YSU faculty book helps children

Staff report

youngstown

Two Youngstown State University faculty has written a book to help children facing difficult circumstances.

“Storytelling and Other Activities for Children in Therapy,” by authors Johanna Slivinske, a part-time instructor in social work, and Lee Slivinske, a professor in social work, is designed to be used by social workers, counselors, play therapists, psychologists and other professionals.

It is published by the Professional and Trade Division of John Wiley & Sons.

The book begins with introductory chapters that explain how to use the book, the principles and processes of therapeutic storytelling, the strengths approach to storytelling and a review of middle-childhood development.

Then, reality-based fictional stories and activities specific to life challenges and strengths are presented for practitioners’ use with children age 6 to 12.

Storytelling helps children who are experiencing difficulties to find their voice by talking about, writing about or drawing endings to stories. It combines various aspects of the expressive arts such as writing, storytelling, drawing and other creative means to involve children in the healing process. The authors’ daughter, Ashley Slivinske, also contributed a story to the book.

The stories address issues involving school, behavioral problems, child abuse, trauma, bullying, death, community violence and domestic violence, usually written from the child’s perspective.

The activities may be customized to meet the needs of the child on the accompanying website.

The book is available through various online bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Wiley. More information is available at www.Wiley.com.