Using the Tree of Life in a Day Hospice Setting: A Pilot Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the Therapeutic Benefits of using the Tree of Life in a Day Hospice Setting?: A Pilot Study.
IRAS ID
304998
Contact name
Rachel Warren
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The Tree of Life is a recovery approach, based on narrative therapy that focuses on culture, heritage, spirituality, strengths and hope. It originated in Zimbabwe from the work of Ncazelo Ncube and David Denborough to help traumatised communities find a safe place before talking about their problems. A tree is used as a metaphor for an individual’s life and each part represents different positive elements of a person’s life. Staff and service users draw and share their trees to build a forest of trees on the day unit wall and every workshop ends with a celebration and certificate.
To date the Tree of Life approach has been used largely in mental health services. We are interested in how this approach would work in a day hospice setting for staff and patients. We are planning to trial using this approach in Nuneaton’s Mary Ann Evans Hospice. The process will take place over three two-hour group sessions. It is hoped including hospice staff will enable them to run this group on an ongoing basis going forward.
Palliative patients are likely to have experienced multiple traumas associated with their diagnosis and treatment which may be in addition to previous trauma throughout life. The Tree of Life is a well-established approach for working with trauma and as such, the aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of the Tree of Life in a Palliative setting.
We are anticipating that some of the benefits may be:
- Allowing people to tell the story of their lives and acknowledge their strengths, resources and talents.
- Enable people to review their life and consider their legacy and hopes and reach a level of peace in relation to this.
- Experience a sense of belonging, connection and self-compassion.REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0102
Date of REC Opinion
25 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion