Therapeutic Dolls for Trauma Responsive Practice with Children
Therapeutic Dolls for Trauma Responsive Practice with Children
The Australian Childhood Foundation has designed an innovative range of therapeutic dolls that are based on “neuro-metaphor” – a new modality for working with traumatised children in any context.
As the trauma field has matured, there has been increasing interest in the use of practical applications to support the recovery of children and young people from experiences of violation and severe relational disruption.
Over the past five years, we have created and trialled a new type of tool that is a world first. It introduces the new therapeutic modality of neuro-metaphor. This approach intentionally integrates sensory, emotional and cognitive approaches to trauma resolution for children and young people. It recruits children’s imagination to playfully engage with stories involving characters that metaphorically represent the themes that are present in their own lives. As they tell and retell these stories, different plot lines emerge that children can interact with through language and experience through their implicit sensory based memory systems.
The new tool
The new tool is a set of four colourful, texturally rich therapeutic dolls who live within and around the branches of a creative narrative landscape defined by a Big Tree. Each of the characters represent pivotal themes that children engage with in the therapeutic process including,
- identity configuration,
- emotional expression and affect regulation,
- nurture and nourishment,
- being heard and finding a voice,
- worry and calm,
- transformation and adaptability.
Four characters with healing purpose
Each character has specific themes of experience and healing integrated into their design; including identity, emotion, nurture, sensation awareness, calm and relaxation, containment and transformation. Morton the monster supports children to explore their identity, Ollie the monkey encourages exploration of nurturing through feeding, Susan the Kitten is designed to help children feel calm, and Ellen the caterpillar represents themes of transformation and containment.
Trauma-informed design
The design of each doll has been organised and informed by a multi-disciplinary approach to the knowledge of how trauma impacts upon children. Our own experience has shown that sensory information can play a vital role in understanding and responding to experiences of trauma.
The weighted filling of each of the dolls enables them to take on the contours of the individual holding them, making them fit snuggly into the arms of a child. This experience offers a sense of tactile containment and security similar to the comfort of warm deep pressure touch. This relaxing and calming experience is vital for children when they feel distressed.
Upcoming training in using these Therapeutic Dolls
We are offering workshops that explore how this set of therapeutic tools are used with children and families, including an exploration of their capacity to promote sensory engagement. The dolls all have colour, sound and texture built into them.
What can you expect from attending this workshop?
Workshops include hands-on demonstration and exploration where valuable insight into the richness of meaning-making strategies that children and their carers/families can engage in when relationships have fun, respect and imagination restored to them.
A Morton the Monster Therapeutic Doll is included, along with a comprehensive manual about how to use the tools with children and/or parents/carers, in your purchase of the workshop. For participants who register from countries outside of Australia, an additional fee may be charged to cover the cost of shipping the Therapeutic Dolls overseas. Please ensure you list the correct delivery address so that you can have the item in time for the workshop
After attending the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to purchase additional Dolls included in this workshop. The Therapeutic Dolls cannot be purchased unless you have attended the training. The cost of each doll is $66 (GST Inclusive).
The number of registrations for each workshop is strictly limited. Make sure you register now to avoid disappointment.
Please note that we can deliver training about the therapeutic dolls to whole of organisations or teams of practitioners at your workplace. To find out about these customised learning opportunities, email support@childhood.org.au.
Have you already completed the Therapeutic Dolls for Trauma Responsive Practice with Children course? Our new innovative course, The Big Tree Therapeutic Dolls: New Stories and Characters welcomes new arrivals Molly Snail and Percy Bee along with a set of eighteen beautifully illustrated stories woven around the varied themes of each of the six dolls. The use of stories is intimately tied to therapeutic work and offers children opportunities to visit other worlds and try on new ideas as they heal.
Apply Now
There are currently no openings available for this course.All course and workshop times are displayed in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra time zones. Please ensure you convert the time to your current time zone. All workshop payments must be made by Credit Card at the time of registration to ensure you secure a place. For assistance with group bookings of between 5 to 10 registrations into the same workshop date, please contact us on support@childhood.org.au
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Or have a question about this session?
We are always working to meet our needs. If we don’t currently have a workshop date displayed or it’s full, please register your interest in this workshop by completing the following enquiry form. Otherwise, if you have a question about this workshop feel free to contact us using the enquiry form also.
Are you looking for more specific training?
For more advanced bespoke trainings or large group bookings (above 10 registrations) we are happy to work together to develop something to meet your needs. Complete the form to register your interest, and we will contact you as soon as we can.