Research shows that observing and interacting with nature through gardening, watching things grow, and spending time outdoors can improve mood and reduce anxiety. This spring, the TUH-Episcopal Campus team embraced those benefits and brought this innovative form of therapy indoors to patients in the hospital’s extended care Behavioral Health units.
As part of a four-week initiative led by Behavioral Health Therapist Lindsy Burns, MMT, MT-BC, CCTS-I, patients raised and released 20 butterflies, enhancing engagement in their treatment, providing numerous therapeutic benefits, and building rapport between patients and team members.
“With spring and summer coming up, we asked our patients what they wanted to plant and watch grow this year, and one of them said it would be really cool if we could grow butterflies, from start to finish,” Burns explains.
Burns worked closely with colleagues Briana Stinson, LCSW, Episcopal’s Director of Therapeutic Programming, and LJ Rasi, LSW, the campus’ Director of Behavioral Health, to make the butterfly-raising initiative a reality.
“The average length of stay on one of extended care units is over a year, and for safety reasons, our patients don’t have access to many activities outside their unit,” Rasi says. “Lindsy did all the legwork to fully define the scope of the project and the therapeutic benefits, and we were able to get 11 patients approved to participate in the outdoor butterfly release.”
A Patient-Centered Process
With approvals in place, Burns ordered 20 caterpillars, set up their temporary “home base” in her office, and began doing research on caterpillar care.
“Whenever I had group sessions with residents of our extended care units, I brought the caterpillars along so they could see them grow,” says Burns, who had no previous experience with raising caterpillars. “The patients and I watched a lot of informational videos, and it was wonderful to learn together.”
According to Burns, patients took pictures of each stage of the caterpillars’ metamorphosis and managed all aspects of their care. This included transferring the caterpillars from their jar while in their chrysalis and into their primary enclosure, keeping the enclosure clean, and cleaning up extra webbing to create a safe environment for the butterflies to emerge. After the butterflies arrived, patients fed them peeled pieces of fruit and nectar water.
“Patients were at the center of the entire process, and it set a beautiful stage for us to explore symbolism and engage with some bigger therapeutic topics like change, transformation, and letting go,” Burns says.
Creativity Promotes Recovery
On May 1st, six patients had the opportunity to go outside one at a time and release the fully grown butterflies, which will hopefully make their permanent home among the large trees and flower beds on the TUH-Episcopal campus.
“Before the release, I took the butterfly enclosure around the unit so each patient who had been involved in their care could have the opportunity to say goodbye and take a photo,” says Burns. “Everyone, including the unit staff, had such a positive response. It was lovely to see. The patients were so appreciative, and they’re still talking about the event.”
According to Stinson, it’s the collaboration among colleagues and the creativity of the team that brings joy, improves quality of life, and contributes to TUH-Episcopal patients’ recovery.
“Our team thinks outside of the box and advocates for our patients,” says Stinson. “We work together to be creative and bring patient and team member ideas to life.”
“With Behavioral Health, you have so many options you can use to promote recovery,” Rasi explains. “Our therapists are the most creative bunch around, and we want to be as supportive as we can of those ideas because of the benefits they bring to our patients.”
Starting a New Tradition
As memorable and meaningful as the event was for the patients, Burns said the experience was also something she’ll never forget.
“It’s my hope that our butterfly raising and release can pave the way for future initiatives that amplify our patients’ voices, demonstrate our trust in their experience, and create opportunities for shared experiences that diminish the power dynamic between patients and team members,” says Burns. “Maybe this will even become an annual tradition.”