The Theatre of Attachment & Supporting Children to Overcome Trauma and Realise Their Full Potential with Dr Joan Moore #41
SHOW NOTES
Today I’m talking with Dr Joan Moore. Dr Joan is an author, dramatherapist and play therapist who specialises in supporting foster and adoptive families. She’s the creator of The Theatre of Attachment Model, a beautiful and innovative approach to life history therapy applied mainly in the child’s family home. Joan’s research for her doctoral study at Leeds Beckett University explores the use of narrative and drama to support children’s recovery from trauma while promoting mental health and the formation of secure and healthy relationships with their new caregivers. You can find more about her amazing research and practice in A Narrative-Dramatic Approach to Children’s Life Story with Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Families: Using The Theatre of Attachment Model.
Children explore their world using the five senses and play. Through stories, children and young people find out how the protagonist handles problems and learns from them. It can give children a sense of ‘that’s how it’s done, even if it’s on a subconscious level. The aim is for the child to be secure in their attachment with the caregiver and realise their potential.
Joan’s other books include: Developing Secure Attachment Through Play: Helping Young Children Build Their Social and Emotional Wellbeing; Therapeutic Stories for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Families: Addressing the Domino Effect of Issues facing 10-14 Year-olds, Emotional Problem Solving Using Stories, Drama and Play, Once Upon A Time… Stories and Drama to Use In Direct Work with Adopted and Foster Children. Together with Mary Corrigan, she’s also the co-author of Listening to Children’s Wishes and Feelings, published by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering. You can also find her work on Dramatherapy and Social Theatre, edited by Sue Jennings, in Innovative Therapeutic Life History Work, edited by Richard Rose; and several peer-reviewed papers.
Children begin to reassess their survival of adversity as ‘heroes’ rather than ‘victims’. To see children stand in front of me and tell me their story is the most rewarding part. They may start off as victims but to see them reconstruct their identity as heroes – that’s my aim.”
We’re talking about…
What is The Theatre of Attachment Model, a beautiful and innovative approach to life history therapy.
Why Creative Arts are the most effective methods of therapy to enable children and young people to accept their pasts, form new secure and healthy relationships and thrive.
How play and storytelling can support children to overcome trauma and realise their full potential.
Dr Joan Moore’s vast experience supporting foster and adoptive families.
Some moving and inspiring stories of children who overcame trauma through The Theatre of Attachment Model.
I can’t wait to share this conversation with you.
