WHAT IS A THERAPEUTIC CLOWN?
The Canadian Association of Therapeutic Clowns/ L'Association Canadienne des Clowns Therapeutiques (CATC/ACCT)
CATC/ACCT is a professional association of Canadian therapeutic clowns, founded in 2005 with 27 charter members. The association currently has a membership from coast to coast of over 45 therapeutic clown practitioners.
We define a professional therapeutic clown as one who:
- * is specifically trained to work in the health care field
- * abides by a code of ethics
- * is committed to being a regular presence in the health care setting
- * collaborates routinely with other members of the health care team
- * engages in on-going training and development
- * receives appropriate remuneration for the work
Our membership reflects the richness and diversity of clowns working professionally in health care in Canada. All CATC/ACCT members go by the title of therapeutic clowns, whether they choose to work as a medically- based character, such as a Clown Doctor, or not. Our members work in solo and duo models, and are both verbal and non-verbal. We work with all age groups from babies to seniors.
"With their focus on the imaginative and the creative, therapeutic clowns offer new opportunities for play and laughter, for self-expression and self-acceptance, for mastery and empowerment, and for moments of tenderness and comfort. We believe that these interactions have an impact on everyone's experiences and perceptions, and thus help to humanize the health care setting.
We honour and respect those we serve (patient, resident, family and staff), and offer ourselves as resources they may freely choose to access. We believe that we are co-creators with them, and that the joy, creativity, tenderness, and wealth of benefits arising from our exchanges are a collective creation of all involved. As therapeutic clowns, we see our role as being supportive and inspirational in nature, facilitating and encouraging emotional well-being. The patient, resident, family or staff member is the one whose imagination and creativity we wish to foster, celebrate and set free."
The CATC/ACCT Statement of Principles describes the shared vision of the association's membership and can be found elsewhere on this site under "By-Laws".
Our electronic network offers our members a forum for discussion, support, and mentoring.
CATC/ACCT holds an annual symposium in conjunction with its Annual General Meeting. Each year, the symposium/AGM is hosted by an established therapeutic clown program. The 2011 CATC/ACCT Symposium/AGM will be held in Winnipeg.