STORY-TELLING INFUSED WITH MULTI-MODAL LEARNING
Curriculums in spiritual care groups rely heavily on cognitive verbal reflection, a modality that is normative in the field of pastoral care. Since mental illness, neuro-atypicalness, and medication affect Behavioral Health patients’ cognitive verbal skills, some participants are unable to fully participate in this particular modality. Therefore, the curriculum that I have developed invites spiritual care group facilitators to expand their skillsets beyond the default (“normative”) modality - the use of cognitive verbal reflections. Central to my curriculum is the integration of music, wisdom stories (story-telling), journaling, art, body movement, and breathing/silence, so that participants have the opportunity to holistically engage and process their spirituality within a neurodiverse context.
Below is a guide for each spiritual care group session that I lead, which is structured around a story. Feel free to use or adapt the guide in your particular context. I utilize Godly Play (aka Spirit Play) storytelling method to share wisdom stories as a way to invite participants to reflect about their lived experience. Influenced by the Montessori-based approach to learning, Jerome Berryman (the founder of the Godly Play storytelling modality) valued the participants' capacity to articulate their inner wisdom and insight into the story. As opposed to pouring in knowledge, the pedagogical approach is to draw out the inner wisdom and insight that is already in each participant. The Godly Play storyteller's role is to support the participant's work of articulating insights and making connections - the mirroring of one's inner life into the story. The story box (which contains materials and representations) enables the listener to connect with the story in a tangible way. To see trained storytellers do the Godly Play methodology of storytelling, go to the Godly Play youtube website.
Curriculums in spiritual care groups rely heavily on cognitive verbal reflection, a modality that is normative in the field of pastoral care. Since mental illness, neuro-atypicalness, and medication affect Behavioral Health patients’ cognitive verbal skills, some participants are unable to fully participate in this particular modality. Therefore, the curriculum that I have developed invites spiritual care group facilitators to expand their skillsets beyond the default (“normative”) modality - the use of cognitive verbal reflections. Central to my curriculum is the integration of music, wisdom stories (story-telling), journaling, art, body movement, and breathing/silence, so that participants have the opportunity to holistically engage and process their spirituality within a neurodiverse context.
Below is a guide for each spiritual care group session that I lead, which is structured around a story. Feel free to use or adapt the guide in your particular context. I utilize Godly Play (aka Spirit Play) storytelling method to share wisdom stories as a way to invite participants to reflect about their lived experience. Influenced by the Montessori-based approach to learning, Jerome Berryman (the founder of the Godly Play storytelling modality) valued the participants' capacity to articulate their inner wisdom and insight into the story. As opposed to pouring in knowledge, the pedagogical approach is to draw out the inner wisdom and insight that is already in each participant. The Godly Play storyteller's role is to support the participant's work of articulating insights and making connections - the mirroring of one's inner life into the story. The story box (which contains materials and representations) enables the listener to connect with the story in a tangible way. To see trained storytellers do the Godly Play methodology of storytelling, go to the Godly Play youtube website.
Mythologies with spiritual themes are fabulous tools to reflect about our inner lives and struggles. Below (under "List of Wisdom Stories") are some of the mythologies from different cultures that I have utilized in my Spiritual Care Groups. These are stories about transformation: the human journey from darkness to light, from death to resurrection, from being lost to being found, from disorientation to some clarity, from chaos to stillness, from despair to hope, from emptiness to meaning & purpose, from dis-ease towards healing. In the world of counseling and psychotherapy, therapists use parallel therapeutic tools, such as
If you are curious about what science has to say about storytelling, here are some articles on the topic:
GODLY PLAY MATERIALS
When leading spiritual care groups in BH, Presbyterian Hospital chaplains may use the Godly Play materials in my office. If you are not from Presbyterian Hospital, you may purchase Godly Play materials (Parable of the Leaven, the Great Pearl, the Good Samaritan, the Good Shepherd, the Sower, the Mustard Seed, the Deep Well) from the Godly Play website. For the rest of the other stories listed below (under "List of Wisdom Stories"), I recommend you create your own Godly/Spirit Play materials (these stories include: Brother Bear, Warrior & the Monk, The Fish Searching the Ocean, Punchinello, The Cracked Jar, Calming the Stormy Sea, Rowing into the Stormy Sea, the Butter & the Milk, the Dragon & the Healer, and others).
- bibliotherapy
- poetry therapy
- story therapy
- articles on Joseph Campbell's work on mythology:
If you are curious about what science has to say about storytelling, here are some articles on the topic:
- The Science Behind The Art Of Storytelling
- What Anansi Did for Us: Storytelling’s Value in Equitably Exploring Public Health
- How Stories Connect & Persuade Us: Unleashing the Brain Power of Narrative
- The Science of Storytelling: What Listening to a Story Does to Our Brains
- Narrative Medicine & Rita Charon
- Your Aesthetic Brain: A Growing Case for the Arts
GODLY PLAY MATERIALS
When leading spiritual care groups in BH, Presbyterian Hospital chaplains may use the Godly Play materials in my office. If you are not from Presbyterian Hospital, you may purchase Godly Play materials (Parable of the Leaven, the Great Pearl, the Good Samaritan, the Good Shepherd, the Sower, the Mustard Seed, the Deep Well) from the Godly Play website. For the rest of the other stories listed below (under "List of Wisdom Stories"), I recommend you create your own Godly/Spirit Play materials (these stories include: Brother Bear, Warrior & the Monk, The Fish Searching the Ocean, Punchinello, The Cracked Jar, Calming the Stormy Sea, Rowing into the Stormy Sea, the Butter & the Milk, the Dragon & the Healer, and others).
This link above will give you more information on how I frame music & singing as a learning modality in spiritual care support group facilitation. It also has links to articles on the scientific research on the relationship of music and mental health.
List of Wisdom Stories (PDF & Video Resources)
Spiritual Care facilitators in whatever context are welcome to use the resource materials attached here (in PDF). This page is a work in progress, and I am slowly posting videos of me telling the story (specifically, non-parable ones) to model for facilitators how I tell the story using Godly Play / Spirit Play method.
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- Script for Introducing the Session: Please adapt the script for your particular context.
- Possible rituals or prompts for checking in: (a) Rock & Water - aka highs & lows, (b) Holy Listening Stones, (c) Spiritual Assessment, (d) Personality Assessment, (e) Avatar the Last Airbender, (f) The 4 Seasons - aka Quadratos, (g) 12 Basic Tools
- Script for Introducing the Wisdom Story: Please adapt the script for your particular context.
- Supplemental Worksheets: This resource includes spirituality assessment, emotional & spiritual toolbox, and conversation topics on grief. Feel free to use any worksheet that might help deepen or facilitate further reflection on the wisdom stories below, OR use the sheets as a conversation topic on their own.
- Closing ritual with candle
- For further guidance, scroll down to bottom of page for import
- Potential nature backgrounds: Mountain River#1, Mountain River#2, Waterfall#1, Waterfall#2, Mountain Stream, Mount Rainier, Mount St Helens#1, Mount St Helens#2, Mountain Lake, Tropical Beach; Fire in the Canyon
WEEK 1: Our Search for Healing
1. Brother Bear (Alaskan-Russian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art; Reflection
2. The Warrior and the Monk (East Asian; Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Reflection, Reflection - Anger Iceberg, Warrior-Monk Art
WEEK 2: Our Search for Meaning
3. The Fish Searching for the Ocean (South/Central Asia; Sufi-Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2 , Art#3, Reflection, Example for Art#1
4. The Parable of the Great Pearl / GP Guide (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection; Art Example
WEEK 3: Our Spiritual Guides
5. Punchinello (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Woodcarver's Card; Art, Reflection; Art Example; Music "You Say"; Music "True Colors"
6. Parable of the Good Shepherd / GP Guide (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
WEEK 4: Our Guide/Companion Towards Peace & Healing
7. Peace Be Still - Calming the Stormy Sea (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Reflection, Drawing Prompt, Drawing Example; Live Background
8. Parable of the Good Samaritan / GP Guide (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art, Reflection; Drawing Prompt, Examples; Music Fred Rogers
WEEK 5: On Transformation & Change
9. The Butter & The Milk (South Asian; Hindu) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participants Guide; Reflection, Worksheet, Drawing Example
10. The Dragon & The Healer (An Integration of Various Mythologies) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Reflection; Drawing Example; Misty Mountains Cold
WEEK 6: On Growing & Healing
11. The Parable of the Sower / GP Guide (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Art#3, Reflection, Seed Drawing Example for Art#1, Collaborative Art,
12. The Cracked Jar (South Asian; Hindu) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art, Reflection, Art - the Owner's Card, Collaborative Art
WEEK 7: The Tree of Life & the Bread of Life
13. The Parable of the Mustard Seed / GP Guide; Script only (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Reflection, Examples; Collaborative Art
14. The Parable of the Leaven / GP Guide; Script only(Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection, Song#1-For Good, Song#2-I Am Already Enough, Song#3-Carry You
WEEK 8: Our To-Do's When We Are Disoriented
15. The Labyrinth (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Art#3, Art#4, Art#5, Reflection, Examples, Labyrinth Short Doc, Video from Film The Labyrinth; Matching 12 Tools
16. Rowing Into the Stormy Sea (Pacific Islander) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Reflection, Drawing Prompt, Drawing Example; Live Background
WEEK 9: Sacred Drink to Quench Our Thirst
17. The Parable of the Deep Well / GP Guide (Rabbinical Parable) VIDEO#1; VIDEO#2; VIDEO#3; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection, Drawing Prompt, Drawing Example; Live Background
18. The Master and a Cup of Tea (East Asian; Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art, Reflection, Art Examples; Music "Free Mind"; Discussion Slides
WEEK 10: On Traps & Cages
19. The Bird in a Golden Cage (South Asian) Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Reflection & Example, Deconstruction Art Activity; Art Guide, Music "Soulbird Rise"; Music "As You Fly"; Music "Free Mind";
20. The River of Life (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Reflection/Worksheet; Live Background
WEEK 11: Crossing Obstacles
21. The Stream & the Desert (a Sufi story) Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Reflection; Live Background
22. The Parable of the Raft (Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Worksheet; Live Background#1, Live Background #2
WEEK 12: Flowing with Our Feelings
23. The Wisdom of the Four Seasons (inspired by Alexander Shaia's Quadratos) Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Worksheet, Four Seasons Art Template; Art Examples; VIDEO of Breathing Meditation
24. This Being Human Is a Guesthouse (Sufi) - Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Music "Meant to Be"
WEEK 13: Growth & Healing Arising from Our Struggles
25. The Bamboo Tree (Chinese) - *Guide sheets still in process of development
26. Kintsugi (Japanese) - *Guide sheets still in process of development
WEEK 14: Non-Attachment & Courage
27. Maybe - (2 Stories) (East Asian) - *Guide sheets still in process of development
28. Defeating Fear (Buddhist; Pema Chodron) - *Guide sheets still in process of development
WEEK 15: Growth/Wisdom That Comes with Time
29. Time and Love (South Asian) - *Guide sheets still in process of development
30. The Reluctant Oak Tree (South Asian/North American) - *Guide sheets still in process of development
WEEK 16: Our Light / Our Purpose
31. The Fearful Candle - Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide
32. The Four Candles - *Guide sheets still in process of development
WEEK 16:
33. The Butterfly & the Cocoon - *Guide sheets still in process of development
34. The Still Small Voice - *Guide sheets still in process of development
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Scripts for the stories below are still in process of being created...
On the Flow of Grief
The Bottle (inspired by the film Song of the Sea); VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art
The Dam (inspired by the film Frozen 2); VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art
Sacred Identity #1: Owning Our Unique Gifts in Community
The Woman Who Outshone the Sun (Mexican)
The Boy and His Paintbrush (Native American)
Sacred Identity #2: Our Inner Music & Song
Jabuti the Tortoise (Amazon)
What Is My Song (African)
The Apprentice & the Master
Air, Water, Earth & Fire (Avatar the Last Airbender)
Mordo & the Ancient One: Taming the Dragon (Marvel's Dr. Strange + Pathway of Marshall Rosenberg's NVC)
