MAGIC
THERAPY
Over the last decade, the medical field has witnessed the advancement of the arts as a therapeutic tool in rehabilitation medicine and the treatment of mental health concerns.
Sometimes those in the health professions forget the role the arts can play in promoting and protecting human health. However, in recent decades, medical professionals have increasingly explored innovative approaches that extend beyond traditional clinical treatments. Expressive arts therapies, including the use of creative methods like simple magic tricks, have gained significant recognition for their effectiveness in physical and psychosocial rehabilitation.
Dr. Kevin Spencer has collaborated with healthcare providers and their patients for over 20 years, utilizing simple magic tricks as a therapeutic tool to enhance rehabilitation outcomes. He founded Magic Therapy™ in response to the challenges of maintaining patient motivation during extended rehabilitation processes. The activities are inherently engaging and encourage active participation.
Performing a magic trick is intrinsically rewarding, leading patients to practice tasks more frequently and with greater enthusiasm compared to traditional, repetitive exercises targeting the same objectives. This increased engagement accelerates the achievement of therapeutic goals, making Magic Therapy™ a highly effective intervention.
Dr. Spencer is internationally recognized as the leading authority on the passive and active therapeutic benefits of magic tricks in rehabilitation. He serves as a research consultant with the School of Health Professions Department of Occupational Therapy and the Arts in Medicine program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a regular guest presenter in the Advance Neuro course in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Chapman University (CA). And he is a featured speaker at numerous healthcare-related conferences around the world. His program, Magic Therapy™, offers a systematically designed, evidence-based approach to training healthcare professionals in the protocol for this innovative therapeutic intervention.
Areas of Focus in Healthcare:
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Child Life
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Social Work
“Dr. Kevin Spencer's groundbreaking integration of magic tricks into pediatric sedation represents an innovative fusion of art and medicine. His evidence-based approach not only enhances the patient experience but also serves as a model for humanizing clinical care. By leveraging the engaging and therapeutic aspects of magic, he demonstrates how simple magic tricks can reduce preoperative anxiety in children, foster trust and create a calming environment. Dr. Spencer’s work exemplifies the profound impact of creativity in advancing medical practice.”
Dr. Keira Mason | Senior Associate in Perioperative Anesthesia | Associate Professor of Anesthesia | Harvard Medical School
“Dr. Spencer’s session for medical students helped activate out-of-the-box thinking and we began to apply novel ideas to medical and communication challenges. His methods are memorable and the processes we practiced are needed for responding to patients, which requires engaging all parts of the brain.”
Carolyn Szetela, Ph.D. | Professor | Professional & Medical Education | Meharry Medical College (TN)
“Dr. Spencer serves as a guest lecturer in my Advanced Practice Management in Neurologic Physical Therapy course at Chapman University, where he presents on Magic Therapy. This innovative approach integrates seamlessly with our focus on activity-dependent neuroplasticity principles, including practice, salience, and challenge; vision rehabilitation; dual-task/cognitive interventions; and movement discovery for individuals with neurologic health conditions. Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students find Magic Therapy both engaging and practical for application in adult and pediatric populations. They have successfully incorporated it into practice, particularly during our Parkinson’s Boot Camps.Magic Therapy addresses multiple sensory, cognitive, emotional, and motor processes in a fun and functional way, fostering self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and autonomy for both patients and therapists.”
Patricia Brown, DPT | Associate Professor & Clinical Faculty | Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences | Chapman University (CA)
“The Tennessee Performing Arts Center was honored to host Dr. Kevin Spencer for another successful Magic Therapy residency. His expertise and unwavering dedication to advancing arts-integrated healthcare are truly inspiring. We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Spencer for his continued partnership and for bringing the ‘magic’ of healing to our community.”
Roberta Ciuffo | Chief Inclusive Arts Officer | Tennessee Performing Arts Center
“We have had the pleasure of hosting Kevin at our hospital on multiple occasions. His interactive demonstrations with our staff have been both educational and inspiring. However, Kevin’s true brilliance emerges when he interacts with patients. His expertise, compassion, and humanity are unmistakable in these moments. His skill set is incredibly diverse, and he works collaboratively to design programs tailored to the specific needs of your team and facility.”
Janice L. Zack, CCLS | Child Life Coordinator | Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital (FL)
“A residency with Dr. Kevin Spencer is an opportunity to inspire, to learn, to bring healing and to feel fulfilled at the end of the day. After 3-years working with Dr. Spencer we never let him leave without booking him for next year. When Dr. Spencer engages with children or adults at a hospital, or kids with disabilities at schools, or even with families during a sensory-inclusive performance, Dr. Spencer approaches the people he serves with such love and compassion that they develop trust in a way that allows them to share a magical moment.
Dr. Spencer’s residency has brough us many magical moments. When a healthcare professional discovers a better way to provide emotional, developmental and therapeutic support using tricks, that’s Magic. When a student with disabilities sees a trick that seems impossible to do, but through guidance, repetition, and flexible thinking accomplishes it and says “I did it”, and then the student does it again, that’s Magic. When a child who has never been to a theater and is anxious from being around other people raises their hand to be part of the sensory-inclusive performance to battle their fear, that’s Magic. When an adult finds a way after many years to share a traumatic personal story while performing a trick, that’s healing Magic. These are just a few examples of the magical moments you will experience with Dr. Kevin Spencer during a residency, and you will you will appreciate those moments so much that you won’t be able to wait for the next residency.”
Gustavo Padrino | Senior Manager, Community Engagement
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
The Therapeutic Application of Magic Tricks in a Clinical Setting
CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOP
The magic therapy workshop empowers therapists with a valuable new tool to motivate their clients to become more involved in their treatment. The workshop is a “hands-on, interactive learning experience” and is grounded in the Model of Human Occupation, Motor Learning Theory, Incentive Theory of Motivation, and Social Learning Theory.
The applications address the entire spectrum to include developmental disabilities, mental health, physical disabilities, gerontology, and specific disease related deficits. The movements required to learn simple magic tricks help clients regain lost physical and cognitive skills while increasing motivational levels and self-esteem.
“Kevin Spencer set new expectations this year as OTAC’s Keynote speaker! He captured the audience by connecting with everyone in the room, both professionally and personally, through his talents and his own therapy story. Therapists were stunned and motivated by his program, which includes simple and effective “tricks of the trade” that are easily applicable to client goals. Above all, he was relevant, engaging, inspiring, and approachable to all throughout our conference.”
Akemi Davies, OTR/L | Occupational Therapy Association of California
“The energy and active participation kept the participants engaged, thinking, and creative. I appreciated the fact that you challenged the class – both physically and mentally – to analyze how a simple magic trick related back to the therapeutic interventions addressing multiple patient goals: cognitive, motor, and psychosocial.”
Nancy Reger, PT | Hunterdon Healthcare System (NJ)
“Your class and the keynote speech were the most valuable things that I took away from the conference. You are one of the most interesting and intriguing speakers I have ever met and I find your work inspirational! Thank you for all you do for occupational therapy!”
Max Zweig, OTR/L
“I almost didn’t attend your presentation because I thought it was going to be another “hokey” lecture. BOY WAS I WRONG! You have created something really special, and the fact that this approach is evidence-based excites me beyond belief. I am a hand therapist with over 25 years’ experience working with patients. I’ve attended hundreds of continuing ed courses, taught many continuing ed courses myself, taught at several universities, written for therapy text books / professional journals, chaired professional associations and regulatory boards and NOTHING has excited me more than this concept of using magic as a treatment tool. I’ve never been so interested in a treatment approach in all my years of practice.”
Dr. Christine M. Wietlisbach, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, MPA | Loma Linda University (CA)
Magic Therapy in Action.
the magic camp program
The annual UAB Magic Camp offers an engaging and inclusive experience for children ages 9 to 18 with disabilities. Each four-week camp provides a unique opportunity for participants to learn two to three magic tricks every Monday and Wednesday, with a special group session every Friday to foster connections among campers. The program culminates in a live-streamed magic show, where participants showcase their newfound skills to friends and family.
UAB occupational therapy students, trained in a specialized protocol developed by Dr. Kevin Spencer—an internationally recognized expert on the therapeutic application of magic tricks—lead the camp. This innovative program not only creates memorable moments for the campers but also serves as a transformative learning experience for the students involved.
Supplementary Information
ADDITIONAL INFO
Introducing Dr. Spencer’s Work
Discover the transformative power of magic in rehabilitation with this inspiring video. Featuring Dr. Kevin Spencer, a global authority on the therapeutic use of magic tricks, the video highlights how creative interventions can empower individuals, enhance skills, and redefine possibilities in physical and psychosocial therapy.
U.S. Department of State
This short video, shared on the U.S. Consulate's Facebook page in Yekaterinburg, Russia, highlights Dr. Kevin Spencer’s innovative programs and their transformative impact on individuals with disabilities during his collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Russia.
Powerful Medicine: Simply Magic
Powerful Medicine: Simply Magic is a short documentary that explores the therapeutic benefits of simple magic tricks as a treatment technique in rehabilitation medicine. Despite it being very “occupational therapy-centric,” it has been widely applauded at film festivals around the world. It has earned 18 international awards including the “International Humanitarian Platinum Award” and “Best Short Documentary” from numerous film festivals. You will find this film uplifting and inspiring!
Voice of America
Voice of America’s Julia Taboh features a wonderful story on the arts and autism.
Talks and Conferences
CONFERENCES & PRESENTATIONS
Dr. Spencer is a distinguished and highly sought-after speaker at conferences and professional gatherings in the fields of education, healthcare, and research. He frequently presents at roundtables for higher education professionals and is recognized as a subject matter expert and authorized speaker for the U.S. Department of State’s Speaker Program. Below is a selection of his conference proceedings and keynote presentations:
Magic, Medicine, & More (2024 Dec). Presentation Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Pediatric Anesthesia Conference. Little Rock, AR.
Magic as a Non-pharmacologic Sedation Technique (2024, Feb). Presentation at the 18th Annual Pediatric Sedation Conference of the Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital: Sedation Techniques Outside the Operation Room. Boston, MA.
Measuring Student Outcomes through the Arts (2023, Oct). Keynote presentation at the National Association for Special Schools (NASS) conference. Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Therapeutic Application of Magic Tricks for Special Populations (2022, Dec). Presentation at Kultur University, hosted by Ev Okulu Derneği. Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye.
CPR Analytics: Measuring the Impact of the Arts on Children with Disabilities (2019, July). Presentation at the 16th Biennial Conference of the International Association of Special Education: Empowering Persons with Disabilities: Developing Resilience and Inclusive Sustainable Development., Magamba, Tanzania.
A Celebration of Inclusion (2018, July). Presentation and workshop in Trondheim, Norway.
Creative Aging & the Arts (2018, April). Presentation and workshop at the Creative Aging Conference at The Cardinal Wyszyński University. Warsaw, Poland.
Prioritization of Professional Development Needs for Inclusive Practices in Developing Regions, (2018, April). Paper co-presentation at the American Education Research Association Conference. New York City, NY.
First World Congress for Persons with Disabilities in Russia (2017, September). Performance and workshop for individuals with disabilities. Yekaterinburg, Russia.
First World Congress for Persons with Disabilities in Russia (2017, September). Performance and workshop for individuals with disabilities. Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Engaging Individuals with Disabilities Using an Arts-Integrated Approach (2017, September). Presentation and workshops in Yekaterinburg, Verkh-Neyvinsky, Chelyabinsk, and Ufa (Russia).
The Development and Psychometric Investigation of an Arts-Integrated Assessment Instrument for Educators (2017, April). Paper co-presentation at the American Education Research Association conference. San Antonio, TX.