Pat did not come out of her room often, until she discovered art and drama. She seemed to enjoy the social part and also the laughter and expression.
During a drama session, we were gathered in a circle with various roles for a song we were singing. Each person acted out his or her part of the song. Pat enjoyed dramatizing the part of the bird.
Bring out the old clothes and Halloween costumes from the boxes in storage and become someone different. Each person uses props and dreams up a new name with new interests, dreams, and idiosyncracies. As each person internalizes his or her new role, we dialog back and forth, as we come up with different settings and circumstances. The best part is the laughter. It is a time to forget troubles.