Talking Stick

When Nathan, a Native American boy, moves to a new town the other children make fun of his long hair. With the help of his talking stick, Nathan teaches his classmates about his tribe and his way of life. Will the talking stick also help him make friends in his new home? Based on a true story, The Talking Stick is a tale for all ages and cultures. Includes tips for caregivers and instructions for making your very own talking stick.

This book is an amazing resource for play therapy techniques. The contributors come from a diverse group including child-centered, cognitive-behavioral, gestalt, Jungian, psychodynamic, and prescriptive play therapy.

Practices for openhearted speaking and devout listening to restore harmony in families, relationships, schools, workplaces, and communities • Details how to approach life with a listening heart and create a sacred space for communication • Offers exercises for new peacemaking circles, ceremonial ways to begin each circle, and peacemaker tools to unmask the needs and feelings behind conflict • Explains how to apply this practice in multiple ways, with groups large and small People are afraid of conflict: it is something “bad” that must be managed and resolved. In the face of conflict we focus only on facts--who’s at fault and who should be punished--rather than seeking to restore harmony. But conflict is inevitable and presents an opportunity to establish deeper connections with others. By learning to speak honestly and listen devoutly, we can overcome our culture’s hierarchical and punitive approach to conflict. We can learn to relate to each other in a sacred manner and create relationships and communities that are egalitarian, liberating, and transformational. Revealing that we are all peacemakers at heart, Steve Beyer details how to approach life with a listening heart and create a safe and sacred space for communication: the peacemaking circle, centered on the talking stick. Whoever holds the talking stick gets to speak. There are no interruptions, no questions, no challenges, no comments. People speak one at a time, honestly from their hearts, and they listen devoutly with their hearts to each person who speaks. And, as Beyer shows, the effect can be miraculous. The author explains how to apply this practice with groups large and small to deepen relationships, heal old wounds, and restore harmony among families, spouses, classmates, coworkers, and communities. Sharing stories from his work as a peacemaker, he offers exercises for new talking stick circles, ceremonial ways to begin each circle, and tools to ensure the telling of complete stories in cases of conflict. He addresses the nature of apology, forgiveness, and the urge for revenge, and he explores the spiritual challenges faced by those who walk the peace path. Exploring the shamanic roots of the talking stick practice, the author extends the lessons of the healing circle and the listening heart from our homes, schools, and communities into our relationship to spirit and the Earth.

"Keepers of the Children" (subtitle: Native American Wisdom and Parenting) uses little known Native American secrets to teach parents how to raise children who know their nature and use their strengths to create lives of meaning and contribution. By raising children to unfold the uniqueness in their hearts, parents touch the depths of their own. By teaching children the secrets of genuine fulfillment, they grow up to lead purposeful lives and cherish their parents for this gift. ("Keepers of the Children" is the first in a trilogy of parenting books.)

The Handbook of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy is a comprehensive reference guide for group practitioners and researchers alike. Each chapter reviews the literature and current research as well as suggestions for practice in the psycho educational arena, counselling, and therapy groups. The Handbook encourages the notion that the field is improved through increased collaboration between researchers and practitioners. Through a review of cutting-edge research and practice, the Handbook includes } 48 articles by renowned experts in group work } the history and theory of group work } topics across the lifespan } an entire section on multicultural issues } a variety of clinical problems and settings } appendices include the Association for Specialists in Group Work Training Standards, Best Practice Standards, and Principles for Diversity-Competent Group Workers The Handbook is divided into seven sections: Current and Historical Perspectives on the Field of Group Counselling and Psychotherapy, reviews and analyzes the many contributions and contributors that have made group counselling and psychotherapy a vital and potent treatment method. The chapter outlines review articles spanning four decades, and outlines the evolution of group themes over the last 100 years. Best Practices in Group Counselling and Psychotherapy uses research, theory, and group counseling experience to provide group leaders and researches with the most current and best practices in conducting group counseling and psychotherapy. Multicultural Groups follows the ASGW Principles for Diversity-Competent Group Workers and is intended to provide group leaders with essential information about different cultural groups and their world views, perceptions of groups, naturalistic healing methods, suggested group interventions, and implications for groups. Chapters cover Native-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and African-Americans, disabled persons, and gender and sexuality. Groups Across Settings includes examples of psycho-educational, counseling, and psychotherapy groups in a variety of settings. This section presents readers with theoretical and empirical support for group work in such settings as the Veterans Administration system, university counselling centers, and more. Groups Across the Lifespan consist of chapters across many age groups. For children and adolescents, cognitive and developmental issues are addressed. For adults, socialization and interpersonal issues are addressed, including separate chapters for male and female groups. Finally, a chapter on the elderly deals with cognitive, health, and life review issues. Special Topics Groups presents a continuum of different types of groups used to treat people with interpersonal and developmental issues, such as grief, substance abuse, depression, and others. Each chapter in this section provides definitions and descriptions of the issues along with theoretical and empirical support. Finally, Critical Issues and Emerging Topics attempts to reflect the zeitgeist and provide a glimpse into group interventions for the future. Emerging issues, such as online groups, prevention groups, and peer-led mutual help groups receive careful attention and analysis. The Handbook of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy, the first reference devoted to this emerging and rapidly growing field, is essential for academics, researchers, professionals, and librarians serving the group therapy community. There is no similar reference available, and it will prove a landmark volume for years to come.

Grade level: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, k, p, e, i, t.

The effectiveness of group counselling, as a treatment modality, has been well established. And while additional theoretical work will always be needed, perhaps the greater challenge for contemporary group practitioners lies in crafting theoretically sound applications of group theory so that group methods can be used more effectively to benefit clients struggling with various psychological and developmental problems. This book responds to this need by offering fourteen chapters of creative, useful examples of how group methods can be successfully applied to a wide range of problems and populations. Each chapter, written by innovators from the fields of counselling, social work, psychology and psychiatry, focuses on specific mental health problems of issues that will interest a wide population. A careful analysis of each psychological or development problem greets the reader, followed by a discussion of the theoretical basis for the interventions. Each chapter utilises practical recommendations, outlines of procedures, and liberal use of case examples to illuminate important process points. Each broad category, Adults; Children and Adolescents; and Training and Theory; includes interesting chapter topics such as Group counselling with late deafened adults, Marital restoration groups, Therapist's uses of self in group psychotherapy, and Group play therapy with abused children. The elegant combination of theory and practice offers the reader a range of easily implemented methods and techniques applied to each specified problem. Modern Applications to Group Work is a valuable companion text for any group-oriented course. Undergraduate and graduate courses in group can use the text to illustrate the application of general group principles to specific psychological concerns. Modern Applications to Group Work may he used as the primary text for advanced courses in group counselling, psychology and social work programs. Practitioners will he attracted to the book due to die comprehensive scope and the strong theoretical basis of each chapter that is followed by pragmatic treatment strategies.

We live in a world that needs radical transformation if our children and grandchildren are to live healthy, peace-filled lives. But where to start? Activist Roberto Vargas says the answer lies surprisingly close: at home, with our family and friends. We can apply the practice of family activism to foster what he calls familia—warm, loving connections with our relatives and with those we choose to call family—and develop the skills and attitudes we need to tackle broader problems in our community, our nation, and the world. In Family Activism, Vargas draws from his own life to show how to apply tools such as copowering communication, family councils, and unity circles to create family and community cultures that empower all of us to become more committed and skillful agents of positive change.