STORY-TELLING INFUSED WITH MULTI-MODAL LEARNING
Curriculums in spiritual care groups rely heavily in 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 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 in 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 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 for participants to reflect about their 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, and Dragon & the Healer).
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MUSIC & SONG
Go to this this link (OR go the Community Singing Tab below) for more information on how I frame music & singing as a learning modality in spiritual care support group facilitation.
- 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
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, and Dragon & the Healer).
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MUSIC & SONG
Go to this this link (OR go the Community Singing Tab below) for more information on how I frame music & singing as a learning modality in spiritual care support group facilitation.
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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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
WEEK 2: Our Search for Meaning
3. The Fish Searching for the Ocean (South/Central Asia; Sufi-Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide - Short, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Reflection
4. The Parable of the Great Pearl / GP Guide (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
WEEK 3: Our Spiritual Guides
5. Punchinello (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Woodcarver's Card; Art, Reflection
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
8. Parable of the Good Samaritan / GP Guide (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art
WEEK 5: On Transformation & Change
9. The Butter & The Milk (South Asian; Hindu) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participants Guide; Reflection
10. The Dragon & The Healer (An Integration of Various Mythologies) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
WEEK 5: 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, Reflection, 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
14. The Parable of the Leaven / GP Guide; Script only(Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
WEEK 8: On Facing Our Fears When Lost & Disoriented
15. The Labyrinth (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Art#3, Art#4, Art#5, Reflection
16. Rowing Into the Stormy Sea (Pacific Islander) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Reflection
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
18. The Master and a Cup of Tea (East Asian; Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
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Resource materials for stories below are still in process of being created...
WEEK 10: The Journey Through Chaos & Instability
19. The River of Life (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art
20. The Parable of the Raft (Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art
WEEK 11: On Grief
21. The Bottle; VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art
22. The Dam; VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art
WEEK 12: On Perspective
23. Maybe - The Old Farmer, his Horses and Sons (East Asian) Art & Reflection, Leader's Guide
24. Story of a Bird in a Golden Cage (South Asian) Art & Reflection, Leader's Guide
WEEK 13: Owning Our Unique Gifts
25. The Woman Who Outshone the Sun (Mexican)
26. The Boy and His Paintbrush (Native American)
WEEK 14: Our Inner Music & Song
27. Jabuti the Tortoise (Amazon)
28. What Is My Song (African)
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.
- 2 rituals for checking in: Rock & Water OR Holy Listening Stones
- 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 important links.
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
WEEK 2: Our Search for Meaning
3. The Fish Searching for the Ocean (South/Central Asia; Sufi-Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide - Short, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Reflection
4. The Parable of the Great Pearl / GP Guide (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
WEEK 3: Our Spiritual Guides
5. Punchinello (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Woodcarver's Card; Art, Reflection
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
8. Parable of the Good Samaritan / GP Guide (Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art
WEEK 5: On Transformation & Change
9. The Butter & The Milk (South Asian; Hindu) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participants Guide; Reflection
10. The Dragon & The Healer (An Integration of Various Mythologies) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
WEEK 5: 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, Reflection, 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
14. The Parable of the Leaven / GP Guide; Script only(Middle East; Christian) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
WEEK 8: On Facing Our Fears When Lost & Disoriented
15. The Labyrinth (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Art#3, Art#4, Art#5, Reflection
16. Rowing Into the Stormy Sea (Pacific Islander) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Art#2, Reflection
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
18. The Master and a Cup of Tea (East Asian; Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art#1, Reflection
____________________
Resource materials for stories below are still in process of being created...
WEEK 10: The Journey Through Chaos & Instability
19. The River of Life (North American) VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art
20. The Parable of the Raft (Buddhist) VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art
WEEK 11: On Grief
21. The Bottle; VIDEO; Leader's Guide, Participant's Guide; Art
22. The Dam; VIDEO; Leader's Guide; Participant's Guide; Art
WEEK 12: On Perspective
23. Maybe - The Old Farmer, his Horses and Sons (East Asian) Art & Reflection, Leader's Guide
24. Story of a Bird in a Golden Cage (South Asian) Art & Reflection, Leader's Guide
WEEK 13: Owning Our Unique Gifts
25. The Woman Who Outshone the Sun (Mexican)
26. The Boy and His Paintbrush (Native American)
WEEK 14: Our Inner Music & Song
27. Jabuti the Tortoise (Amazon)
28. What Is My Song (African)
