STORYTELLING AS THERAPY
Story telling has been the method of passing down traditions, morals and values in cultures for a millennia. Long before there was the written language, stories were told, information was passed, histories retained. The commonality of the human spirit is captured in stories through the imagination. Stories were told through pictures, words, and only much later, the written language.
Storytelling allows the psychotherapeutic client the space to externalize feelings, process those feelings, internalize in a non-threatening, safe environment, then choose a course of behavior. Bergner ((2007) noted that storytelling as a therapeutic technique is beneficial for the client in terms of cognitive organization. Joseph Gold (2001) has identified 10 psychological consequences that may arise from the use of story and poetry in therapeutic encounters. These include language growth, learning about life, identification and modeling, cognitive shift (or reframing), problem-solving, “immunization” from their own feelings of awfulness, learning about emotions, normalization, and sharing (Gold, 2001, pp. 346–354). The learning objectives for this presentation include:
· Mythodology (spelled correctly, just a play on words)
· Criteria for story selection
· Story delivery
· Integration of values
· Client responses
RHONDA NECHANICKY
Rhonda Nechanicky, MA, MATP, BSN, RN is a psychotherapy intern. She is a certified Transpersonal Transformational Life Coach, and has recently completed her course work and practicum for a Master’s degree in Psychological Counseling at Sofia University. Her minor in Creative Expression allowed Rhonda to use therapeutic storytelling, art, and movement in the public school setting, with individuals and families as well as for a variety of trainings, workshops, and psychotherapy processes. Rhonda also teaches children, adolescents, and young adults basic mindfulness practices as well as processing grief, trauma and loss. Rhonda is an experienced Sandplay practitioner as well as a certified life coach. Rhonda’s area of focus is working with families of children with autism as well as large a small groups.
Her forward-thinking philosophy has been used by her clients as a tool to create a connection with their true life passions and explore the possibilities of their being.
By using the techniques she gained from her mentors, Rhonda has become a public speaker whose novel style translates well for any subject. Rhonda’s loving, compassionate nature, combined with her unique presenting style, presence and witty sense of humor has enabled her to train all age groups.
Please contact Rhonda at rhondatherapy@gmail.com for a list of her current training courses, personal mentoring, and coaching.
Lunch is available ($5 donation is recommended)
For more information contact Redding CAMFT Program Coordinator, Scott La Fein, at scottlaf@velotech.net