Rehabilitation and nature? My psychological work in addiction rehabilitation

Earlier this week, I spent three days for the first time as a psychologist in an addiction rehabilitation center.

In addition to my research work, which I do in Peru for the NGO 'Las Semillas de Santa Teresa', the second part of my internship consists of practical psychological work with addiction patients, where I will conduct conversations, conduct workshops, create assessments, and participate in creative activities in the psychological department.

To connect my two internship areas, I want to design activities in nature for the afternoon groups with the patients, focusing on the importance of environmental conservation and the simultaneous benefits of nature for recovery, relaxation, and health. The center provides the ideal environment for this with many plants, flowers, and fields.

Since it was my first visit to the rehabilitation center, I initially listened and observed a lot about how conversations and work with the patients are carried out.

What was very new and unfamiliar to me was that there are many rules that the patients (and also the employees as role models!) must follow in order to make peaceful coexistence possible and at the same time promote control of impulsiveness.

In the coming weeks, it will be very interesting for me to get to know the patients better and to test myself as a teacher in the first workshops and also in personal psychological conversations.