Mental Health in the 100 Acre Woods

Stories have been used for healing and learning for centuries and the therapeutic benefit of storytelling is well documented. Disney provides a unique opportunity for children to step into familiar narratives with beloved characters and rewrite their own experiences to foster learning, healing, and personal growth. In this training, participants will learn about the expansive world of Disney the benefits of therapeutic storytelling, and strategies for translating fanfiction into intervention in the play therapy room for use with clients today!

Learning Objectives

1: Participants will demonstrate the ability to identify developmentally appropriate strategies for comprehending and articulating mental health disorder presentations in children, integrating evidence-based approaches and considering individual differences in clinical practice.

2: Participants will articulate the role and importance of externalized representations of challenges in therapeutic interventions for children, showcasing an understanding of how externalizing techniques can enhance the therapeutic process when working with children facing mental health challenges.

3: Participants will identify and analyze representations of mental health disorders and character strengths within character roles present in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Series, applying this understanding to their clinical practice and considering the potential therapeutic implications of these representations.

4: Participants will develop proficiency in identifying and implementing play therapy interventions that leverage characters, themes, and narratives present in the Winnie the Pooh series, utilizing these elements to effectively harness the therapeutic power of play for supporting the mental health and overall well-being of children, adolescents, adults, and families dealing with mental health challenges.