Documents 

Working in health settings as a clown requires the ability to differentiate between the own persona and the clown persona, and to stay in the role despite a variety of challenging situations. This passage requires a cognitive shift that can be interfered, or facilitated, by several variables. This study aims at operationalizing the components involved in the shift, and relating them to psychological characteristics and other relevant aspects of the training necessary to become a clinic clown. A preliminary 34-item version of the Clown Shift Questionnaire (CSQ) was developed and administered to a sample of 130 Italian clinic clowns. Relevant information such as sociodemographics characteristics, various aspects related to the training received such as length, issues taught, internship carried out, psychological knowledge, and competences in clowning were collected. Four dimensions in the shifting process were identified: Reflective awareness, positive beliefs, interference and anxiety. These dimensions represent a profile of individual differences that may be used to predict the success of the clown intervention. Reflective awareness positively correlates with the aspects related to the training and the years of clown activity, while positive beliefs is a dimension not related to training. Anxiety is higher among females and younger people, and correlates negatively with training aspects and years of activity. Interferences are more frequent among those who received higher psychological knowledge and leads to less satisfaction. Further implications for using the concepts of CSQ in research and in the work of clowns in health settings are discussed. [editor summary]

Most research in the field of medical clowning looks at humor as the main explanation of the beneficial impact that medical clowns have on hospitalized patients. The present paper attempts to challenge this idea by applying drama therapy role theory to the work of medical clowns. First, both ‘clown’ and ‘patient’ are defined and comprehended from a role perspective. Then, using primarily Landy’s role method and ideas, the authors analyze clinical examples from the actual work of “Sancho” (a medical clown from the Dream Doctor’s Project) by means of role theory. The paper illustrates that besides the typical clown tools and techniques,the medical clown uses role strategies as therapeutic interventions in the interaction with patients. Thus an innovative context for conceptualizing medical clowning is provided, which expands the scope of therapeutic clowning and the use of drama therapy role theory as well.

Le département de psychiatrie du CHU Sainte-Justine reçoit des enfants et des adolescents présentant des troubles mentaux sévères pour l’évaluation et le traitement intensif de ces pathologies.

Une fois le trouble stabilisé, le retour à la vie normale est un défi considérable et une période de grande vulnérabilité. Or, il n’existe que peu ou pas de ressources adaptées aux besoins de ces jeunes lors de cette période de transition : le développement de stratégies innovatrices est une priorité reconnue internationalement.

La création d’un «espace de transition» offrant aux adolescents un lieu spécifique et sécuritaire où ils pourront reprendre confiance en eux et en les autres par le biais de projets collectifs centrés sur la créativité sous toutes ses formes, encadrés par des spécialistes non thérapeutes mais soutenus par une équipe de santé mentale.

Ce concept original est basé sur la définition d’un espace protégé en dehors des structures de soins, la valeur de la créativité, la force d’un groupe constitué de jeunes patients et de jeunes sans difficultés particulières, l’orientation du groupe vers la réalisation de projets concrets soulignant l’importance de l’engagement, de l’effort, du respect mutuel.

Un projet pilote a ainsi été développé en 2009 et 2010 en collaboration avec le YMCA et le Cirque du Soleil. Trois groupes de jeunes ont déjà bénéficié de cette expérience et nous ont permis de valider la pertinence et la richesse de cet espace mis à leur disposition. [résumé de l'éditeur]