Climbing in the CyberTree with HeartFelt Dolls of Prosody

[Randy Eady]

As the trauma field has matured, there's increasing interest in the use of "cyber-practical" applications to support the recovery of children & young people from experiences of violation and severe relational disruption. . . "Getting in the Big Tree is an apt, beautiful and playful way for children to be part of stories showing the importance of connecting to others and providing a strong sense of belonging, while solving problems that may, at first, seem to be insurmountable." ~ R.Eady, Founder, KR Therapeutics

In this case we're operating from the notion of neuroplasticity that shows how given that mind, consciousness, and mentality are biological, so too, necessarily, is culture; culture & biology are interdependent re-fashioners -- consistently shaping each other. 

This "going-in context" is helpful for ACEs (Adverse childhood experiences), & even Media CyberPsychology -- that's emerging w/"neuro-metaphorical healing” practice –  an infused modality for working w/children in a vast array of contexts (including trauma-informed/focused education).

These engage natural forms of accessing the body's self-healing energy, creating a positive sense of self (like life-cycles in the seasons), but also frequently refer to experiences better expressed w/help of 4 archetypal metaphors (Heartfelt Dolls).  Morton the monster, Ollie the monkey, Susan the kitten and Ellen the caterpillar serve as imbued role models -- transcending time & place, and therefore have unique therapeutic efficacy.Each character has specific themes of experience & healing integrated into their design, including identity, emotion, nurture, sensation awareness, calm and relaxation, containment and transformation. Morton the monster supports children to explore their identity, Ollie the monkey encourages exploration of nurturing through feeding, Sleepy Susan is designed to help children feel calm, and Ellen the caterpillar represents themes of transformation and containment.

Recognizing parents, carers and children themselves are more engaged today with cyber-mediation, the ♡felt dolls have gone digital too. 

A new app supports children to have fun while they practice calming techniques and listen to stories that teach them problem-solving strategies.  "The Big Tree" app is specifically designed for children under eight years of age. Featuring the voices of patron,

Chris Hemsworth, our ambassador, Nadine Garner, and Chris’s mum Leonie Hemsworth, it uses narratives, games and creative activities to help children learn how relationships can support them to meet challenges which can feel overwhelming on their own.

Learn more @https://professionals.childhood.org.au/therapeutic-dolls-for-work-with-children/

While the science of self-talk (as directed through devices like these dolls) is just truly getting under way -- via appreciating processes of prosody -- that point to the deep roots of language and its power to affect the most primitive parts of our brain -- more practitioners are using simple plasticity interventions to "put the brakes" on trauma emotions.   

Metaplasticity practices that focus "self as a detached observer" paradoxically can create a sense of "felt presence" to enable the cerebral cortex (core of thought), and another in the amygdala (seat of fear) to better harmonize with our current state of emotional intensity.

Gaining this measure of psychological distance enables self-control, helps us gain perspective.

In crisp logic, the science of self-talk shows how these effects may be mitigated via processes of prosody (that point to the deep roots of language and its power to affect the most primitive parts of our brain). . .

[Randy Eady]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH0pdWKXm58