Kawa (River) Model
The Kawa (River) Model is a therapeutic framework developed by Japanese occupational therapists in the 1990s, designed to align with traditional Japanese values that emphasize harmony and interconnectedness. This model uses the metaphor of a river to represent the flow of life, where various elements symbolize different aspects of a person's experiences and challenges. In this framework, the river's sides and bed represent an individual's environment, including their community and relationships. Rocks in the river symbolize obstacles or life problems that hinder the flow, while driftwood represents valuable resources, both material and abstract, that can aid in overcoming these challenges.
The primary focus of Kawa-based therapy is to identify and address these obstructions to facilitate a smoother flow of life, referred to as Mizu, which signifies the essence of one’s life journey. The therapeutic process encourages clients to explore ways to navigate around or remove the rocks, utilize the driftwood, and potentially reshape their environment to enhance their well-being. By addressing these elements, clients aim to achieve a balanced and harmonious life, ultimately leading toward personal fulfillment and improved functioning. This model highlights the importance of context and community in the therapeutic process, illustrating a culturally sensitive approach to occupational therapy.
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Kawa (River) Model
The Kawa (River) Model is a therapeutic framework created by Japanese occupational therapists in the 1990s. It is meant to reflect a traditionally Japanese belief of the individual as part of a harmonious whole. This model symbolically connects the elements of a river with the elements of a life. The goal in Kawa-based therapy is to discover ways to remove obstructions and allow the water, symbolic of the life force, to flow most freely.
Overview
In the 1990s, occupational therapy was a growing field. This form of therapy tries to connect people with their interests and passions through activities. For example, occupational therapists may help children with disabilities better participate in school and social activities. These therapists may also help older or injured people regain former skills and stay active.
During the 1990s, Japanese occupational therapists were looking for new ways to approach their clients. Most prior theories of occupational therapy were influenced by Western ideals of individual fulfillment and independence. These theories often failed to accommodate the tradition Asian belief of the importance of a balanced whole, and the role of the individual as a component of a larger environment.
Japanese theorists created the Kawa Model—Kawa meaning “river” in Japanese—as an occupational therapy framework that more closely reflected their cultural beliefs. As suggested by the name, the framework is metaphorically based on a river, which in turn is used as a symbol for the flow of life. Rivers incorporate many elements that must be balanced to allow the water to flow freely. Similarly, occupational therapy clients need to have their lives in harmony to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
The Kawa Model contains several important elements relating to rivers that symbolize aspects of the life experience. The main structural elements are the sides and bed of the river, which determine the boundaries of the river, how it is shaped, and where it goes. These elements are symbolic of the client’s environment, mainly the community with which the client associates, such as family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.
Along the course of this river are rocks, or obstacles that can obstruct the flow of water. These are symbolic of life problems that may be social, physical, economic, or political. In addition to rocks, the river contains driftwood. In the Kawa metaphor, driftwood represents valuable resources. These include material resources, such as money and possessions, and more abstract resources, such as virtue, skill, and friendships.
The main aspect of the river is the water itself, known as the Mizu. The water represents the endless flow of one’s life. The water, like life, is shaped by its environment and boundaries. It is obstructed by rocks and often carries along driftwood. The flow of Mizu traces the entirety of the client’s life until it finally empties into the ocean, which represents the end of the life.
In the course of Kawa Model-based therapy, the client seeks to find balance between all the symbolic river elements. The overall goal is to create the most unobstructed pathway through which the water can flow. That may involve breaking or moving rock obstacles, carrying or depositing driftwood resources, or even finding a way to change the river channel and reconstruct the environment through positive changes.
Bibliography
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Iwama, Michael K. The Kawa Model: Culturally Relevant Occupational Therapy. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2006.
Ramafikeng, Matumo. “Lecture: The Kawa Model.” Health Sciences UCT, 2011, vula.uct.ac.za/access/content/group/9c29ba04-b1ee-49b9-8c85-9a468b556ce2/Framework‗2/lecture5.htm. Accessed 7 May 2020.
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