Using storytelling and story listening as a therapeutic tool with children

Since the early days of the cave, fire stories have helped children and adults to make sense of their lives. Metaphor, symbol, archetypes and the familiar shape of a beginning, a middle and an end all help to make stories powerful containers for both the child and the practitioner. In this training you will be learn how to use stories and storytelling to enable children to communicate deeply about their feelings and their lives.

Delegates will gain an understanding of the profoundly important role that storytelling has played in human development and how to harness this to support children to develop a coherent narrative of self. Experiential practise will build your confidence in both telling stories and supporting children to tell their own stories in creative and rich ways.

Dr Margot Sunderland

Director of Education and Training at The Centre for Child Mental Health, Director of Innovation and Research Trauma Informed Schools UK, Honorary Visiting Fellow at London Metropolitan University and Child Psychotherapist with over thirty years’ experience of working with children and families.

Trained initially in Child psychotherapy with John Hood Williams (former Principal - Institute of Child Psychology - Lowenfeld training). Worked for years as a child and adolescent psychotherapist in children’s homes and adolescent units.

Author of over twenty books in the field of child mental health, which collectively have been translated into eighteen languages and published in twenty-four countries. Internationally acclaimed book, “The Science of Parenting” (Dorling Kindersley), won First Prize in the British Medical Association Medical Book awards 2007 Popular Medicine section. Dr Sunderland has two doctorates, one in child psychotherapy, thesis entitled “The Application of Art and Science to the Psychological Treatment of Children.”