The Use of Sport in the Behavioral Health Treatment of Youth

REBEKAH CONWAY ROULIER, ED.M EMILY E. PIKE, LICSW

Overview
M I S S I O N P O P U L A T I O N S E R V E D T H E R A P E U T I C S P O R T S P R O G R A M M I N G T H E R A P E U T I C P R O C E S S O U T C O M E S D A T A

Mission
To provide a non-traditional treatment modality of

action-oriented counseling for children and adolescents who:

Are more interested in physical activity than verbal expression

Are not motivated to participate in traditional talk therapies Have been unsuccessful in other means of traditional therapies Respond more positively to concrete, tangible intervention

Population Served
Characteristically, many group members have experienced difficulties with emotion regulation on some level, based on their individual situations, and the group assists members to develop more socially acceptable, advantageous reactions to emotions that have historically been unproductive, socially or legally undesirable in the past.

Population Served
Males and females, ages 6-22. Programs serve youth who are: Juvenile justice/court-involved, court-ordered Gang-affiliated Impoverished Truant Drug-involved Sexually-exploited females Struggling with physical health (i.e. obesity, diabetes) In out-of-home placement (i.e. group home, foster care) Recently hospitalized psychiatrically Victims of social dysfunction & cyclical behaviors Managing stressors & symptoms related to mental health diagnoses, including

Population Served
DSM IV diagnoses including: Anxiety Disorder Bipolar Disorder Conduct Disorder Depressive Disorders Mild Mental Retardation Mood Disorder Oppositional Defiant Disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Reactive Attachment Disorder Spectrum Disorders (Autism, Aspergers, PDD)

Therapeutic Sports Programming

Evidence based, experiential group counseling experience Curriculum built on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Model and

the Attachment, Self-Regulation, & Competency Framework (ARC)

Do the Good (DtG) Curriculum

All groups are led by trained facilitators and licensed therapists Each group occurs weekly and is implemented with 6-12

participants, male and/or female, ages 6-22.

One specific sport (basketball, golf, soccer, boxing, volleyball, floor

hockey, flag football, dance, and/or softball) is implemented from the onset of the group through the remaining weeks.

Therapeutic Sports Programming

Designed to assist participants in increasing: Self-esteem & self-concept Anxiety management Anger management Impulse control Social awareness & communication Overall effective emotion management.

Therapeutic Process
The environment is:

Sports-directed Highly structured and consistent (Routines, concepts, and specific tasks ) Action-oriented Visual, auditory, and tactile learning-based

The group process develops during this time by

dissecting each sport into small, developmental tasks with the goal of each group member growing personally and ultimately being able to competently participate in the specific sport in its purest form.

In a Nutshell
Although the groups challenge each member

emotionally and physically, the forum in which these experiences occurs is:

Supportive Safe Allows members to acknowledge feelings and emotions* Facilitates development of skills to cope with feelings and emotions Ultimately master these feelings in order to be comfortable and competent in other similarly emotion provoking situations.

Outcomes

Improve Pro-Social Relationships

Promote the group dynamic as a way for participants to

experience success in developing pro-social relationships with their peers. shared success.

Encourage the development of relationships to promote a

Youth gain practical experiences and success in navigating the

complexities of relationships, from effective communication, conflict resolution and interdependence.

The group therapy experience promotes a positive setting in

which to gain real world practice and positive outcomes with these skills.

Promote Youth Development

Promote the belief that if undesirable outcomes occur in

group (i.e. interpersonal struggles, emotional dysregulation), youth can still feel progress based on their accomplishments, contribution and effort by engaging the youth in an exploratory process of the experience. measure their success by processing their own personal development by receiving in the moment feedback while engaged in the therapeutic experience.

Promote an experience for each participant where they can

Provide participants the opportunity to acknowledge that

previous unproductive behaviors can be changed and more productive behavior can be adopted.

Maximize Capacity for Integration & Participation

Youth are encouraged to fully participate and any

individual struggles a youth may experience with regards to desire to participate, are part of the engagement and therapeutic process.

Applicable Life Experience

Group members experience a variety of emotions and, by

processing these feelings and receiving validation, each group member realizes the benefits of all emotions.
Leads to participants being able to understand and experience

how to manage themselves well and why they are able to do so.
Experience trusting relationships, increased self-esteem,

effective emotion regulation and self-concept by allowing them to experience a developmental process in a safe and nurturing environment.

Applicable Life Experience

Group teaches coping skills, tolerance, and emotion regulation

which can apply to other potentially challenging situations outside of the group.
Groups practical experience has a direct application to the rest

of an individuals life as the youth can translate their experiences in group to real life experiences.
Approach elicits actual reactions to different experiences and

through in the moment intervention, youth can then apply feedback in similarly challenging situations outside of group.

Staff Development
Through our primary facilitators of the curriculum, a holistic,

therapeutic approach is utilized to make a positive impact on all participants.

Training: In depth initial training and continuing education for internal and external entities
Monitoring and Evaluation: Formal and informal M&E will be ongoing.

Evidence-Based
Prides itself on testing its effectiveness and willingly

shares results, with all stakeholders, continuously to validate the effectiveness of the program.
Maintain a strong desire and commitment to youth

and recognizes the importance of evidence-based practice therefore concluding that ongoing evaluation is paramount.

Data

QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

Quantitative
Chart Review of 33 players and 26 comparison non-players

Restraints, Isolation, Grades, Weight Mental Health (CBCL)

Coach Behaviors:

Circle-Ups, One-on-one, Specific Praise, Team-Building Youth Behaviors: Conflicts, conflict resolution, helping behaviors, leadership, encouragement, participation

Scales:

Increased scores on the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale Increased scores on Personal Self Control Scales Increased scores on Self-Concept Scale for Children

Qualitative
Parents/Caregivers

Increased self-efficacy in roles as youth workers Reported pride in their difficult population Noted changes in kids outside of games Reported coaching/teaching was helpful Consistent in their approach.they set clear expectations and are very encouraging and flexible with each child.

Youth

Sense of community with other players Affect Regulation and Interpersonal Skills: just helped me deal with life Competency: helped me feel like I can do something right. Students noted that they would appreciate more time to practice, from once a week to daily. Group taught me how to deal with my angry emotions. I love and look forward to group.

Training & Consultation

PROGRAM STAFF FROM DOC WAYNE AND THE THERAPEUTIC SPORTS PROGRAM

ARE AVAILABLE FOR

INITIAL & ON-GOING TRAINING AND CONSULTATION.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED CONTACT INFORMATION!

Doc Wayne Contact Information

REBEKAH CONWAY ROULIER, ED.M.
RROULIER@DOCWAYNE.ORG

WWW.DOCWAYNE.ORG @DOCWAYNEDTG FACEBOOK-DOC WAYNE YOUTUBE-DOCWAYNEDTG

Therapeutic Sports Program Contact Information

EMILY E. PIKE, LICSW
WWW.COMMUNITIES-FOR-PEOPLE.ORG THERAPEUTICSPORTSPROGRAM@MSN.COM FOLLOW US @THERASPORTS