Tactile Engagement Support through our Sensory Garden

From day one of opening the doors to Compassionate Roots, offering activities and approaches geared toward supporting the “do-ers” was a high priority.

The goal was to make therapy more accessible, welcoming, and compassionate, and this started with meeting the needs of those who might prefer a slightly different therapeutic experience.

So, what is a "do-er," you might ask?  

Do-ers are clients who benefit from therapy but prefer tactile and sensory engagement incorporated into their therapeutic experience. 

These clients may prefer not to make eye contact, though they want to engage and participate in therapy. They enjoy pausing to ponder their thoughts and self-regulate with their hands during the session rather than sitting and engaging in a consistent dialogue.

The do-er client might struggle to explain an emotion, but excels at creating and illustrating their internal experiences. Sometimes, they even want to express their creativity before they feel comfortable verbalizing their emotions. 

I've seen this type of creative expression be extremely supportive for children, teens, and adults with autism, ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, and more. 

One way we’ve been able to support our do-er clients in allowing them to express and explore their internal experiences is through the use of Sensory Gardens.

For example, this client started with a clean slate of peat moss and turned the scene into a beautiful fairy garden.

Everyone is different. Therefore, therapy should and will look different for each individual.

At Compassionate Roots, we’re here to support your therapeutic journey with authenticity and compassion — no matter what that looks like.

Written by: Mary Ridley, LCSW