How one small turtle and a bit of play can help to open communication with children in therapy

- Sherrie from ConchyGemDolls

This little Powerpoint story is a tribute to a very special puppet friend `Turtle’ who I have worked with for about four years now.

As a child trauma counsellor I utilise many techniques to assist me to reach children where they are in their own world. It is often challenging.

Sometimes you are lucky enough to find a unique strategy or tool that opens the door and allows that connection. Turtle has provided that special link for me on many occasions while working with children in my practice.

There are numerous relationship building and therapeutic techniques for counsellors. Each counsellor will have their own working way and strategies they trust. I thought I would just share this with you as one that has worked for me.

If you are interested in hand puppets for your therapy tool box and cannot find what you are looking for -Contact me at: www.etsy.com/au/shop/ConchyGemDolls

.As an Expressive Play Therapist I use many strategies and tools in my practice. My search for a sweet and sensitive turtle puppet was unsuccessful, so I decided to design and make my own.

Turtle is a machine and hand sewn puppet created specifically for therapeutic counselling with children. Turtle is made with soft bunting material and can be cuddled outright by children and/or used as a hand puppet to express a variety of emotions. The hand fits right into the head of the turtle which can be retracted into the `shell’ body.

This hard working little fellow has already assisted dozens of little people and he has been well used and loved.

Meet Turtle – a working puppet…

Turtle can help to normalise situations with children in different scenarios:• Initial counselling session• Relationship building - any stage• Children who experience resistance • Children who have experienced

trauma and attachment issues• Basically most issues that may

arise in therapy

* Strategies for puppet play*

Use sentence starters to open up communication:

Would you look at that…Turtle looks as if she/he might need to let us know something.

How/ What do you think Turtle is trying to communicate to us right now?

Encourage the child’s emotional vocabulary in exploring any messages Turtle may be trying to express.

Remember your own use of creative self, engagement and voice intonation is essential in puppet play therapy.

Turtle has a strong feeling

inside and runs away…

Turtle is going to look for

someone to help out…

Turtle might freeze.

Turtle pulls her head into her

shell so she can hide…

Strategies: Once the child is comfortable with the puppet – invite them to handle and explore

ways that Turtle can communicate his feelings. You can try the examples above or others…

Tip - Have a read of Gardner’s Theory of Multiple intelligences in using puppet play as it

adapts readily and beautifully to using all the learning modalities.

* Strategy Tips *

A great opportunity to talk about:

• Communicating our feelings

• Skills for communicating

• How support might look/feel

• Safety hand concept

• Support networks

• Way to keep safe

Sentence starter:

O my – Turtle has gone into her

shell for now. I am wondering what

she needs to be able to come back

out of her shell… (soft gentle tone)

Turtle has retreated into her shell. She is being

gently supported as she begins to self regulate…

Strategies to try…

Praise Turtle’s courage for coming out

of his shell.

Enlist your clients help in helping

Turtle to feel comfortable and safe.

Encourage Turtle to share his

feelings about being in the shell and

then deciding to come out of his shell.

Together explore the strengths that

Turtle may have used…

Who does Turtle feel safe talking too?

Remember your Safety Hand…

Inviting your young client to draw their experience of puppet play with Turtle may assist them to integrate the emotional journey in the session.

Their drawing may reflect a related experience or it may be completely different to the session content. No matter - the child will draw what they need to in order to process the feelings that have surfaced.

Try adding soothing music and modelling slowed rhythmic breathing

Integration exercises are valuable in assisting the child to prepare for the end of the session and to enter the world outside the therapy room.

Thankyou for sharing Turtle’s story.

Turtle is having some minor repairs done at the moment but hopefully will be back at work soon. Turtle is expecting to be joined by some colleagues shortly when we welcome his friends Pelican and Crab.

I hope you have had fun and maybe gained a bit of inspiration for your own practice. I would love to hear from other therapists about some of their special tools of the trade.

You can contact me via email at: meyerfamily@aapt.net.au

Or visit my doll and soft creations shop at: etsy.com/au/shop/ConchyGemDolls