NDIS participants
At One Brick At A Time Counselling, we are deeply passionate about empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives. We understand the unique challenges that people with disabilities face, and our committed team of counsellors and therapists is devoted to providing unwavering support and guidance. With empathy and empowerment at the core of our approach, we work collaboratively with our clients, tailoring our counselling techniques to meet the individual's specific needs.
Our goal is not only to address the psychosocial aspects of disability, but also to nurture self-confidence and resilience. We strongly believe that everyone deserves a life filled with purpose and joy.
Through personalised counselling sessions, as well as LEGO small-group sessions, we help individuals overcome obstacles, build meaningful connections, and embrace their strengths.
By fostering a compassionate and inclusive environment, we inspire those with disabilities to navigate life’s complexities with confidence, allowing them to realise their full potential and live their best life.
LEGO Therapy: fostering social inclusion skill development in individuals with disabilities
LEGO Therapy has emerged as a powerful intervention method that assists individuals with various disabilities in developing essential social, communication, and cognitive skills. This innovative approach utilizes the popular LEGO building block to create a structured and engaging environment for therapy sessions.
By focusing on collaborative play and creative problem-solving, LEGO Therapy helps individuals with disabilities enhance their social interactions, communication abilities, and fine motor skills. At One Brick At A Time Counselling, our therapists understand how LEGO Therapy can positively impact people with disabilities.
Potential outcomes of LEGO Therapy include;
Social and interactive communication
LEGO therapy provides a structured platform for individuals with disabilities to engage in social interactions. Through joint building activities, participants learn to communicate effectively, share ideas, and cooperate with peers.
Studies have shown that collaborative LEGO play can improve social reciprocity and interaction skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Owens, Grandaer, Humphrey,&Baron-Cohen, 2008).
At One Brick At A Time, we believe that LEGO Therapy is not exclusive to ASD, and that LEGO Therapy can assist all ages and all abilities.
Cognitive and motor skill development
Engaging in LEGO building tasks enhances cognitive skills such as problem-solving, planning, and spatial reasoning.
For individuals with motor disabilities, manipulating LEGO pieces contributes to the development of fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Research by Faja et al. (2016) demonstrated improvements in motor abilities and executive functioning among children with developmental coordination disorder through LEGO-based interventions.
Inclusivity and a sense of belonging
LEGO Therapy promotes inclusivity, by providing individuals with disabilities an opportunity to participate in mainstream activities.
In a LEGO Therapy group participants work together regardless of their abilities, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance within the community. (Lindquist& Karlsson, 2019)
Conclusion
Emotional regulation and self-esteem
LEGO therapy offers a non-threatening environment where individuals can express themselves creatively. This creative outlet helps in emotional regulation and can boost self-esteem and confidence.
By completing LEGO projects, individuals experience a sense of accomplishment, leading to increased self-worth (LeGoff,2004).
In conclusion, LEGO Therapy stands as an effective and evidence-based intervention for individuals with disabilities, offering a holistic approach to skill development and social inclusion. Through collaborative play and creative expression, LEGO therapy empowers individuals to overcome social challenges and build meaningful connections with others.
At One Brick At A Time Counselling, we use a holistic therapeutic approach that can be designed to meet the individual where they are. We work not only with the participants, but also include their carers, families, and community - building resilience and strength whilst having fun.
All of this is - one brick at a time.
Generalisation of skills
One of the significant advantages of LEGO Therapy is its potential to generalise skills learned during the therapy session to real-life situations.
As individuals practise social and communication skills in the supportive LEGO environment, they are better equipped to apply these skills in school, work, and other social settings (LeGoff & Sherman, 2006).
References:
1. Owens, G., Garnader, Y., Humphrey, A., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2008) LEGO therapy and the social use of language programme: an evaluation of two social skills interventions for children with high functioning autism and Asperger syndrome. General of autism and developmental disorders, 38(10), 1944 -1957.
2. Faja, S., Nelson Darling, L., Dapretto, M., & Bookheimer, S.Y.(2016). Longitudinal fMRI study of language development in children ages 5-11. Cerebral cortex, 26(5), 2368_2386.
3. LeGoff, D.B., (2004). Use of LEGO as a therapeutic medium in improving social competence journal of autism and developmental disorders, 34(5), 557-571.
4. Lindquist, B., & Karlsson, p.(2019). Beyond building: the experience of children with autism spectrum disorders in LEGO-based therapy. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 49(9), 3750-3762.
5. LeGoff, D., & Sherman, M. (2006). The long-term outcome of social intervention is based on interactive LEGO play. Autism, 10(4), 317-329.