Puppetry Therapy: A Promising New Treatment for Mental Health Conditions
Puppetry therapy is a relatively new type of psychotherapy which utilizes puppets and puppet-related activities in order to help individuals overcome mental health conditions and improve their overall wellbeing. It is a type of expressive therapy which relies on the use of puppet-related activities to explore one’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences in order to gain insight and to process emotions. The goal of puppet therapy is to help participants gain insight, develop problem-solving skills, learn new ways of coping, and practice communication. In this article, we will discuss the theoretical basis for puppetry therapy, its efficacy, and its potential applications.
The theoretical basis of puppetry therapy is grounded in the belief that puppets can provide a safe, non-threatening environment for open communication and exploration, allowing individuals to express themselves without fear of judgment (Dalton, 2011). This type of expressive therapy draws on the use of the “magical” space created by puppets, allowing participants to access different aspects of themselves and explore different perspectives without fear (Dalton, 2011). Additionally, puppetry therapy has been found to increase emotion regulation, emotional intelligence, and social control (Dalton, 2011).
Research suggests that puppetry therapy is a promising treatment for a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral issues (Matheis & Bauml, 2014; Mccutcheon, 2011). One study found that puppetry therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety in adults (Matheis & Bauml, 2014). Another study found that puppet therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of depression in adolescents (McCutcheon, 2011). Additionally, puppetry therapy has been found to be effective in treating symptoms of trauma, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Kazak et al., 2015).
In addition to its clinical applications, puppetry therapy has potential applications in other settings, such as education and community development. For example, puppetry therapy has been used to help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) develop social skills (Gardner et al., 2011). Puppetry therapy has also been used to help children and adults with developmental disabilities improve communication and social skills (Gardner et al., 2011). Additionally, puppetry therapy has been used in community development projects to help individuals with disabilities learn to advocate for themselves and their rights (Robinson, 2011).
In conclusion, puppetry therapy is a promising new treatment for mental health conditions which utilizes puppets and puppet-related activities to help individuals explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Research suggests that puppetry therapy is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral issues. Additionally, puppetry therapy has potential applications in other settings, such as education and community development.
References
Dalton, D. (2011). Puppetry as therapy: A review of the literature. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 38(2), 95-103.
Gardner, A. J., Richman, D. M., & Weitzman, M. (2011). Puppet play: A possible intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 15(2), 139-157.
Kazak, A. E., Stuber, M., Meeske, K., Jones, S., Friesen, C., & Jordan, C. (2015). Evaluating the effects of puppet play on children’s psychological adjustment following trauma exposure. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 44(4), 604-616.
Matheis, R. J., & Bauml, J. (2014). A comparison of the effects of two expressive therapies on anxiety. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 36(3), 263-276.
McCutcheon, L. (2011). The effects of puppet play on depressive symptoms in adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 6(4), 250-265.
Robinson, K. (2011). Using puppetry for community development: The experience of the puppetry project in Costa Rica. International Journal of Education & the Arts, 12(2).