Karen Thode

St Vincent

Karen Thode is an experienced clinician in the Residential Support Program which is part of the Aged Psychiatry department of St Vincent's hospital Melbourne, Australia.  She has specialised as a behaviour consultant for dementia care for over a decade and has a Masters of Health Science, Gerontology. She has been studying Sogetsu Ikebana for the past 5 years and has become increasingly aware of the therapeutic benefits the practice provides.  She is keen to explore that potential further with her clients. These two case studies are drawn from her clientele who showed improvement in depressive symptoms while being treated and engaging in ikebana as a meaningful pleasureable activity.