The Routledge International Handbook of Therapeutic Stories and Storytelling is a unique book that explores stories from an educational, community, social, health, therapeutic and therapy perspectives, acknowledging a range of diverse social and cultural views in which stories are used and written by esteemed storytellers, artists, therapists and academics from around the globe.

The book is divided into five main sections that examine different approaches and contexts for therapeutic stories and storytelling. The collected authors explore storytelling as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in education, social and community settings, and in health and therapeutic contexts. The final section offers an International Story Anthology written by co-editor Sharon Jacksties and a final story by Katja Gorecan.

This book is of enormous importance to psychotherapists and related mental health professionals, as well as academics, storytellers, teachers, people working in special educational needs, and all those with an interest in storytelling and its applied value.

About the Author

Clive Holmwood is a Dramatherapist with 25 years' experience, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Therapeutic Arts at the University of Derby, where he lectures and researches in Dramatherapy and in the areas of play and Creative Arts Health and Wellbeing. He has written extensively on Dramatherapy, Play and Education, his most recent work being the co-edited Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy with Sue Jennings in 2021.

Sue Jennings is Professor of Play, a lifetime award from the European Federation of Dramatherapy, and Distinguished Scholar at the University of the Witwatersrand. She has pioneered Dramatherapy and Neuro-Dramatic-Play for many years both in the UK and overseas and has written over 50 books on Group Work, Trauma and Play and Dramatherapy.

Sharon Jacksties is a qualified Dramatherapist and psychiatric nurse with a career as a mental health practitioner in hospitals and social services settings. A professional storyteller for 30 years, her practice includes performance, applied and community storytelling. She is FEST's (Federation of European Storytelling Organisations) first ambassador to the UK, has a teaching practice here and abroad, and has written 3 collections of traditional stories published by The History Press.

Reviews

"The Routledge International Handbook of Therapeutic Stories and Storytelling illustrates the potential of stories to heal and transform, having helped humans for thousands of years to make meaning, endure difficulty and face the unknown. Stretching across countries and cultures, valued storytellers, therapists, artists and academics get together to document the power of stories. The book comprises of compelling accounts tracing stories' development in history, their impact on human brain and emotionality and their diverse use in various clinical, health, educational and social contexts around the globe. It also addresses the challenges and the opportunities humankind is facing now, looking at how stories can support and shape our collective response to Covid 19." - Elena Boukouvala, Dramatherapist, Psychologist, Performance Activist, Founder of Play Perform Learn Grow (PPLG) Conference, Dramatherapy Faculty Epineio Institute (Greece), Faculty East Side Institute (USA) and PhD Sociology Researcher Open University (UK).

"This guidebook is invaluable for therapeutic workers everywhere. Crammed with creative courage, it provides a treasure map to rugged byways of inspirational empathy and dynamic healing wisdom." - Nancy Mellon taught storytelling as a healing art worldwide for many years. Her books are translated into several languages. See www.healingstory.com.

"This collection of international voices weave together anthropology, ethnography, personal and cultural histories, traditional stories, neuroscience and clinical theory and practice. They speak the language of story, creating a narrative of the therapeutic use of story from varied perspective, as if from a cast of favourite and new characters ranging from the academic to the clinician to the storyteller. The handbook is an invaluable resource for experienced therapists, students and anyone interested in the field." - Roulla Demetriou is a dramatherapist, supervisor and a Lecturer on the MA Dramatherapy at Anglia Ruskin University. Former editor of BADth's Journal, Dramatherapy.

Book Information
ISBN 9781032196343
Author Clive Holmwood
Format Paperback
Page Count 420
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g