An Introduction to Teddy Bear Therapy: A Systems Family Therapy Approach to Child Psychotherapy

Beyers, Leandri; Phipps, Warwick D.; Vorster, Charl

doi:10.1080/08975353.2017.1301156

Cited by 8 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Although MST represented an important development in child psychotherapy, in that it introduced storytelling as a safe, creative, and structured way of engaging the child, it also had certain limitations: (a) it was applied as a psychodynamic approach to effect (unconscious) individual – and not (relational) family or system – change; (b) explicating the moral of the story might cause the child to feel judged or prescribed to; and (c) the therapist's telling a preferred story, which places him/her in a superior position, might cause the child to feel inadequate or inferior (Beyers et al., ; Vorster, ).…”

Section: Teddy Bear Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…TBT may be used with a child between the ages of four and 12 years (Baloyi, ; Vorster, ) and it begins with the therapist seeing the child's parents. Given the nature of the parent–child relationship and the child's dependent role, the parents typically assume an integral part in the TBT process (Beyers et al., ). During the first interview with the parents, the nature of the (presenting) problem, the family context, and a detailed developmental history of the child – and, where appropriate, of the family too –are established (Vorster, ).…”

Section: Teddy Bear Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Teddy bear therapy (TBT) represents an innovative approach in child psychotherapy (Van der Ryst, ). It entails a mutual storytelling process between therapist and child about a teddy bear who is facing the same difficulties as the child (Beyers, Phipps, & Vorster, ). This teddy or soft toy, which is introduced to the child at the first session, accompanies the child home and to successive sessions (Baloyi, ; Vorster, , ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This teddy or soft toy, which is introduced to the child at the first session, accompanies the child home and to successive sessions (Baloyi, ; Vorster, , ). During the storytelling process, the therapist helps the child bring change to the teddy and the teddy's relationships in the family, or broader system, thereby overcoming the teddy's (the child's) presenting problem (Beyers et al., ). TBT is thus a development of systems family therapy, which is based on general system theory (Vorster, ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering its application in child psychotherapy and systems family therapy – the psychotherapeutic treatment of a child in a family system – TBT constitutes an exciting therapeutic development (Beyers et al., ). However, it is still relatively new and there is no comprehensive and systematic training available in this approach.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing a Teddy Bear Therapy Training Program for Family Therapists

Beyers¹,

Phipps²,

Vorster³

2018

ANZ J of Family Therapy

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Teddy bear therapy (TBT) represents an innovative application of family therapy within the context of child, and specifically play, psychotherapy. Drawing on play and storytelling, it entails the therapist and the (referred) child telling a story about a teddy bear that is facing difficulties similar to the child's. Together, therapist and child explore how changes to the teddy, and the teddy's relationships in the family system, bring about resolution of the teddy's problem. TBT is, however, a relatively new therapeutic development and thus lacks comprehensive and systematic training. The objective of this article is to provide a blueprint for a TBT training program in family therapy.The investigation examined what content should be included and how it should be applied and includes a limited field study. This involved three therapists in South Africa who are experienced in the practice of TBT and who provided insight into content and training methods. The article identifies various principles for developing a comprehensive TBT training program for family therapists, both in terms of content and training procedures. It makes available the application and practice of child and play therapy within a family systems approach. Key Points1 Teddy bear therapy (TBT) is an emerging application of child psychotherapy within family therapy. 2 TBT involves the therapist and the (referred) child telling a story about a teddy bear that is facing similar difficulties and exploring how changes to relationships in the family system bring about resolution of the teddy's problem. 3 The article presents a blueprint for training family therapists in TBT as a form of child or play psychotherapy. 4 The theoretical tenets of TBT include general systems theory, interactional pattern analysis, and a personcentred approach. 5 A qualitative research study of three South African therapists experienced in the practice of TBT provides rich and detailed descriptions to inform the development of a training program.

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Section: Teddy Bear Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Teddy Bear Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing a Teddy Bear Therapy Training Program for Family Therapists

Beyers¹,

Phipps²,

Vorster³

2018

ANZ J of Family Therapy

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Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (Conversion Disorder) from an Interactional Approach: A Composite Case Study

Dennis¹,

Phipps²

2020

ANZ J of Family Therapy

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Functional neurological symptom disorder, alternatively termed conversion disorder (FNSD‐CD) (Although the DSM‐5 utilises the term 'conversion disorder', practitioners and consumers consider this to be an outdated, unsubstantiated and often stigmatising term. In accordance with this, the current terminology used in the field is 'functional neurological symptom disorder'), involves symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory functions without identifiable nervous system disease or pathology. It is considered a psychiatric disorder and is, thus, listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.; DSM‐5). As per the nosology of the DSM‐5, the discrete behavioural or psychological syndrome or pattern observed in FNSD‐CD is assumed to be a function of a problem of, or a disorder within, the individual. Accordingly, the psychiatric approach to FNSD‐CD, as set out in the DSM‐5, invokes an assumption common to the medical model which is that of lineal (i.e., straight‐line) causality, namely, causal events are arranged in a lineal sequence. The interactional approach, however, which is a development of general system theory in the field of family therapy, offers an alternative approach to understanding psychiatric disorders. Specifically, this approach places the emphasis on the relationships between individuals and their reciprocal influences on – including their psychological and emotional wellbeing with – one another. It draws on the assumption of nonlineal (i.e., circular) causality, namely, causal events are arranged in a circular sequence. From an interactional approach, therefore, FNSD‐CD is thought to be a function of a problem of, or a deficit within, the individuals’ relationship/s, rather than within an individual, per se. This article utilises a composite case study to investigate FNSD‐CD from an interactional approach.

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Interactional Therapy: Prospects for treating mental health conditions

Plooy

2019

Journal of Psychology in Africa

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An Introduction to Teddy Bear Therapy: A Systems Family Therapy Approach to Child Psychotherapy

Cited by 8 publications

References 10 publications

Developing a Teddy Bear Therapy Training Program for Family Therapists

Developing a Teddy Bear Therapy Training Program for Family Therapists

Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (Conversion Disorder) from an Interactional Approach: A Composite Case Study

Interactional Therapy: Prospects for treating mental health conditions

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