Posts

ChagalFiaba

The fairy tale as a therapy tool: an experience with the multidisabled blind

Abstract

This paper describes our clinical experience based on a fairy tale workshop carried out with a group of multidisabled blind children. It aims at showing how the huge communicational potential of the fairy tale can be helpful non only to the children taking part in the workshop but also to the team members involved. As a mediator of symbolization processes, the fairy tale appeals to the emotions that are not immediately accessible to thought and, thanks to its simple language, can reach the listeners’ inner world. In this perspective, the pleasure shared by the group members (both children and team members) becomes a precious ally for the establishment of a “narrative bond”: the fairy tale helps explaining also traumatic facts and events of life. In the situation reported Read more

ChagalFiaba

On the uses of the folk-tale in education

Abstract

More than thirty years of work as a child psychiatrist and analyst and weekly meetings with the teachers of psychotic children in my care, have led me to reflect upon the process of learning to read and the apparent lack of interest in books and reading amongst certain social groups. It is clearly the case that our consumer society favours information in the form of quick, screen-based Read more

ChagalFiaba

The fairy tale as an observation instrument: the psychologist gets into the class

Abstract

Bringing fairly tale  in the classroom, in a setting clearly discussed with the teacher providing for the reading of the text, the time of the conversation with children (including the proposal after each intervention to draw what has affected them more) , the defined time for discussion with the teacher present during the work, to  participate to what happened, allows us to do a deep observation of the dynamics pertaining to the group, particularly to identify children in need of listening, and reflect on  the typical style of the  Read more

GiocoLegame

The Bodily Dimension in Groups of Children

Abstract

The work is based on the results of a clinical research project made over a fifteen year period on open groups in which children of different age groups participated. In group with children, the prevailing language is the primitive one of body language, whose alphabet, represented by sensory and motor functions, directly addresses the emotions. With children it is necessary to start with this archaic language of actions because their thought processes are concentrated on motorial “explosions”. The alpha function transforms the beta elements into that which Bion calls alpha elements, namely into those psychic elements that have characteristics that can be used as thoughts. The conductor collects the beta elements and after removing the distressing aspects, returns them to the children, thereby giving them the basis of an ability to think. The transformational path for the children is based primarily upon this passage from motorial action to the ability to describe what they feel. It is therefore necessary to note how narrative in groups of children is generated through forms of bodily contact, which often arrive at the borders of action.
Consequently, the function of the conductor must be based mainly on an Read more