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Archive Number 41

Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 11:47:38 EDT
From: Cristy West
Subject: Re: Working with folktales






In a message dated 4/15/01 10:00:51 PM, tinaalst@BELLSOUTH.NET writes:

<< I found it helpful to be the "storyteller" when coming

into rehab hospitals, substance abuse centers. etc. Mainly I've trained

such workers in the use of Storytelling. >>

Dear Tina--

It's great to see that you are on this list! You were one of the "models of
good practice" I described in my doctorate some years back. I was
particularly interested in the "story imaging" approach you devised in
connection with your work with Vietnam vets recovering from post-traumatic
stress disorder. For those of you who may not have heard of "story-imaging"
(described in May '95 Storytelling magazine) this involves (and correct me,
Tina, if I'm getting this wrong) retelling a carefull selected folktale
frame-by-frame and asking group members to record feelings for each scene.
In so doing, participants were able to break through their numbness and get
more in touch with their feelings. Have you found story-imaging to be a
good approach with other groups, too?

As I recall, Tina, you complemented this approach with journal-keeping. I
believe there may be a journal therapist or two on this list who might find
interesting the relationship between the storytelling and journal-keeping
approaches.


Cristy West