills, and build relationships. Creative occupations, such as jewelry making, can help people transform their identities. Art creates balance between traditional medicine and personal medicine—those meaningful activities that give life purpose. Professor Burwash’s personal medicine is making beautiful things that can be given away.
Keywords
Occupational Therapy, Art, Lampwork Glass Beads, Personal Medicine, Mental Health, Technology, OT4OT
Disciplines
Higher Education | Metal and Jewelry Arts | Occupational Therapy
Recommended Citation
Fortuna, Jennifer, "The Reciprocal Relationship Between Art and Occupational Therapy Practice" (2017). Open Journal of Occupational Therapy: Occupation and the Artist. 17.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/ojot_occupationandartist/17