Transforming Our Youth

Jessica Clark and Lindsey Sitz

OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

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.

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

• Master Gardener Project (Alexander, 1995)

• Pocket Pets (Flom, 2005)

Plants & Animals in Therapy

Methods

• ParticipantsControl 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.”

“Sticker Pets”

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.”

Suitcases

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”

ReferencesAlexander, 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.

Color My World

Worry Dolls