Jennifer Guallpa
Professor Ewan/Professor Adams
FIQWS/Puppetry
8 April 2019
Research Proposal: Puppetry in Therapy
The topic that I will be writing about is puppetry in therapy or play therapy. Throughout the expository essay I will be explaining how puppetry in therapy can impact people specifically children. I chose this topic because there are many ways puppetry can help children through therapy depending on the situation that they have experienced and how a puppet can help a child express themselves and open up. I plan to focus my research on puppetry in therapy by using the CCNY database where I will be getting all my information for this assignment.
I assume that puppetry in therapy can help children feel more comfortable because it can be seen as a toy or friend to a child. I also think that not only can puppetry help children through therapy but it can also help children open up and release any misunderstandings or frustrations that they are not able to express. Although puppetry in therapy seems like a great alternative to help children recover from their experiences. There are still some questions that need some clarification, such as: How long will the process of play therapy be? Is it any different from other forms of therapy for children? A very important question for play therapy is how effective is it and how can it cause changes in a child’s life? These questions and many more about the topic puppetry in therapy will be answered in the assignment. Puppetry in therapy is a treatment option involving children who receive therapy where it may help them to open up and express themselves, but it can impact children hardly or in different ways compared to other children.
Puppetry in Therapy
While researching about puppetry in therapy many researchers explained their reasoning of using puppetry in therapy and the impressions it has left on the children. However, not only do the researchers talk about the impressions left on children but also the ways some children can’t be as impacted as other children in puppet therapy. Puppetry in therapy can be used to help children through therapy which can leave a major impact on them all in a comfortable setting where they can express themselves in their own way while helping them resolve the problem.
Puppetry in therapy is just one way of helping children who have gone through traumatic experiences. In “Children Use Art, Puppetry To Express Themselves.” Bruce Crompton explains that the children among the refugee population in the Middle East who have had puppet therapy have been able to improve from when they have started (87). The children who have experienced traumatic events in war were able to improve and recover from how they were before. Not only has it helped children improve their condition, it was also able help them improve their communication and be less aggressive towards others (87). The children in the refugee population were impacted by the use of puppet therapy and were able to improve with them. Bruce Crompton explains how puppetry can help children who have been through traumatic events and help them recover and improve from those events. Having the potential to cope through a traumatic time can impact children and their families and help them learn how to improve and relieve themselves.
Furthermore, puppetry in therapy can also help children who are in distress before a surgery. In “Coping Skills Training for Children: Effects on Distress Before, During, and After Hospitalization for Surgery.” Thomas R. Zastowny, et al. explain how parents and children had participated in a research where a puppet video was being show to educate parents on to help relax them before a surgery (235). Watching a puppet videotape can help parents learn how to keep their child relax so that they don’t have to get nervous for a surgery and feel prepared for it. With the use of parents viewing the puppet videos that were given by the researchers, it is concluded that the coping skills intervention were better than anxiety reduction for children before a surgery (244). Informative puppet videos of helping reduce a child’s stress before a surgery was able to assist parents on how to help their child not be nervous before a surgery. Watching these informative videos where the puppets explain how to help a child in distress and help a parent know what to do to prepare their child for surgery. Puppetry in therapy can have an impact in children’s lives with the influence of their parents once they are able to understand and know who to help their children through the process.
Moreover, puppetry can also help children who have behavior issues. In “Using Puppets with Children in Narrative Therapy to Externalize the Problem.” Sue Butler, et al. explain their research of externalizing the problems of children by using puppets in narrative therapy (226). Butler conducts a research where she will conclude whether or not narrative therapy with a puppet can help express a child’s emotions. Butler, et al. explain their case that involves 8 year old Eric who has been having behavioral problems due to the separation of his parents. Through the eight sessions of counseling Eric’s behavior has improved and his coping skills and also improved his social skills ( 232). When Eric started his sessions he was able to pick a puppet that he felt best represented and ended up picking a large bug puppet that represented his annoyance the most(230). In Butler et al.’s research, Eric was able to improve his behavior and was able to cope with his parents divorce a different way them miss behaving at school. In the case of Eric he was able to improve his behavior issues with the help of narrative therapy, where he was able to express his emotions about his parents divorce and depict them through a puppet (231). Going through a divorce can have a major impact on children however they can learn coping mechanisms or emphasize their own with the help of puppet therapy just like how Eric was able to.
Furthermore, puppet therapy can help children relieve themselves who have chronic illnesses. In “The Strength of Children Externalizing the Effects of Chronic Illness Through Narrative Puppetry.” Ruth Nutting explains how the use of narrative therapy can help children in a dynamic way to foster chronic illness and help them have conversations about it (10). Children who are experiencing chronic illness can be able to do narrative therapy as a way to help them cope with there chronic illnesses. Nutting explains how narrative puppetry can help enhance the unique outcomes of a child and provide empowerment to the children who have chronic illness (10). Narrative therapy can be used to help children who have chronic illnesses and help them become empowered were they can help children be more than just there illnesses and help them express themselves more. Puppet therapy is one way of helping children overcome their situations and help them learn how to express themselves and empower each other and themselves. Children can learn how to overcome their fears with puppet therapy especially if they will be having a surgery or procedure, where they can reveal their greatest anxieties and learn how to cope with them throughout and after the surgery or procedure.
Additionally, using puppetry in therapy can help nurses and doctors figure out the issue that a child could be having. In “A Review of the Literature – The Use of Interactive Puppet Simulation in Nursing Education and Children’s Healthcare” Ackland RN Tilbrook, et al. explain that no matter who uses the puppet in puppet therapy it helps identify the perferrence of the child and their needs ( 77-78). Using puppetry in therapy does not need anyone specific to operate the puppet, it helps identify a child’s preferences in order to understand their needs. Tilbrook, et al. explain how health professionals can use puppets to also help educate children on their illnesses and needed procedures where children were seen to have a better coping mechanism (77). Children being able to have a better understanding of their medical circumstances helps them increase their coping mechanisms and help them be in a state of comfort and less tension when receiving a surgery or beginning procedures. Tilbrook, et al. explain how puppet therapy can provide children psychological care along with medical care (77). Children can get their medical and psychological care which can help children along the way of their medical needs. Puppet therapy help children understand what they will be going through and how they can overcome that fear so that they can prepare themselves for the outcomes that can happen.
Moreover, children have more faith in toys and a puppet can be seen as a toy and used to help children express themselves. In “Using Puppetry to Elicit Children’s Talk for Research.” Iris Epstein, et al. explain how having a conversation with a child using a puppet can help a child be more comfortable and creates a more comfortable atmosphere for a child (52). Children feel more comfortable and able to communicate and express themselves more when communicating with a puppet. Epstein, et al. explain how children feel more intimidated when talking to a person because they seem larger and more powerful which can influence the child’s interactions (53). Children’s interactions with an adult can make a child feel uncomfortable and change there responses compared to when they converse with a puppet.
Although narrative puppetry can help a child express themselves and feel more comfortable to respond to questions. In “Using Puppets with Children in Narrative Therapy to Externalize the Problem.” Sue Butler, et al. explain how narrative therapy does not always work on children (232). Children have various ways of coping mechanisms and narrative therapy may not have as much of an impact compared to the children who have had an impact on it. Sue Butler, et al. state that children can get distracted or fearful by the puppet and that consuming can still be as effective and efficient without the use of puppets (232). Narrative puppetry is just an example of helping children with there consuming and their are other alternatives that can still help a child express themselves and relieve themselves. However, Butler, et al. also explain how a child’s imagination with the puppet can contribute change and how the imagination can be a valuable resource for clients when counseling is needed (232). Puppetry may not be able to impact all the children who have taken it but with the help of a child’s imagination it can help them change and recover in a more comfortable setting. Children will be able to feel more free to express themselves and let medical officials know how to help their patients.
Analyzing all the research that was found about the impacts of puppetry in therapy, I agree with the fact that puppetry can leave positive impacts on children who have been in any forms of puppetry in therapy. Crompton, Bruce explained that puppetry in therapy can impact children by helping them express themselves, be less fearful, reduce nervousness, build self esteem and improve or learn new skills. Nutting, Ruth explained how puppetry in therapy may not work for every child, children are able to use their imagination which can help counselors figure out the area of the issue. Puppetry in therapy is an option where children can express themselves and improve throughout time in a comfortable setting for kids. Puppet therapy can always be a from of counseling for children and although it may not work for all children it leaves an impact on the ones who does.
Annotated Bibliography
Butler, Sue, et al. “Using Puppets with Children in Narrative Therapy to Externalize the Problem.” Journal of Mental Health Counseling, vol. 31, no. 3, 2009, pp. 225–233. Ebsco, https://web-a-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=9d813afc-1a5f-45bc-9e19-5ab17dee56b5%40sdc-v-sessmgr06&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=44087983&db=eue. Accessed 21 March 2019.
Sue Butler, et al. explain how puppetry can help children with their anger issues, social skills, and coping skills. For example, Eric an 8 year old boy was experiencing disruptive behavior and was frequently in fights with other classmates. He began to act like this when his father and mother got a divorce and was left in his mother’s care. Through the eight week puppet counselling he improved remarkably and was manage his disruptive behavior and improved his coping skills. This source is useful because it describes a case where a child experienced puppet therapy and was able to improve within the time that was needed.
Compton, Bruce. “Children Use Art, Puppetry To Express Themselves.” Health Progress (Saint Louis, Mo.), vol. 97, no. 4, 2016, pp. 86–87. EBSCO, :https://web-a-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=1b2e0e3f-1a31-4668-8ef4-50b0c23f5fd2%40sdc-v-sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=116598695&db=ccm Accessed 21 March 2019.
Crompton explains how puppetry can help children through traumatic experiences. As he states that when the Catholic Relief Service partnered with No Strings International to help the children and family among the refugee population in the middle east . The outcome was very positive and changes were seen within the children because they were becoming more fearless, less aggressive, and creating social relations with one another . The source is very useful because it explains how puppetry was used to help children who were impacted by the attacks that have been happening within the middle east.
Epstein, Iris, et al. “Using Puppetry to Elicit Children’s Talk for Research.” Nursing Inquiry, vol. 15, no. 1, 2008, pp. 49–56. Wiley Online Library, https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/doi/full/10.1111/j.1440-1800.2008.00395.x. Accessed 22 March 2019.
Epstein et al. explain the three common interview techniques for children. The most used technique is used structured and clinical interviews where children pick between two puppets who have different emotions and pick the one that they relate most to. Epstein conducts an research of children’s perspective on specialized camp for children with cancer. While the children are being interviewed they have the choice of picking whether to talk to Davoid the puppet or and interviewer and they picked to talk to David the puppet. Overall Epstein states that children are more comfortable talking to the puppet helps them verbalize more and express their views.
Nutting, Ruth. “The Strength of Children Externalizing the Effects of Chronic Illness Through Narrative Puppetry.” Journal of Family Psychotherapy, vol. 26, no. 1, 2015, pp. 9–14. Ebsco, https://web-b-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=e4aa10bc-d3b5-4a73-bc98-6e5f578a2066%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=101854591&db=sih Accessed 22 March 2019.
Nutting explains how puppetry can help children who have chronic illnesses externalize negative and positive feelings. It gives the opportunity to let children express themselves through puppets. This is useful because it explains how it can help children with chronic illnesses are able to express their feelings through puppets whether their positive or negative.
RN Tilbrook, Ackland, et al. “A Review of the Literature – The Use of Interactive Puppet Simulation in Nursing Education and Children’s Healthcare.” Nurse Education in Practice, vol. 22, 2017, pp. 73–79. ScienceDirect, https://www-sciencedirect-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/science/article/pii/S1471595316302578. Accessed 23 March 2019.
Tilbrook et al. explain why puppetry is a good technique that is used by therapist and health professionals. Tilbrook et al. explain how it can provide a child’s insight into their individual needs and more.
Zastowny, Thomas R., et al. “Coping Skills Training for Children: Effects on Distress Before, During, and After Hospitalization for Surgery.” Health Psychology, vol. 5, no. 3, 1986, pp. 231–247. Ebsco, https://web-b-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=a12e1a3f-5b65-4957-b9b5-33c048b6612d%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=1988-02466-001&db=pdh. Accessed 22 March 2019.
Zastowny explains how puppetry can help reduce a child anxiety when their being hospitalized. Zastowny states that puppetry was able to help children adapt to hospitalization for surgery better than other anxiety reducing substance. This is useful because it explains how puppetry can not only help people who are in therapy but also help children who have anxiety or minimal anxiety.
