Healing Through Stories

2011-10-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Available from Hawthorn Press, Amazon and Footprint Books:

www.hawthornpress.com
www.amazon.com
www.footprint.com.au
Also available from many
other online bookstores, and now published in three other languages: Croation, Chinese and Portuguese

BOOK REVIEWS for ‘HEALING STORIES FOR CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR’

http://www.waldorfbooks.com Susan Perrow has developed the art of pedagogical stories to a luminescent degree. In her beautiful book she offers dozens of stories, some her own, some traditional and retold by her. Each story carries with it the seed of healing for just about any childhood problem, from unruly behavior to deep grieving. Her voice is one of warmth and caring, her stories are richly engaging to young and old alike. Having her book at hand is like having a medicine chest filled with homeopathic remedies for all conditions - and, like homeopathy, Susan's stories are guaranteed to produce no unwanted side effects. Healing Stories includes chapters on creating stories and on the art of storytelling, as well as stories selected for their ability to heal. This is a resource that is so vast in its usefulness that we predict it will become one of the most sought after parent/teacher resources ever printed.

http://www.amazon.com Thirsty for more! - Since reading this book, I have gone from being a story-time reader to story teller. I have used Susan Perrow's stories with my son, family, friends, and in the classroom. Her book has been instrumental in helping me to understand the power of storytelling and the benefits. The stories are very satisfying to the listener and when the children see me again, they ask for another story. On my end, storytelling does not come naturally. The tips on successful story telling and how to create your own stories have been especially useful. Sunflower Garden

2011-10-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Workshops with Susan Perrow - 2011/2012

AUSTRALIA:
August 11th, 12th, 13th 2011: Newcastle 'Hunter Alliance for Childhood' Symposium - three days of workshops and talks - Tapestry of Discipline, Therapeutic Storytelling, Creating Simple Games for Young Children
Bookings and enquiries: Lenora Newcombe - 02-49544717 / email: hunterac@live.com.au

November 6th 2011- 'Tapestry of Discipline' Full Day Workshop (9.00 to 4.30) at Sathya Sai Primary School, Murwillumbah - for details call Amala Boumans on 66724343 or book through 'event bee' http://www.eventbee.com/event?eid=827623285

OVERSEAS:

November 10th to 23rd, 2011 - Beijing - Tapestry of Discipline / Therapeutic Storytelling / Book Promotional Talks and Signings

April 1-5th 2012 - International Early Childhood Teachers Conference, Dornach Switzerland - 6 sessions on Therapeutic Storytelling

2012 - UK TOUR - Ireland, England, Scotland

DATE

THEME

VENUE

CONTACT

Sat14th April

Therapeutic Storytelling

9am to 5pm

Venue: Rahenwood Steiner National School, Tuamgraney, Co. Clare

Contact;

Sinead Duignan

iskanc@gmail.com
ph:061 927944

Sun 15th April

Tapestry of Discipline

10am to 5pm

Venue: Rahenwood Steiner National School, Tuamgraney, Co. Clare

Contact;

Sinead Duignan

iskanc@gmail.com
ph:061 927944

Tues & Wed 17^th & 18^th April

Therapeutic Storytelling (continued over two mornings)

9.30 to 12.30

Bridge Camphill Community, Kilcullen, Co Kildare

Contact;

Mary Whelan
mary.whelan@rocketmail.com
ph+353 (0) 45 481597

Sat 21^st April

Therapeutic Storytelling

9am to 5pm

Steiner House - 35 Park Road, London NW1 6XT

Contact: Sarah Houghton
02077334020
+44(0)7870898175

Sun 22^nd April

Therapeutic Storytelling

9am to 5pm

Steiner House - 35 Park Road, London NW1 6XT

Contact: Sarah Houghton
02077334020
+44(0)7870898175

Thurs 26^th April

The Healing Power of Story: An introductory workshop for parents

9.15 to 12.45pm

Centre for Science and Art, Landsdown, Stroud.

Contact:

farimah@hawthornpress.com

01453 757040

Fri 27^th April

Therapeutic Storytelling

9.15 am to 5pm.

Centre for Science and Art, Landsdown, Stroud.

Contact:

farimah@hawthornpress.com

01453 757040

Sat 28^th April

Tapestry of Discipline

9am to 4pm

Centre for Science and Art, Landsdown, Stroud.

Contact:

farimah@hawthornpress.com

01453 757040

Sun 6^th May

Therapeutic Storytelling

9am to 5pm

Exeter Steiner School

80, Merrivale Road

Exeter

Contact: Kneace Daly

exetersteinerschool@phonecoop.coop

01392 427200.

Fri 11^th May

Talk: ‘'Our children, our most precious resource: the challenge of allowing children their childhood” 8pm

Edinburgh Steiner School Hall.

60 Spylaw Road, Edinburgh EH10 5BR

Contact:

Caroline Glas

c.glas@btinternet.com

01620 880382

Sat 12^th May

Therapeutic Storytelling

9am to 5pm

Edinburgh Steiner School,

Kindergarten room, 60 Spylaw Road, Edinburgh EH10 5BR

Contact:

Caroline Glas

c.glas@btinternet.com

01620 880382

Sat 19^th May

Therapeutic Storytelling

10am to 4.30pm

Ruth Kirkpatrick’s home
North Lodge
Glencorse House
Penicuik, EH26 0NZ

Contact: Ruth Kirkpatrick

ruth@storiesallways.co.uk

www.storiesallways.co.uk

01314451507 / 07939264228

Sat 26^th May

Tapestry of Discipline

9am to 4pm

Moray Steiner School, Clovenside Road, Forres, IV36 2RD

Contact: Steve Sharpe, Corriden, TolboothStreet, Forres,

Tel: 01309 672537,

Mobile: 07719900925

Sun 27^th May

Therapeutic Storytelling

9am to 5pm

Moray Steiner School, Clovenside Road, Forres, IV36 2RD

Contact: Steve Sharpe, Corriden, TolboothStreet, Forres,

Tel: 01309 672537,

Mobile: 07719900925

2012 - CROATIAN TOUR
1st to 17th June - Zagreb, Rijeka and Split (details still to be announced - ravnatelj@waldorfska-skola.com )

TESTIMONIALS:
June and July, 2010 - Nairobi Workshops Hi Susan. The workshops were great! I got a lot of joy out of watching the beaming and smiling faces of the 90 attendees as they were leaving. They felt so empowered! The beauty of your ideas on Therapeutic Storytelling is that they are so simple to implement and SO AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE! Personally you have opened another door for me as far as the IMAGINATION of the child is concerned. Therapeutic storytelling will be another addition to our curriculum. Bijal Shah, Principal of 'My School - Montessori', Nairobi.

8th August, 2009 - South Coast Workshop, Moruya: Dear Susan, What an honour to meet you and spend a day with your storytelling wisdom. The whole day was an inspiring journey of reflection, affirmation, creativity and community. I learnt so much from your gentle and seamless facilitation. The workshop will have a profound ripple effect on my own work. Anna Jarrett - http://www.travellingstoryteller.com.au/

6th Nov, 2008 .. St Kilda Workshop, Melbourne
Dear Susan, I wanted to extend a deep thank you for sharing your gift and experiences - and acknowledge the inclusive way that you facilitated so that we could all find the storyteller within and all support each other. I feel like a juicy plum this morning - alive, inspired and positive - and also like I am on a very fertile, strong juicy plum tree sharing life's journey with so many other plums. I felt a oneness of universal consciousness in a way never before through your stories - the symbols and metaphors that we all connected with are so strong and timeless. Bless you and thank you, Monique (A parent and a Social Worker)

3.6.08 .. Dear Susan, The two workshops in Noosa last weekend were FANTASTIC!! Thank you so much for a wonderful, entertaining, interesting, thought provoking and inspiring weekend. I think it went so well just because of who you are and your lovely open, non-judgemental and centred way of being. And of course because of the stories you told – just so engaging! I so love what you are doing with these stories – they are a rich tool to touch children’s souls – what a blessing! I would love to be as fluent as you are in creating them. I am inspired to practice though.MONIQUE RUTHERFORD
Child Psychotherapist & Parent Counsellor
INSIDE OUT Counselling Service, PO Box 1794 Buderim QLD 4556monique@insideout-counselling.com.au

15.3.08 .. Susan Perrow's message is beautiful and powerful in its simplicity. Tell children stories and they will listen to the wisdom these stories have to offer. What more gentle and effective way to reach 'our' children can we as parents and professionals ask for. This is essential learning for parents and all those who find themselves responsible for the care and development of children.
Christina Crawford (Educational Psychologist, Ireland)

15.3.08 ... the Therapeutic Storytelling workshop was very inspiring. Wide-ranging and helpful. This course may really make a difference to a lot of children’s lives! Susan is an excellent teacher … clear, imaginative, uplifting.
Ursula Godber (Primary School Teacher, Ireland)

25.9.07 - Dear Susan, I write to thank you for your wonderful workshop on Therapeutic Storytelling today. Though I often make up little stories and rhymes for my children, I have felt quite overwhelmed each time I wanted to come up with a story for a particular challenging behaviour or situation regarding my child. Your simple technique has taken the ‘overwhelm’ out of it and brought life and magic into writing a healing story. I look forward to my journey in therapeutic "storying". Thank you again for your "healing" gift. Take care,Shalini (Singapore)

1.6.07 - Dear Susan, Just a quick note to let you know how much I enjoyed your class on storytelling for children held here in Coffs Harbour. I was the only father there, which I felt was a waste, because as a father and a storyteller, I benefited greatly from your kind insights, advice and wisdom. Thanks for taking the time to help us be better parents.
Anthony Cougle, Moonee Beach, NSW

6.5.07- Re last Sunday’s workshop on Therapeutic Storytelling - It was riveting! Practical steps to story work with healing for workshop participants through living stories and lively presentation. Hosting and presenting was personable. A very special learning experience indeed!
Sandra Frain, Early Childhood Teacher, Mullumbimby, NSW
Oct, 2006 - I have recently attended two workshops facilitated by Susan Perrow and I found them both to be informative and inspiring, both as a mother to Skye (4) and as a blossoming playgroup leader. I found Susan’s approach to parenting to be honouring and nurturing to both children and adults alike. The information presented was practical and down to earth, and we all had fun whilst learning!
I highly recommend Susan’s workshops to anyone faced with the jobs and challenges of raising their children in a conscious and loving way.
Lesley Willow, The Silver Tree Steiner School, WA
Oct, 2006 - Susan Perrow was a lively, practical, balanced, wise and very knowledgeable person in the presentation of all the workshops recently attended. I learnt a lot, was re-inspired and also had plenty of fun. I would unhesitatingly recommend Susan's workshops to any parent, or person working with young children.
I look forward to Susan returning to WA in the future to share more of her enthusiasm and experience in Early Childhood Education.
Merveena Reynolds, Kindergarten Teacher (25 yrs experience in State Pre Schools & Steiner Kindergartens)
Oct, 2006 - I found Susan Perrow’s one-day workshop on Therapeutic Storytelling to be very inspiring. I always knew that stories were something that children loved to hear, although I didn’t realize how powerful or how deeply a story could touch a child. Susan shared some amazing experiences of stories that were written for a particular child and how that story had an influence on that child’s behaviour or insecurity or whatever the child happened to be going through at that particular time.
Before going to Susan’s course I never thought of myself as being able to write a story, or having the confidence to do so – however after listening to Susan speak, I felt a need to go home and write one. Which is what I did!! So thank you Susan for inspiring me and giving me the confidence to have a go!Marisa, Teacher, Perth

2006-07-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

"Tales from the Story Doctor" -

Stories can be a very effective tool today in addressing specific and general behaviour challenges in children, and there seems to be more and more need for such tools in our complex modern lives. I have worked with this tool in my recent role with the Australian Government from 2001 to 2003, piloting Creative Parent Support Programs. This work often involved home visits to families where I observed difficult situations and then wrote a story (often feeling like a ‘story doctor’) to help heal the difficult behaviour. The work then extended into running Creative Discipline Courses for parents and teachers where the participants were encouraged to use imaginative approaches (songs, poems, stories ….) to handle discipline challenges – see table of documented story outcomes in the listed conference papers. The home visits plus the workshops has produced some very successful results, confirming for me, the parents and the teachers the place for metaphor and story in child-rearing practices. (Refer to my first posting for some examples of stories for specific and general behaviours).

Note – ‘Stories for healing’ is not a new concept, as cultures world-wide have used (and still use) the power of storytelling in the social and moral education and rearing of their children. In many traditional cultures, supporting the capacity of children through the realms of imagination has been understood and shared as a community responsibility. Adults (teachers, parents and grandparents) have naturally used stories and imaginative strategies in their role as mentors and guides for the children in their community. Refer to my online paper, Therapeutic Storytelling, (PDF Version for full document) for more on this subject ....

2006-07-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

Memories from East Africa

2003 to 2006

Images Worth a Thousand Words!

2006-07-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

Stories for Specific and General Behaviours

As the years have rolled by, I have become more and more interested in using ‘medicinal’ stories in my teaching. At first, when I started on my ‘Story Doctor’ journey, I experienced the use of story in healing relatively common behaviour challenges – for example, encouraging groups of children to use the bins and not throw litter in the school grounds (Grandmother and the Donkey); and helping some very restless 4 year olds learn to enjoy being sometimes still! (Little Red Pony)

Then I experimented with writing stories for specific behaviours - for example, working with metaphor, repetition and rhyme for a 5 year old who was still soiling his pants (a story about ‘Farmer Just Right’ with his repeated slogan – ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’); helping the smallest child in a kindergarten group feel important for being the smallest (The Littlest Bubble); helping a child understand and cope with a recent fire at home where he watched his own bedroom burn to the ground (Mother Rabbit and the Bushfire) ; using metaphor and story for both a child and mother suffering from separation anxiety (Baby Bear Koala).

These stories and many more (80 stories in total) can be found in my new book, Healing Stories for Challenging Behaviour, along with a framework for therapeutic storywriting and many tips on storytelling and storymaking.