Fairy Tales: Metaphor And Symbols In Sand

Therapeutic process is enhanced by activating the imagination of clinician and client. Fairy tales, myths, metaphor and sand scenes are nested in the larger context of human story-telling, centuries of oral traditions across cultures. This virtual experiential workshop will explore the psychology of fairy tales, metaphor and the use of symbols in sand to practice symbol-image amplification, active imagination, and collaborative story-telling.

The power of symbol work and metaphor is grounded in the use of poetics, a modification of process hypnosis. In fairy tales we witness innocence and vulnerability, misuse of power, existential challenges along life’s journey, death, loss and a way forward for hope, meaning and renewal. Heroes and heroines discover strengths to manage trauma and existential overwhelm.

Stories, symbols and metaphor literally activate the brain, shift perception, and stimulate new pathways for personal resources and meaning. While we witness dangers and hope in fairy tales, in metaphor and in sand scenes, we remain mindful of the power of deep presence, silence and collaborative process. We keep safe the client’s journey to reclaim and transform alienated, traumatized parts of their lives – no longer alone in the metaphoric woods.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

-explain two examples of images in fairy tales and in sand scenes that hold potential layers of existential meaning such as identity, freedom, responsibility, connection, visibility, and being.

-identify three ways to validate the experience of the client through therapeutic metaphor, poetics, symbols, and fairy tales, especially the voice of reclaimed parts of the self.

-describe two theories from the psychology of fairy tales that can be applied to the use of symbols and also the analysis of sand scenes enhancing client-clinician engagement.

-describe three competencies for clinical use of fairy tales, poetics, metaphors and symbols, especially the role of language, with universal, culture-specific, and individual themes.

Hosted By Hudson Valley Professional Development