Empowering Individuals and Communities Through Engagement In Circus Arts
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists use innovative and creative ways to help people with physical, cognitive, and emotional limitations achieve balance and well-being. Combining circus and occupational therapy can improve coordination, body awareness, teamwork, problem-solving, perseverance, fitness, strength, and life skills for various populations.
Holistic Circus Therapy
Uses circus as an empowerment and educational tool for
individuals and communities.
Activities are client-centered to reflect the interests, goals and
functional levels of participants.
Tasks are continually graded to be challenging yet achievable,
therefore increasing self-motivation to participate and engage in
the therapeutic process.
Interventions focus on increasing capacities which enable
participants to thrive and experience success in achieving their
self-care, leisure, and productivity goals.
Circus, as a discipline, provides a variety of experiences and activities that facilitates positive emotional, physical, and mental health outcomes.
Occupational therapy and circus promote a better quality of life
using the experience of play, fun, and creative expression.
Benefits
Emotional Health
Interacting in appropriately pitched circus activities promotes turn-taking, leadership, communication, empathy, expression, trust, and dependability.
Physical Health
The activities used in HCT increase body awareness, circulation, strength, tone, and flexibility
Cognitive Function
Circus works the brain to increase gross and fine motor control, coordination, visual perceptual abilities, sequencing, sense of rhythm and timing, reactions, bimanual hand use, and concentration.
Social Health
Circus skills are essential for healthy peer interaction and teamwork. This unique program focuses on highlighting an individual's strengths and providing life skills to improve their ability to function socially and become a positive active member of their society.
Life Skills
Circus promotes the acquisition of life skills essential for healthy development.
“PHYSICAL HEALTH”
“BODY AWARNESS”
“COMMUNICATION”
“PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT”
“LEADERSHIP”
“SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS”
“PROBLEM SOLVING”
Holistic Circus Therapy (HCT) is a registered and accredited occupational therapy practice that combines occupational therapy evidence-based practices with circus arts to address the unique health and well-being needs of individuals and communities. HCT partners with educational institutions, community centers, and disability service providers to enable people with varying abilities and social pressures to access and benefit from circus and performing arts programs. HCT has been in existence since 2007 and runs as a social enterprise donating 100% of its profits to CircusAid projects.
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