Thriving in Place

Last year, a doctoral student from the University of Texas Medical Branch piloted a new life skills class at The Beacon, now known as TIP, based on occupational therapy principles. The curriculum of TIP class continues to evolve and expand as we tailor services to help our clients truly “thrive in place”. The overall goal is to create a trauma-informed care environment so that clients can feel supported to take actionable steps toward becoming housed.

TIP class continues to take place weekly with staff supervision and support and currently includes meditation, creative writing and art therapy activities in addition to coping and life skills. Using a person-centered approach, client feedback is actively being sought to guide the curriculum and we have begun a series of client “focus groups” to further explore program needs and opportunities.

Recently, Martin, a new class attendant, shared this comment: “It was raining this morning, and if I didn’t have a mountain of laundry, I would have stayed in my tent. So really I just came for the laundry...but instead I got smiling faces, a Honey Bun, some watercolor paints, and a chance to get some things off my chest. I’m sure glad I didn’t stay in my tent this morning.”