.jpg)
An experienced Occupational Therapist, the author of this article once knew little about her ancestry, with no real interest in it. She describes having 'lived in a silo' - disconnected from the past and unconnected to the future - with little appreciation of a life being lived as part of an eternal timeline (living in connection to everyone, everywhere). This was until she became a licensed 'Wayapa Wuurrk' (Earth Connection) practitioner*.
* Wayapa® Wuurrk means 'connect to the Earth', in the languages of the Maara and GunaiKurnai First Nation People of Australia. Wayapa is a unique approach to our collective wellbeing as planet and people. It offers Earth, Mind, Body Spirit Wellness, to anyone of any age and ability, through movement and mindfulness. It is the first Indigenous Wellbeing modality to be accredited by the International Institute for Complementary Therapies (IICT).
The author's journey of learning and connection has enabled her to perceive the value of the Kawa Model as a group intervention. To incorporate Kawa into you occupational therapy practice in this manner, follow the steps illustrated below...
We are not silos. We are all connected to each other and to our Earth. We are nature!
Introducing Kawa as a Group Intervention
The Kawa (River) provides a great opportunity for high-quality reflection and co-created group experiences within occupational therapy practice. Kawa enables the exploration of complex issues, within groups or communities that share roles, goals, or interests.
"You can't solve a problem from the same thinking that created it" - Albert Einstein
This is exactly how Kawa facilitates problem-solving for us as individuals and in groups. It enables us to create a different perspective, through the unique reflective and emergent process that is Kawa.
In a group setting, this occurs through group discussion, as participants identify their shared 'common themes' from their individual Kawa Rivers. Through the value and validation a group experience participants can then be empowered to co-create their Collective Wellbeing Action Plan (CWAP) which becomes the focus of OT intervention.
Whether this group approach with Kawa is used in a single exploratory session, or as the foundation for an ongoing course of intervention, the fact is that the agenda has been identified and set by the group, through a genuine and relevant co-creation process from their shared experience as a group.
As a group they may share a common role, such as a particular discipline within a multidisciplinary team (MDT). The group could consist of carers or individuals experiencing a shared difficulty or disability. Whatever the common ground participants share, this becomes the focus of their Kawa River within the group session, and the CWAP they co-create with this process. It is worth noting that participants can benefit from the unique insights this process provides for them within their individual river and the collective group experience too.
As a group intervention, this genuinely empowers participants to identify their priorities and to take ownership of their plan.
Furthermore, any action inspired as a result of this process will be meaningful and relevant to them and their lives. As a group intervention this has potential to inspire hope, both for each individual member and the collective group.
Individual members of the group will be more aware of their own life journey and gain valuable wellbeing insights into their unique river landscape through this process. They will obviously choose what to do with these insights; depending on the setting, the OT facilitating the process can ensure appropriate support is available for them if necessary (see the process Preparation below).
Group participants have a shared experience or intention that they focus on whilst creating their individual Kawa River. This is prepared in advance and brought to the group session. During a meaningful group discussion, participants can share these insights and 'common themes' will emerge, relating to their shared experience and space within the group.
Using Kawa in groups in this way taps into this shared space, without a pre-determined agenda. It facilitates meaningful discussions and produces genuine co-creation opportunities for participants to explore their shared space. Just as Einstein encouraged, we can explore problems together, from a different perspective.
This methodology enables us to co-create another level of consciousness, through Kawa's reflective and emergent process. In this way, we can tackle complex issues, outside of agendas and systems. Imagine the potential this holds for everyone - for communities, organisations and the global problems facing humanity now!
Reviewing Kawa in group sessions
The following step-by-step guidelines are intended to empower you to create your own Kawa group work session(s) - and complete a review with your group. Without a review, we do not know if the group intervention has had any meaningful impact for the participants.
Reviews provide an opportunity for OTs to showcase their skills, knowledge - and the uniquely inclusive, holistic and inter-generational perspective that OT offers everyone.
Please try to schedule a review when booking the group session, or before the end of the session. It is more likely to happen when it is valued and a clear commitment is made to engage. Otherwise it is likely to be lost.
It is recommended that the initial review is with the same facilitator, to provide consistency. However, once everyone is familiar with the process (including the review), they can identify their facilitator; this is ideally someone external to the group.
The Process:
A) Preparation
Ask all the group participants to prepare their individual Kawa (River) before the session (ideally one-to-two weeks in advance). The focus of these rivers is their shared experience within the group. However, it is likely that it will include their personal journey too. Kawa grows meaningful insights for participants. In a shared space, these will become their 'common themes'. These then provide the focus for their session and the co-creation of a shared action plan, as well as potential future sessions and review(s).
You may choose to run a separate introductory/preparation session in advance - to introduce the Model and for everyone to begin creating their rivers. This is time consuming, but the preparation has to be done in advance of the group session.
Alternatively, with sufficient understanding of the Model and process, participants can prepare independently in advance. You can create a resource to support this - or contact this article's author Debbie (details below), for a template that you can use.
Kawa creates a reflective and emergent process that, with time, allows otherwise unconscious elements in life to come to light. This is why it is important to allow time for people to experience this insightful part of the process.
B) The Group Session
During the group session, encourage participants to discuss their individual Kawa rivers and share the 'common themes' that emerged for them.
Then encourage them to identify their shared goals.
Incorporating a goal-setting approach, such as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) facilitates the co-production of the CWAP and provides a structure for the follow-up review.
Finally, participants can prioritise their goals to co-create their CWAP, which becomes the focus of intervention. Using this process within a reflective and active learning approach enables the continual development of meaningful insights and strategies. This is equally relevant to individuals and collectively to the group, team or organisation.
C) The Review
The CWAP can be regularly reviewed, within timeframes to meet the needs of the group and maintain momentum. In this way, participants can continually update their learning, growth and wellbeing strategies - whilst ensuring that the focus of the CWAP remains meaningful and relevant for everyone in the group.
Now feel free to have a go yourself!
Feedback can be offered through The Occupational Therapy Hub, or by contacting article author Debbie (theCelticOT@outlook.com).
Further reading:
To join the journey to 'Collective Wellbeing' now, for Planet and People, visit the Wayapa Wuurrk (Earth Connection) website. Watch this space for developments, including a Wayapa Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Course, being co-created with Professor Melissa O'Shea and her psychology team at Deakin University in Melbourne.
For more information about the Kawa (River) Model, visit the official website
Read 'Use of the Kawa Model in a school setting' via the Hub's Therapy Forum
A note of gratitude
Thank you Professor Iwama - and co-creators of Wayapa Wuurrk, Jamie Marloo Thomas and Sara Jones. Thank you for your encouragement and support on this journey, developing this group 'wuurrk' approach with Kawa, through a Wayapa lens. It is with much gratitude and humility that I can share this within the OT community now.
As you may be aware, Professor Iwama has gifted the Kawa Model to the profession of Occupational Therapy, and his wishes are for it not to be monetised.
Wow, Debbie, I am just blown away by this article! I have just been discussing the Kawa Model on my Independent Practitioners Circle and on LinkedIn, so the timing is serendipitous (love that word!). I am in the process of setting up my own independent practice, specialising in working with adults with ADHD, and had decided to use the Kawa Model.
Your article has truly inspired me as a large part of my service will be group work. I had not thought before of using the Kawa Model in this way, collectively, but it would work brilliantly with the different groups I am planning.
Thank you! 😀
I will post about your article in the Circle and contact you privately…