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Hi, It's Lesli 

"As an LCSW social worker/therapist, artist and writer, it is my belief that  healing is multi-faceted.  Exploring different ways of expressing and  processing feelings/ thoughts- both verbally and  non-verbally- is helpful to all of us.  Creating and telling stories can be  such a powerful part of the healing process!"

I began making expressive dolls when my daughter was 5 or 6 years old. I wanted to help her and her friends learn healthy communication skills early in life. The more I worked on these dolls and the joy of storytelling, the more I began to think about other ways that they could be used.  I have always had an interest in storytelling. As a kid I would spend hours drawing imaginary people,  telling stories about them and then hanging them up on the walls. As a teen, I would draw out my hardships and tape the images all over my wall.  As I reflect on my teenage years,  seeing these images on my wall were validating, grounding and helped to guide me forward.

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Connect and Express can be used in a range of different ways. It can used as a fun, expressive tool for family conversations without screens or as a mental health tool, helping clients process feelings  and thoughts in a creative way. It can be used in educational settings for storytelling about empathy, compassion, social skills, journal prompts or as a vehicle to teach a variety of academic subjects. 

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The usefulness of this kit is quite expansive. It could be used with speech therapists, in ESL classrooms, populations with special needs/disabilities, dementia patients to reflect on memory/ language use/humor and so much more!

 

 

 

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How Can Connect and Express Enhance Your Therapeutic Work With Clients?

Verbal and Non-Verbal Expression

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  • Providing a platform for non-verbal expression enables clients of varying developmental, cognitive and language abilities to express themselves. ​

  • Processing feelings and thoughts non-verbally allows clients to tap into unconscious material and right brain sensory experiences that may be associated with trauma. 

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Art

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  • Clients can externalize pain so it can be objectively observed and re-framed.​

  • Creating art while exploring  painful material is more tolerable because making art is soothing. ​

  • Processing experiences with a visual platform can help w/ insight into faulty beliefs.​

  • Creating art is not a linear process, it is a gradual process that enables a client  to go at their own pace.

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Grounding

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  • Touching and moving the pieces is a sensory experience that can help one feel grounded/present in their bodies.​ In addition, the act of moving peices can feel empowering. 

  • ​ Interacting with interesting, validating imagery can maintain motivation and engagement in therapy process. 

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Fantasy

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  • Fantasy figurines can be used to express feelings or wishes that might otherwise feel  too difficult or taboo to discuss. ​​

  • Using metaphor to process traumatic feelings/memories can feel safer and less vulnerable. 

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