Self Discovery Tapestry Kit

PRESS RELEASE FOR SELF-DISCOVERY TAPESTRY KIT

May 2000

Unique Life Review Instrument Available for Therapists and Group Leaders

Life Course Publishing is pleased to announce the release of its newest product: The Self-Discovery Tapestry kit. This unique interactive life review instrument, packaged as an easy to use kit, offers a colorful nonverbal instrument for gerontologists, therapists, career counselors, group leaders and instructors of adult classes. The Self Discovery Tapestry is for people who are searching for adaptive coping strategies, reviewing their life histories in order to come to terms with the present, or seeking new career and life paths. The kit is valuable for support group members and for teachers who wish their students to become familiar with life review strategies. By using colored pens clients �weave� the threads of their past, current, and future lives as though they were creating a tapestry; the instrument encourages participants to show their continuous and transitional events.

Elements: Elements of the Self-Discovery Tapestry kit include sufficient materials for 15 clients: the Tapestry matrix form (15) Client�s Guide (15), Leader�s Guide (1), and a set of 5 colored pens. For ease of analysis, the Tapestry is divided into 4 domains: interpersonal relationships, occupations (education, work and hobbies), personal issues, and disposition (turmoil and confusion, periods of creativity as well as happiness and unhappiness). Included on the Self-Discovery Tapestry is a column where clients indicate future activities and attachments which show their lifelong values. Columns for listing critical events, career paths or jobs, and hobbies and sports interests exist to facilitate recall and provide information for therapists to investigate with the client. Topics included within each domain encourage clients to recall sustained elements in their lives. Clients are invited to use the enclosed colored pens to color in horizontal squares under the appropriate age numbers corresponding to the ages when they did an activity, e.g., worked. Instructions direct them to change colors when a continuous element changed, for example, if they changed marital partners or changed schools. Important events are indicated by drawing a single vertical line at the �age� when that event occurred. Clients and leaders are able to see how some important events interrupted the continuity of life. Thoughtful analytical questions are included in the Client�s Guide.

Instructions for completing the Tapestry and self-reflective questions are important elements of the Client�s Guide. The Leader�s Guide provides the theoretical background, case histories, and suggestions for use with clients. Colored pens are included in the attractively boxed kit. The Self-Discovery Tapestry may be administered to an individual by a therapist, in a group setting leading to group discussion, or by an individual who later discusses the Tapestry with a therapist or leader. It generally takes about 30 thoughtful minutes to complete.

The Self-Discovery Tapestry kit is available for $89.00 from Life Course Publishing. Additional copies of the Tapestry and Client Guides are available in sets of 10 for $19.00 each. Educational discounts are available for large orders. Workshops for groups may be arranged by contacting Dr. Phyllis J. Meltzer via e-mail at ATapestryKit@aol.com.

History: The Self-Discovery Tapestry was developed as a means to assist individuals in expressing their past lives as simply and independently as possible. It began as an actual weaving of the author�s life. The tapestry concept was transferred to paper and became the colorful life review instrument it is today. Development was refined during the author�s doctoral research when she administered the Tapestry to more than 300 people in individual and group settings. It was revealed through research and
interviews that recent critical events led to life transitions. Review of research participants� Tapestry forms was encouraged. They were encouraged to �discover� elements in their lives that led to their current life status. Most participants were delighted to discover their lives were so colorful and to review their accomplishments. All insisted on taking their completed tapestries with them! Continuing research is being conducted in college classrooms with students who express their interest in sharing life events with other classmates as well as affirm their future goals. Working in groups with mature individuals engaged in life review and women�s support groups indicates the instrument has important value to them as well.

The Author: Phyllis J. Meltzer was awarded her doctor philosophy degree in 1997 at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles) in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Earlier degrees include a Master of Science in Gerontology (USC, 1992), Master of Science in Adult Education (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University, 1986), and Bachelor of Arts in Speech Therapy and English (UCLA, 1959). Dr. Meltzer has worked as a museum education professional at the Smithsonian Institution and National Gallery of Art and as a consultant in volunteer administration. She currently resides in Southern California and has an appointment at UCLA as a visiting professor. Among her other consultative activities, Dr. Meltzer is an active board member of the California Council of Gerontology and Geriatrics.

Endorsements: Endorsements of the instrument include those by a renown occupational therapist and a leading gerontologist as well as a mental health professional.

�Completing the Self-Discovery Tapestry is an engaging opportunity to review one�s major occupations and important life milestones. It assists in structuring a narrative about one�s life that can become a vital part of lifestyle redesign in occupational therapy. Students and experienced practitioners should learn to use this inviting method.�
Ruth Zemke, Ph.D., OTR, FAOTA, Professor,
Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles

�The concept of the Tapestry is a very powerful tool in developing self awareness. I strongly recommend this technique for old and young alike, for life review and life discovery. Dr. Meltzer has developed a program which is very effective and which I have utilized in the classroom setting for traditional students as well as with later life learners. This life review instrument will revolutionize reminiscence strategies.�
Dr. Pauline Abbott, Director, Institute of Gerontology, Ruby Gerontology Center, California State University, Fullerton

Aging Well Tomorrow Requires Living Well Today