So this is a therapeutic technique I (sort of ) stole from my dad. As a little girl, whenever I would have a problem, my dad would take one of my stuffed bears or stuffed dogs and have it talk to me. 

The stuffed dog/bear/whatever, my dad, and I would all take turns discussing the problem together.  Looking back with a child therapist's eye, these "talks" allowed me to process the situation in a fun way with my dad, gain understanding about what happened, and plan ahead for how to handle similar situations in the future.

So now--twenty some odd years later--I do the same thing with my clients--sort of....

I call my interpretation:

                                       (Mildly Inappropriate) Puppet Theater

The puppets (at least in my hands) take on a life of their own--sort of like watching... a Jeff Duham skit only for kids...

There are several characters that appear (out of my desk drawer) depending on the client's current problems/concerns:

 Mutton (a lamb puppet): He is French, He is cranky, He has several ex-wives, is heavy smoker, and enjoys gambling in Vegas (where he met ex wife number 3),  he likes to pet my client's hair (which makes the therapist angry and the kids giggle hysterically), and is frequently the "bad boy" of the group.

(Mutton and I frequently argue in front of clients. The kids love talking to him and are mildly shocked by his behavior. Several clients (one kindergartner in particular) have told me Mutton "needs help". I always ask the clients if they could give him advice about behaving better.  Even my clients with the worst behavior are eager to give Mutton advice.)

Bugs (a rabbit): Another smoker (geez--what's with these puppets) with a smokers cough. Bugs is a huge Neil Diamond fan, loves to give hugs, pretends to be tough--but has a heart of gold , and loves to offer advice. He is also not adverse to breaking into showtunes or Sweet Caroline....

The latest puppet to join the others:

The Professor (crafted from a lunch bag and construction paper): A narcoleptic who likes to drone on about the brain and it's chemicals. He's the educator of the group and happily will discuss how meds can help with various disorders like AD/HD, depression, anxiety and so on.

The clients love talking to this crew of puppet misfits for some weird reason. And I am always learning new stuff about the clients and the puppets when a conversation occurs between puppet and client.

Recently, an 8 year old client of mind uncovered that Mutton has been in several bar fights, cheated on wife #2, and used to be affliated with a local gang. Which in turn, led to the client's disclosure that in fact HE had been in several bar fights, cheated on girlfriend #5, and used to be affiliated with a local branch of the Crips.

Just kidding.

But the client did reveal alot of his (previously undisclosed) thoughts about his father's jail sentence.

Who knew....

 I blame my dad and his side of the family for the puppet's inappropriate behavior.  Case in point:

Setting: Borders Books' Children's Book Department

Dad: Hey, (pulls a pig puppet from the display and puts it on his hand) this is the perfect puppet for your clients with body issues...(Has pig puppet cover its tummy with it's hooves) "I'm fat!"

Me: Really? Um...no.

Dad: (Sliding off pig puppet and putting a two headed dragon on his hand) How about this puppet for talking to those clients who have auditory hallucinations. (Makes the two heads wiggle and pretend to talk) "I'm hearing voices. Where are they coming from", (says head one.) "No it's just me, ha ha ha!", says head two. (Dad starts to snicker, rocks on his heels a sure sign that he's finding himself amusing, and wiggles the heads some more).

Me: Um...again...sick...and no. Are you done? 

Dad: It's a learning tool for hallucinations....

Me: Ok, you're done. I'm cutting you off with these puppets. (Quickly taking away the dragon puppet). Let's go before you offend someone aside from me...Which for you is easy to do at this point... 

(Oddly enough, I have an 11 year old client with auditory hallucinations who made a similar joke with a two headed clay dog he made in therapy the other day....huh....interesting.)

Dad: How about this squirrel puppet? What do you think Lulu would think?

Me: Dad, my dog is high strung enough as it is...Do not bring in a squirrel puppet in my house. She'll stroke out if she see it. Put the squirrel down now.

Dad: Too late. I'm buying it. (Heads to the cashier).

Me: (Yelling after dad) I'm serious---I am not keeping the squirrel puppet at my house! Even if I put it away in a drawer, Lulu will continue to bark at the drawer and probably manage to open it.

Dad: Then we should probably buy you some baby proof latches for your drawers before we head back. . .