The TTAP Method Program

with adolescents from

Children’s Village, in Dobb’s Ferry, New York. Patrick M. Sheehan

The TTAP Method Program

incorporates all the creative arts in 9 steps: 1.Conversation

2.Meditation

3.Drawing

4.Clay making

5. Music/dance

6. Poetry/use of words

7. Food for thought

8. Food event/celebration/theme event

9. Photo collage

Benefits of the Ttap method The TTAP Method program has tremendous consequential

benefits for anyone who partakes in this creative arts program that has a total of nine steps. Each step works on a myriad of functions and affects all the therapeutic domains (social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual). This program works on all the senses and provides an opportunity for individuals to grow individually as well as a group. Having gone through the TTAP method myself I can honestly say it will develop into your personality and past and help you grow as an individual.

Benefits of the Ttap Method Program

Social: Benefits are plentiful in each program, there are innumerable opportunities for the participants to engage, share information, connect with one another, and more importantly interact and become long term friends after the program has transpired.

Emotional: This program has the capacity to help alleviate anxiety and depression. There are a number of opportunities for participants to express their inner demons or struggles and express their identities to others.

The TTAPMethod Program Cognitive: The TTP Method Program provides

strategic cognitive interventions and mind exercises to help keep the participants cognitively active and sharp. These creative arts programs have tremendous consequential benefits for all participants. These programs provide opportunities for creative thinking and help stimulate neurons in both sides of the brain and help fight memory diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Physical: These creative arts programming provide opportunities for sensory stimulation as well as movement and breathing techniques, which all help the body as a whole to function on a higher level.

The Ttap Method Program

Spiritual: There are a myriad of avenues throughout this continuum of creative programs, which make up the TTAP Method for spiritual gratification to be embraced. During meditation is an evident opportunity for spiritual moments to be relished by all participants in the group. During music/dance and movement a spiritual connection can be realized through inner and outer energy that is embraced during this program collectively by the participants as well as the Recreational Therapist. The art portion can also evoke spirituality and a healing process within individuals.

Evaluation of programs

The boys that I conducted the TTAP method on at The children's village had issues with substance abuse and anger management. They were tough the first week but continued to get better as the time ran on. They did an outstanding job, and epitomized their creativity through the nine steps. They enjoyed the meditation and really got involved with the poetry and dancing portion of the programming. Overall these boys did themselves proud and illustrated the positive effects the TTAP method can have on a children as well as older adolescents and adults.

Research Stats I conducted a mini-research on how the boys were

affected by the TTAP Method from 1 being the lowest, and 5 being the highest how the program helped them in the following areas:

On average the boys reported a ratio of 4.5 in the first session for anger. By the ninth step of the TTAP method the boys on average reported a ratio of 2.5 for anger.

On average the research showed that the children went from having a ratio of 4.7 for depression and low self esteem down to a 3.0 by the end of the TTAP Method program.

TTAP Method pictures/stories•One of the residents involved in the Ttap Method program created this sculpture for his mother. He told the group that she represents love in his life and all the good things that he wishes to embrace in his life. He has had a lot of trouble with substance abuse and anger issues but says his mother makes him want to get better.

Sculpture

This resident sculpted an Ipod, which he says represents his coping mechanism of blocking out all the bad things in life. He continued telling us that he wants to become a rap artist and that DMX and Dr. Dre are his idols.

This beautiful piece was sculpted by a resident who says that the ocean is a world within our world that has not been damaged by greed. Moreover, he said that it has not been fully discovered yet. And for him this is what life is about, going places we have never been. The method brought out his hopes, dreams and desires.

This resident made what he called a “sea doughnut” which represents life. He told us that life is very sweet but very tough like the water, it can take you at any given moment.

This resident decided to draw a picture with burgers and fries. He told us that this is the one type of food that helps him forget all the bad stuff. In addition, he enjoys how it tastes and that it is cheap. In a group it is very important to get children to share, the TTAP Method assists in the therapeutic process.

In this picture the resident is showing what he saw during his meditation, which is a book of life, with clouds on both sides of it. One side represents the good things and the other the bad things. In the middle there are numbers which represent different stages of the clouds. Depending on his day this number will vary with one of the clouds. Again the personal way in which this child actually drew how he perceives his mood is critical for personal growth and development,

Jamaica was the theme of this group’s TTAP Method program. They chose this because they said Jamaica represents the good things in life which are sunshine, beaches, fresh food and beautiful people. The method allows the participants to still choose what they want to do, this allows personal perceived control.

This resident professes he saw himself fighting for the World Heavy Weight Championship during his meditation. He told the group that he wants to take boxing when he leaves the Children’s Village while working on the side. I had never seen such deep personal moments shared between with these before doing the method.

Food Event The following pictures

were taken during the food celebration event. During this event, we had Ginger Beer and Fruit and Cola for drinks and for food we had macaroni and cheese, brown beans, brown rice and chicken.

During this occasion, the group members had an opportunity to show off to the rest of the Children’s Village their creative, individual works. This was also a time for reminiscence of the good times that the group have shared during TTAP- theytwere now part of a stronger social group through this process.

The celebration/group poetryThe beauty of Jamaica

“The water is rippling; the sky is raging with

sunshine

There is fruit sizzling and women shining

The fruits are waiting to grabbed from the tree

The wind is singing a Jamaican tune

The birds are gathering, the drums are echoing

The fruit drinks are celebrities

The guys are laughing and nature is in its

purest glory

There is smell of beans and rice

There is a sound of relaxation and a feel

redemption

Jamaica man will always be free.”

(Bradish cottage)

Evaluation of the TTAP Method Program

The TTAP Method program helped bring this group closer together and grow an appreciation for music and the creative arts, that can be embraced during this dynamic, innovative programming.

This is a program that has tremendous consequential benefits for any one who participates in it, regardless of age, gender, creed, or race, etc.

Overall, this program went better than I could have wished for and better than any of the participants had expected. This program enabled the children to take colossal steps towards maturity and discover new elements of themselves that they were yearning to unearth. Staff who had been at the facility for 10 to 20 years were amazed at the results.