A Transdiagnostic Social Skills Intervention; Using a Structured Story to Teach Children How to Ask a Friend to Play

An (independent samples comparison) controlled study was conducted to assess the efficacy of a novel approach to social skills training for children in a local socialization group at Knippenberg, Patterson & Associates (KPA). The treatment condition involved the combination of a Structured Story (i.e., novel bibliotherapy technique for children with social skills deficits), and a behavioral rehearsal (or role-play) segment, where the children practiced the target social skill featured in the Structure Story. The control group did not receive the Structured Story nor the behavioral rehearsal. Children in both groups engaged in ten-minutes of free play that was videorecorded for later observation and scoring by the principal investigator. Two target behaviors were assessed; asking a friend to play, and duration of joint play between two or more peers. The results did not show significant differences for either target variable between the group that received the novel intervention and the control group. Limitations of the current study and implications for further research are discussed.

The Utility of Therapeutic Assessment Style Fables During the Termination Stage of Psychotherapy

Stories, fables, and myths have been used for a long time in human history. They serve as a way for cultures and people to communicate, preserve important cultural values, and create meaning. The use of narratives has been recognized as a helpful technique in the field of psychology and can be found in many orientations and intervention techniques (Dwivedi, 2006; Roberts, 2000). Narrative therapy, bibliotherapy, trauma narratives, and Therapeutic Assessment (TA) are some of the areas in which the benefits of using written stories are incorporated into work with clients. In this paper, the clinical utility of using Therapeutic Assessment style fables in the termination phase of psychotherapy is explored. The termination phase is a challenging time for both therapists and clients. The use of rituals in the process of termination has been found to have a positive impact on the experience (Gutheil, 1993). This paper presents several case studies and examines the subsequent impact and clinical benefits of using termination fables in psychotherapy.