Sensory Rooms

Sensory rooms promote self-organisation and positive change and allow the service users to engage in therapeutic and meaningful occupaitons (Champagne, 2010). 

Champagne (2010) states that when sensory rooms are used appropriately they:

• Help to create a safe place
• Facilitate the therapeutic alliance
• Provide opportunities for prevention in engagement in prevention and crisis de-escalation strategies
• Promote self-care

Tips for setting up a sensory room:

• Involve staff and service users: It is really important to involve everyone who will be using the treatment space. Sensory rooms aren't all the same and it needs to be unique and meaninful to the people involved.
• Come up with a name for the sensory room: Come up with a name that describes the purpose of the space within the setting.
• Develop policy and procedure: It is important to set clear policies and procedures outlining the equipment and its purposes. As well as ensuring a safe environment for all.

Check out OT-Innovations.com for more ideas and help when setting up a sensory room. 


References

Champagne, T. (2010). Sensory rooms in mental health. Retrieved from http://www.ot-innovations.com/content/view/49/28/