Fairy tale therapy for children. Fairy tales for mental correction

Fairy tale therapy is a relatively new trend in psychotherapy in terms of its popularity, in which the tools for achieving a therapeutic effect are fairy tales and fictional stories selected for a specific problem. By means of this psychotherapeutic method, behavioral disorders are successfully corrected, and far-fetched fears and phobias go away. In addition to the therapeutic effect, fairy tale therapy acts as a way to identify the patient's existing problem.

It turns out that psychotherapeutic deviations can be fought not only by psychoanalysis, gestalt therapy and hypnosis, but also with the help of fairy tales. This type of treatment is excellent not only for children, but also for adults.

Why is fairy tale therapy needed?

Various sources have their own explanations of this term. The main ones are listed below:

• Fairy tale therapy is an opportunity to transfer accumulated experience "from mouth to mouth". By telling fairy tales, a person develops an attitude towards the world around him that is inherent in his family, people, country, that is, the initiation of the individual into the observance of established moral dogmas. Since childhood, we receive such information through folk tales, parables, epics. The most ancient version of the transfer of accumulated experience.
• Fairy tale therapy contributes to human development. The process of listening to or composing a new fairy tale, as well as its subsequent discussion, develops broad thinking, imagination, creativity in a child. He also develops basic methods of searching, choosing and making decisions. This also applies to working with adults, since business trainers actively use fairy tales that help to reveal the potential of clients in finding an effective solution to work and everyday problems.
• Fairy tale therapy is one of the methods of psychotherapy. The fairy tale therapist creates certain conditions, thanks to which the client, interacting with reading, listening, acting out, inventing a fairy tale, comprehends ways to resolve conflict situations, get rid of fears and phobias. Work with the patient can be carried out both in a group and individually.

So, fairy tale therapy, first of all, is a good means of exchanging experience, skills and knowledge, especially when a psychologist works with children and adolescents. Through a fairy tale, a child clearly understands the truths of life, as well as the difference between good and evil. Fairy tale characters, the situations they are in, and their outcome have a strong influence on the participant in therapy, changing not only his consciousness, but also his subconscious.

A fairy tale can be composed in such a way that it will reflect situations from the child's life, only they will happen to the main character. He can see from the outside how to act in a difficult situation. For example, if a child is afraid of the dark, it is worth telling him a fairy tale about a character who was afraid of the dark, but easily managed to overcome his fear. In order not to overdo it with the plot, psychotherapists can help parents choose the right fairy tales, as well as recommend the subtleties of their use.

When doing fairy tale therapy with a child, a doctor can suggest that he continue the fairy tale. The nature of the problem, its cause, and the way to eliminate it can be determined by the continuation.

How to create a "healing" fairy tale

For mild forms of psychological problems, it is enough to visit a specialist a couple of times so that he can show you the right way, recommend storylines for fairy tales, and explain the situation as a whole.

The fairy tale therapy method is quite convenient in treating a child's psyche, since it can be used not only by psychotherapists, but also by the parents themselves.

Fairy tales for correcting a child's behavioral reactions are created according to the following parameters: first, a fairy tale hero is selected that is very similar to the child. It does not matter whether it is a person or a fictional creature. It is important that the child can see as many similarities between the main character and himself as possible. The fairy tale should have a plot that resonates with a life situation that is problematic for the child himself. As the story progresses, it is necessary to tell about the ways the main character gets out of a seemingly insoluble situation. In this case, you first need to point out the wrong choice, and then to realize the mistake and make the right decision.

It is worth noting that a child can not only listen to or read a fairy tale, but also physically become its direct participant, acting out the plot theatrically.

Psychotherapeutic fairy tales and parables can cause different emotions in a child: either obvious or hidden. But with the right approach, after a certain time, the child's behavior, attitude towards people and the environment will change for the better.