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Transforming Our Youth. Jessica Clark and Lindsey Sitz. To create a unique and effective behavioral modification program utilizing a variety of therapy techniques that appeal to children and allow for growth in the areas of respect, responsibility, and the ability to cope with emotions.
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Transforming Our Youth Jessica Clark and Lindsey Sitz
To create a unique and effective behavioral modification program utilizing a variety of therapy techniques that appeal to children and allow for growth in the areas of respect, responsibility, and the ability to cope with emotions. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Is Talk Therapy Adequate? Children may have a difficult time articulating their feelings into words (Johnson, 2000) Hands-on activities engage the tactile senses and allow for unconscious exploration (Camilleri, 2007)
Therapeutic Techniques • Sandplay • Horticultural • Butterflies • Recycling Contest • Art projects • Worry dolls • “Color my world”
Sandplay Cockle (1993) -Evokes emotions -Beneficial for children with problems in coping
Plants & Animals in Therapy • Master Gardener Project (Alexander, 1995) • Pocket Pets (Flom, 2005)
Methods • Participants Control versus experimental group • Baseline Coding • Implementation • Post-intervention Coding
Circle of Trust • A confidentiality contract signed by each of the participants: “Everyone involved in T.O.Y. is part of a circle of trust. We will share things and hear things that are private. By signing this paper I agree that I _____________ am a part of this circle of trust. I agree to keep all things discussed during T.O.Y. to myself in order to keep the T.O.Y. environment safe and fun.”
Reflections from the Participants • My favorite part of T.O.Y. was… “Making worry dolls.” “Learning about bullies.” “Going on the trash hunt.”
What I learned from T.O.Y… • “Competitions for fun.” • “Being a better person.” • “How to keep calm.”
Reflections from the Researchers Lindsey • Discussion about Disabilities Jessica • Recycling Contest • Developmentally Appropriate Game (Reddy, 2001)
Participants • Coders not formally trained • Coding time was cut • Attendance • Lack of control Limitations
Suggestions for Future Research • Randomized selection of participants OR • T.O.Y. with a group of students with the same presenting problem • Male co-leader, more male friendly activities • Better limit-setting • Reformulating “Plants”
References Alexander, J., & Others, A. (1995, June 1). Master gardener classroom garden project: An evaluation of the benefits to children. Children's Environments, 12(2), 256- 263. Camilleri, V. (2007). Healing the inner city child: Creative arts therapies with at-risk youth. London England: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Retrieved December 10, 2008, from PsycINFO database. Cockle, S. (1993). Sandplay: A comparative study. International Journal of Play Therapy, 2(2), 1-17. Flom, B.L. (2005). Counseling with pocket pets: Using small animals in elementary counseling programs. Professional School Counseling, 8(5), 469-471. Johnson, D. (2000). Creative therapies. Effective treatments for PTSD: Practice guidelines from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (pp. 302-314). New York, NY US: Guilford Press. Retrieved December 10, 2008, from PsycINFO database Reddy, L.A., Spencer, P., Hall, T.M., & Rubel, E. (2001). Use of developmentally appropriate games in a child group training program for young children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In A.A. Drewes, L.J. Carey, & C.E. Schaefer (Eds.), School-Based Therapy (pp. 256-274). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
