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Symbols Symbols of peace Symbols of hope Symbols to keep Your dreams afloat Introducing
Symbols, a box of 100 evocative images that work as poems
for the soul. Symbols is a set of simple, free-hand line drawings of everyday objects that can suggest layers of meaning to the observer. Therapists who work with those struggling with grief and loss suggested this particular set of symbols. They have resonance with people grappling with the big questions in life. Symbols can be used with individuals and groups as a therapeutic tool for:
Open this delightful box of symbols and experience the possibilities of new insights and transformation.
Symbols
From prehistoric times onwards, story, meaning, tradition, cultural laws and spirituality have all been expressed via symbols. The use of symbols is universal and embraces all aspect of our lives. Some symbols are personal, some are relevant to particular cultures, and some have been codified into signs and maps that transcend specific cultures.
Symbols can alert us to issues of safety. They can represent our allegiance to our tribes and groups. They can express our search for purpose and fulfillment. They can also be potent therapeutic tools by providing shortcuts to our feelings and the meaning we give our experiences.
However, neither social work nor other helping professions such as counselling and psychology have rich traditions of using visual imagery in their practice repertoires. Arguably, of all the professions it is early childhood education that has the best track record for the use of pictures, drawings, stickers, play dough, colourful educational toys and objects in its conversation-building activities.
For quite some time Innovative Resources considered producing a ‘Box of Surprises’ that would house a number of items, including a small set of hand-painted cards featuring symbols. However, a meeting with Linda Espie (a grief and bereavement counsellor) led to our decision to collaboratively develop a therapeutic tool based solely on visual symbols.
Illustrator and graphic artist Bradley Welsh, together with his colleague Tim Lane, created the simple, loose, hand-drawn images for this set of 100 cards. Simply called Symbols, this tool is due for release in February 2007.
While this set of cards has its origins in grief and loss counselling, the possible applications are endless. Because symbols have the power to speak directly to our sense of identity, they can be used to illuminate almost any situation. Teachers, counsellors, therapists, social workers, workshop facilitators and team-builders will be among those to find their own creative uses for this set of cards.
In the Mailbag
It was one of those spontaneous moments when I found myself having to take a seminar at short notice. The topic was Narrative Therapy and the resource that came to hand was Symbols. With the contents of the neat little tin spread across a table, I invited the students to choose two cards each. The aim of the exercise was to demonstrate 'thin' and 'thick' narratives (or accounts) and the importance of searching for 'thick' or rich narratives in this therapeutic approach. 'Thin' narratives are those that give little depth of information and tend to result in the most obvious, but often incorrect, assumptions. For instance, if a woman were to say she was feeling low in the mood and couldn't sleep, one might assume - without sufficient evidence - she was depressed. 'Thick' narratives are needed to develop a depth of understanding and to assist in drawing more accurate conclusions. The woman in this example might be encouraged to tell more of her story revealing her struggle with allergic hay fever and the difficulty of getting effective medication. In the seminar I facilitated, the students worked in pairs giving a brief account of why they had chosen their two symbols. The accounts were typically 'thin' in the first instance. However, after some discussion of the importance of eliciting 'thick' accounts in Narrative Therapy we returned to the cards. Now each student helped their partner to develop a more rich account of the symbols they had chosen. During the feedback session it became evident the discussion had, indeed, become much more rich and Symbols had been an ideal choice! Dr Jennifer Lehmann Department of Social Work La Trobe University, Bendigo.
I recently bought the Words, Symbols and Optimism Booster cards.
I have used them in a grief and loss group, and in individual counselling sessions. They have all been spectacularly helpful and useful tools. My clients report that they initially thought, how can this help, but once they choose a word or symbol (or two or three), away the session goes.
It has helped people to verbalise feelings and thoughts that they might never have known were there.
I have used the whole bundle at once—sometimes a random 'chunk' out of the tin (or both tins). They are extremely versatile.
Thank you.
Gill Evans Counsellor in private practice
I would like to tell you how much the family carer support group that I facilitate enjoys working with both the Symbols and Words cards. These family carers usually care for a partner or a parent with dementia. As you can appreciate the road is difficult and long, with no end in sight. Some family carers accept and perform their caring role so gracefully, but for some it is almost too much to bear, and to talk about the pain, frustration, guilt and anger is so hard. I bought the cards to a meeting at the end of last year and I was especially surprised at the effect that the Symbols cards had on the CALD carers. We had a wonderful response from one carer in particular who couldn't stop talking about the cards he had chosen! Thank you so much for the easing of our difficult paths. Sally Koodiaroff Alzheimers Australia ACT
Symbols in Japan
For the past eight years Linda Espie has been working as a loss, grief and bereavement educator in Japan. We asked Linda to share some reflections from her most recent trip and she included some photos of participants using Symbols for the first time...
The Innovative Resources tools I have introduced in Japan have been embraced with enthusiasm and at times delicate poignancy by workshop participants. As an educator working with non-English speaking groups of between 32 and 75 participants the diversity of these products makes them a greatly valued resource.
At a recent workshop participants included palliative care, generalist, disability and midwifery nurses; doctors, including palliative care specialists; pastoral care staff, psychologists, occupational and speech therapists; social workers, Master's students, pharmacists and nurse educators.
The group's diversity not only added to the learning environment but also provided validation—from a rich mix of domains—for the thoughts and feelings experienced by individual participants. Such feedback affirms the need for this type of education and training in Japan.
Like many places, health and welfare professionals here often overlook and under-value the setting aside of time for deep reflection upon their experiences.
I spread the Symbols cards around and wondered how things would develop as participants were invited to scan, choose a card and then share in pairs and groups of four. It worked! The connections and engagement, mood and tone that developed as participants held one or more of the Symbols cards were very evident. At times the room was a-buzz with lively chat and at other times more subdued and genteel.
My most sincere thanks to St Luke's Innovative Resources and my translator!
Symbols in Action Preparing to attend the funeral A disability worker selected several Symbols cards to help prepare her client, Sarah, to attend her father's funeral. The cards Sarah chose were: coffin, tear drop, heart, candle, flower, cross, gravestone, hands praying, and book. Using each of these Symbols cards the worker was able to speak with Sarah about the various possible images and symbols she might see at her father's funeral. The worker and Sarah had three separate conversations over a few days which helped Sarah prepare for, and better understand, what she might experience. Sarah was also invited to draw her own feelings and thoughts about her dad's death and funeral, using her own symbolism.
Symbols in ordinary connectedness Alistair was drawn to two Symbols cards-a bed and a tree. He described his relationship of four years with his partner as rocky, yet ordinary and complex. Alistair previously lived a solitary life. For him the bed symbolised a twin, paired experience which is vastly different from his earlier way of being in the world. Similarly, the tree represented an important relationship with an elderly neighbour who Alistair described himself as having 'come to love'. His neighbour plants and cares for Alistair's garden. Both relationships are described as solid and ordinary. Alistair reflected on having let both people 'take a hold of me' as he pointed to his heart. Alistair pondered the ordinariness of things; the daily act of making the bed, the daily act of the seasons. He noted that there is something reassuring about the everydayness. The 'taking hold' is something he said he cannot allow himself to fully know yet; to be able to count on these people in his life and to be touched by them in ways that are unexpected is very new for him. 'They are ordinary men,' he said, and 'I have found a new ability to take hold of ordinariness in my life.'
Connecting Through Shared Grief Linda Espie (from the Symbols booklet) Brian and Jill both agreed that they needed to see someone. Their 30-year marriage had had plenty of ups and downs but with their children gone their expectation about being contented ‘empty nesters’ just wasn’t happening. Their relationship counsellor suggested they might look at their marriage through a different lens. She introduced the Symbols cards and started with the question: ‘Would you each pick those cards that might tell me something about who you are as individuals and as a couple?’ Each chose about six cards. The only card they had in common was the symbol of a dog. This was an initial surprise but as they talked, it seemed to make sense. Their long-time pet dog, Buster, had disappeared some six months ago. They had never heard what had happened and while they were resigned to not seeing Buster again they had never talked about their feelings or about getting another dog. Buster had really been Jill’s dog as she was around the house more and did all the feeding. For Jill, Buster had been a companion; he helped her fill the empty nest and feel safe. For Brian, the walks at weekends had provided exercise and a way of letting off steam from his job. Both were acutely missing Buster. Selecting the same card highlighted their shared experience and opened up a starting point for connecting emotionally once again.
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After
an initial request to work with staff at a hospice in Kagoshima, the
invitation was extended to visit and lecture at the Eikoh Hospice
Centre in Fukuoka and I have been invited to return there regularly.
Despite
this, I have successfully introduced