REMOTIVATION TECHNIQUE

Prepared by: JOEL N. NEBRES, RN

Remotivation Technique
Remotivation refers to a variety
of group therapy techniques used
with chronically mentally ill
patients in inpatient settings to
stimulate their communication,
vocational, and social skills and
interest in their environment
Remotivation Technique
A Technique of a simple group
interaction between a member of
the nursing staff & a group of
patients.
Conducted by Psychiatric aides
who have had special instruction
in the technique
The National Remotivation Therapy
Organization (NRTO) defines remotivation
therapy (RT) as a small-group therapeutic
modality, designed to help clients by
promoting self-esteem, awareness, and
socialization
 Remotivation therapy is a form of
intervention focused on the capabilities
and potential of individuals.
It aims at helping to value personal
strengths and to recognize specific
features, roles, and unique traits of the
patient.
Primary Aim:
To stimulate patients into thinking
about and discussing topics
associated with the real world.
It integrates several features of
other therapeutic intervention
modalities:
1. Reality Orientation
2. Reminiscence
3. Validation
4. Sensory stimulation
 Origin and Development of
Remotivation Technique/ Therapy
Dorothy H. Smith, a retired English teacher who
was a volunteer at the Northampton,
Massachusetts, Veterans Administration
Hospital, started the practice of Remotivation in
1950
She moved to Massachusetts and became a
volunteer in a veterans hospital whose patients
were returning from WWII, and were
traumatized from the effects of war.
 She was told there was no hope for these
men. Mrs. Smith wanted to work with the
most regressed of what we now call PTSD
patients. These men were so traumatized
that they were unable to care for them
selves, eat, communicate or sleep.
 She sat down and began to read a poem.
“The Santa-Fe Trail” by Vachel Lindsey But
Mrs. Smith prevailed and began to go to
the units that housed the men that were
not talking or communicating in any
manner. Some hid under a piano!
 This is Part of the POEM….
“The hand cars whiz and rattle on the rails. The
sunlight flashes on the tin dinner pails.”
As the men listened to the rhythmic sway of the
poem, they began to draw nearer to Dorothy. She
continued to read the poem and at the end asked
one question.
And this started the conversation, “Has anyone ever
been to Santa-Fe?” One of the men responded “yes”.
Then another asked her to read the poem again.
 Eventually all but 2 of the men were
reading out loud and actually began to
communicate verbally once again! They
were answering simple questions with
sensible answers. Before too long the group
increased from a few non communicative
men to a group of 14.
Thus, started the Remotivation therapy
The topics must be of interest to the group members, which
could be confirmed through prior conversations with them
but also with their families and staff members.
The use of tools can compensate sensory losses and
enhance attention.
The use of texts from magazines and newspapers, music
and songs, and pictures and photographs instead of poetry
(as initially defined by Dorothy Smith) works best with
participants with regressing mental abilities and lower
education levels (Arau´jo et al. 2011).
• To give each person a hands-on project
relating to the subject, using props
(e.g., flowers in a session about
seasons, dolls and toys in a session
about traditional games) is essential to
promote participation and facilitate the
understanding of the topics
 How to do this:
Discussion methods are used to motivate
the group’s interest and participation
A meeting is held with a group of 10-12
patients a week for about an hour
Each meeting being focused on a specific
topic chosen for discussion
 Five steps essential to a
emotivatio :
Step 1. Climate of acceptance
The Remotivator introduces
himself/herself and welcomes each
person on his or her arrival in a
warm, friendly manner and assists
in finding a seat or wheelchair
space in the circle.
Step 2. Bridge to the rea world/ Reality

The Remotivation introduces a

general topic that would be
relevant to the group.
Also texts from magazines and
newspapers as well as citations
can be used. The texts must be
simple, rhythmic, and related to
the topic under exploration
 Ang Kawayan
Ang Punong Kawayan Sa isang bakuran,
may ilang punungkahoy na may kanya-
kanyang katangian. Mabunga ang Santol,
mayabong ang Mangga, mabulaklak ang
Kabalyero, tuwid at mabunga ang Niyog.
Ngunit sa isang tabi ng bakuran ay
naroroon ang payat na Kawayan.
Minsan, napaligsahan ang mga punungkahoy.Tingnan
ninyo ako, wika ni Santol. Hitik sa bunga kaya mahal ako
ng mga bata.Daig kita, wika ni Mangga. Mayabong ang
aking mga dahon at hitik pa sa bunga kaya maraming
ibon sa aking mga sanga.Higit akong maganda, wika ni
Kabalyero. Bulaklak ko'y marami at pulang-pula. Kahit
malayo, ako ay kitang-kita na.Ako ang tingnan ninyo.
Tuwid ang puno, malapad ang mga dahon at
mabunga,wika ni Niyog. Tekayo, kaawa-awa naman si
Kawayan. Payat na at wala pang bulaklak at bunga.
Tingnan ninyo. Wala siyang kakibu-kibo. Lalo na siyang
nagmumukhang kaawa-awa.Nagtawanan ang mga
punungkahoy.
Pinagtawanan nila ang Punong
Kawayan.Nagalit si Hangin sa narinig na
usapan ng mga punungkahoy. Pinalakas niya
nang pinalakas ang kanyang paghiip. At isang
oras niyang pagkagalit ay nalagas ang mga
bulaklak, nahulog ang mga bunga at
nangabuwal ang puno ng mayayabang na
punungkahoy. Tanging ang mababang-loob
na si Kawayan ang sumunud-sunod sa hilip
ng malakas na hangin ang nakatayo at di
nasalanta.
 Along with reading and analyzing
a text, visual aids, pictures, and
other objects that are related to
the topic can be used.
It is important to ensure that all
participants have contact with
the materials.
Step 3. Appreciation for the
work of the world
The remotivator develops the topic
through planned, open-ended,
factual, and objective questions,
promoting discussion and
interaction between participants.
Materials appealing to the group
members should be used.
Step 4. Sharing the world we
live in
The Remotivator must stimulate the
group members to think about the
topic in relation to themselves and
their realities
the questions must call for
subjective aspects of the topic, such
as the participants’ past experiences
and reminiscences, personal
opinions, and points of view.
Step 5. Climate of appreciation
The remotivator provides a brief
summary of the session
emphasizing the most important
ideas exchanged between
participants
It is also time to express
appreciation for the participants’
attendance and contributions.
The remotivator ends with
information on the following session,
inviting the group members, and
transmitting a sense of continuity.
During the sessions the remotivator
must not assume the role of a
lecturer. Instead, the remotivator
must speak in a nonthreatening and
nonjudgmental manner, regardless of
the participants’ response to the
presented topic.
 The Remotivation seeks:
a. active listening
b. verbalizing appropriately in discussions
c. attentiveness to the activity
d. ability to remain on task
e. responding to reality cues
f. accepting redirection
g. making an effort to communicate with
other group members
h. demonstrating or expressing positive
feelings in group