101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teens

Praise for 101 Healing Stories for Children and Teens George Burnsis a highly experienced clinician with the remarkable ability to create, discover and tell engaging stories that can teachus all the most important lessons in life. With 101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teens, he strives especially to help kids and teens learn these life lessons early on, providing them opportunitiesfor gettinghelp, and even learning to think preventively. Burns has made an invaluable contribution to helping young people build good skills and goodlives. Michael D.Yapko,Ph.D. Author of Breaking the Patterns of DepressionandHand-Me-Down Blues 101 Healing Stories for Children and Teensis a must read for everyone working with this age group. George Burns takes the reader on a wonderful journey, balancing metaphor, good therapeutic technique, and empirical foundations during the trip. Given that Burns utilizes all three aspects of the Confucian story referred to in the book—teaching, showing, and involving—any reader using this resource should increase their understanding of how stories can be used therapeutically. Richard G.Whiteside,MSW Author of The Art of Using and Losing Controland Working with Dif?cult Clients Burns hasdone it again, even more thoroughly and usefully than last time! I lovedthe structure, the content, and the stories—particularly the child-generated metaphors and collaborative tales. This book is going to be invaluable to all clinicians who work with children of all ages, and shines with the clear and genuine love that allowed its writing. Thanks, George. Robert McNeilly,MBBS Director, Centre of Effective Therapy, Melbourne, Australia Author of Healing the Whole Person 101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teensis a fantastic idea, well executed, by a master! Burns systematically leads readers through everystep of constructing and delivering therapeuticstories in general, and then outlines and provides examples of storiesfor achieving a wide variety of speci?c goals. This book is a wonderful gift for psychotherapistsbut itshould also be in the hands of every parent who spends loving time with their children. Stephen Lankton,MSW,DAHB Executive Director, Phoenix Institute of Ericksonian Therapy Author ofThe Answer WithinandTales of Enchantment. InformationhelpsyoungstersDO differentthings but storiescreate experiencesthat help themto BEdifferent. George Burns is an international expert, andavoluble and vulpine raconteur. 101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teensis a masterwork—easy to follow, easy to effect. A treasure-trove for parents andprofessionals in the child-development ?elds. Jeffrey K.Zeig,Ph.D. Director, The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Inspirational stories for adults. “George W. Burns is indeed a master in the art of using stories for healing purposes.” —Metapsychology Review, January 2003 “This is George Burn’s best book yet. He leverages years of professional therapist experience to help individuals uncover insightful and practical solutions to the everyday life challenges encountered in the real world. The stories and metaphors hit the mark again and again.” —Dr. Brian Alman, Author of Self-Hypnosis, Six Steps to Freedom andThin Meditations 101 Healing Stories: Using Metaphors in Therapy celebrates the rewards of using parables, fables, and metaphors in therapy as a non-threatening means to help clients discuss problems and consider possible solutions. Just as stories have the power to enrich our lives, shape the way we perceive and interact with the world, and reveal the wonders of the human spirit, so too can they play an important and potent role in therapy. They can help people develop the skills to cope with and survive a myriad of life situations. In this enriching guide, George W. Burns, examines the healing value of using metaphors in therapy and provides motivating story ideas that you can adapt immediately and share with your clients. This inspirational, yet practical, book explains how to tell stories that engage your client, make your stories more metaphoric, and where to find sources for inspirational tales. You learn that using metaphoric stories and folktales in therapy can facilitate treatment, especially for clients unresponsive to other approaches. This beneficial book includes: • 101 stories grouped by desired therapeutic outcome • Talking points such as specific insights, outcomes, or skills 0-471-39589-7 • Paper • 288 pp.• $45.00 • Shaded tabs for easy reference and selection To order call, toll free, 1-877-762-2974. Also available online at www.wiley.com, amazon.com, bn.com, and at other fine booksellers. wiley.com 101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teens 101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teens Using Metaphors in Therapy George W. Burns John Wiley & Sons,Inc This book is printed on acid-free paper. o Copyright © 2005 by John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Published simultaneously in Canada. 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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Burns, George W. (George William) 101 healing stories for kids and teens : using metaphors in therapy / George W. Burns p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-471-47167-4 (pbk.) 1. Metaphor—Therapeutic use. 2. Narrative therapy. 3. Storytelling. 4. Children’s stories—Psychological aspects. 5. Child psychotherapy. I. Title: One hundred one healing stories for kids and teens. II. Title: One hundred and one healing stories for kids and teens. III. Title. RJ505.M48B87 2005 618.92(cid:1)8914—dc22 2004011592 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This one is dedicated to kids, kids of all ages, all cultures, all religions, everywhere, especially to Tom and Ella, and one who is yet to be. Contents Acknowledgments, xv Introduction, xvii What This Book Offers, xvii A Word or Two about Words, xix Oral versus Written Stories, xix The Structure of This Book, xx Story 1 A Story of the Story, xxiii PART I EFFECTIVE STORYTELLING FOR KIDS AND TEENS, 1 Chapter 1 The Magic of Metaphor, 3 Why Tell Healing and Teaching Stories to Kids and Teens?, 3 A Brief History of Teaching Tales, 4 How Stories Inform, 5 How Stories Educate, 6 How Stories Teach Values, 7 How Stories Discipline, 8 How Stories Build Experience, 9 How Stories Facilitate Problem-Solving, 10