Therapeutic Fairy Tales For Children and Families Going Through Troubling Times

Storybook Manual: An introduction to working with storybooks therapeutically and creatively  The Night Crossing: A lullaby for children on life's last journey  The Island: For children with a parent living with depression  The Storm: For children growing through parents' separation

Biography

Pia Jones is an author, workshop facilitator and UKCP integrative arts psychotherapist, who trained at The Institute for Arts in Therapy & Education. Pia has worked with children and adults in a variety of school, health and community settings. Core to her practice, is using arts and story as support during times of loss, transition and change, giving a TEDx talk on the subject. She was Story Director on artgym’s award-winning film documentary, ‘The Moving Theatre,’ where puppetry brought to life real stories of people’s migrations. Pia also designed the ‘Sometimes I Feel’ story cards, a Speechmark therapeutic resource to support children with their feelings. www.silverowlartstherapy.org.uk.

Sarah Pimenta is an experienced artist, workshop facilitator and lecturer in creativity. Her specialist art form is print-making, and her creative practice has brought texture, colour and emotion into a variety of environments, both in the UK and abroad. Sarah has over twenty years’ experience of designing and delivering creative, high-quality art workshops in over 250 schools, diverse communities and public venues, including the British Library, V&A, NESTA, Oval House and many charities. Her work is often described as art with therapeutic intent, and she is skilled in working with adults and children who have access issues and complex needs. Sarah is known as Social Fabric www.social-fabric.co.uk.

Both Pia and Sarah hope these Therapeutic Fairy Tales open up conversations that enable children and families’ own stories and feelings to be seen and heard.

Praise for The Island

A gentle story of the importance of seeking help when family members and others around the child may be struggling. The Island supports children who may feel alone, encouraging them to reach out for kindness and support.

Hephzibah Kaplan, Art Therapist, Director of London Art Therapy Centre

This sensitively written and delightfully illustrated book will reassure young children who are isolated by living with a parent with a mental health problem, that it is not their fault and it is not their job to fix a parent’s illness. It opens up a dialogue for a child to acknowledge a range of emotions that they may be experiencing.

Janey Treharne from Jigsaw (South East)

The Island sensitively depicts the isolation and loneliness a child may feel living with a parent with depression. The story allows for discussion with the child to explore their caring role and the self-blame felt by children who have a lived experience of parental mental health. The story gives a powerful message, encouraging a child to share their experiences and opening up conversations about this difficult subject.

Sarah-Jane Farr (Family Support Keyworker, Early Help WSCC)

The power of these stories lies in their deeper natural and archetypal metaphor, something like the deeper Mother Earth continuity below any surface. Before even reading any of these Therapeutic Fairy-Tales, you feel their tenderness through the stunningly beautiful illustrations.

Molly Wolfe, Art Psychotherapist, Sandplay Specialist

 

Praise for The Storm

A beautifully illustrated tale of how children may experience a stormy divorce. The Storm offers delicate and empathic guidance about learning to manage the difficult feelings within the ensuing turmoil.　

Hephzibah Kaplan, Art Therapist, Director of London Art Therapy Centre

The Storm is a powerful story about parental separation and could be used with both children and parents together, to help parents understand the impact of the conflict in their relationships on their children, allowing for open conversations. The Storm could encourage sharing of worries and fears and give children a sense of safety in talking about their experiences with professionals who are supporting children through a scary and uncertain period in their lives.

Sarah-Jane Farr, Family Support Keyworker, Early Help WSCC

A beautifully written and illustrated book that can help young children explore and acknowledge difficult emotions such as guilt, sadness and anger that may be experienced through parental separation. It helps dispel the myth that children are to blame whilst reassuring children that they are still loved by each parent even though their parents no longer love each other.

Janey Treharne, Jigsaw (South East)

 

Praise for The Night Crossing

A sensitive and poignant tale to aid and support children who may be facing an untreatable illness. The Night Crossing can help soften the fear about the journey into the unknown.

Hephzibah Kaplan, Art Therapist, Director, London Art Therapy Centre

The Night Crossing is so sensitively written, with beautiful illustrations. I found it honest and touching, a sympathetic aid that could be revisited whenever needed. In our experience, children take in as little or as much as they feel comfortable to deal with when they are ready. I also feel this book could help siblings of a child who is very ill and for parents or carers to help gauge other children's questions and emotions.

Family member, Anonymous

As children are so naturally at ease with metaphor, I imagine The Night Crossing could answer some of the unspoken fears of a child and families at this time with honesty and kindness. It acknowledges the wisdom of the child who in his heart knows what is happening. I would also hope that this story could open up the possibility of conversations between parent and child. A touching and sensitive work, with beautiful illustrations. 　

Anna Ledgard, Arts Producer, End of Life doula trainer

A sensitively written and delightfully illustrated book that provides support and comfort to both a seriously ill child or siblings. The Night Crossing provides a safe space for parents and professionals to explore the fears and emotions a child may experience but also provides the opportunity for a child to ask difficult questions.

Janey Treharne, from Jigsaw (South East)

This book has done something very beautiful and reassuring with a very difficult topic.

Taylor Smart, Art Psychotherapist　

The power of these stories lies in their deeper natural and archetypal metaphor, something like the deeper Mother Earth continuity below any surface. Before even reading any of these Therapeutic Fairy Tales, you feel their tenderness through the stunningly beautiful illustrations.

Molly Wolfe, Art Psychotherapist, Sandplay Specialist