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Puppet Therapy Think Tank
See how we are developing a methodology to teach this phenomenon. Join the global project.
Puppets give us a unique dimension in therapy. They enable us to communicate through a chosen ‘other’ our deepest feelings.
Dr. Sue Jennings
Senior Researcher – PUP
Puppet Therapy Think Tank
See how we are developing a methodology to teach this phenomenon. Join the global project.
ON-LINE COURSES
Touch of Puppet Therapy
Find out what a puppet means to a person and the basic principles of puppet therapy. The thinking behind it, the cultural context. Types of the puppets in your resources.
In the online courses, you will pass through several video examples of how to use puppets in therapy. The most important goal to find out in this course is to “talk” to you. You will pass the online exam to make sure you understand the basics and you can proceed to the next level.
ONLINE COURSE
Showcase videos
Puppet therapy explained
Exam yourself
Tuition fees:
Free
World of Puppet Therapy
8 and 10 of January 2024
Life online learning course
You have passed the “Touch of Puppet Therapy” course and you have found out that there is much more to be explored. Continue your expertise and understand more with your life Puppet Therapy experience.
LIVE ONLINE COURSE
3 life online lessons
Sample therapy videos
Study Materials
Your questions being answered
Tuition fees:
150 EUR
OFF-LINE COURSES
Kindergarten Teachers & Puppet Therapy
Weekly
Teaching teachers to understand puppetry
We will teach you to build simple puppets and to understand their psychology. Passing this course will bring you better understanding what, why and how are kids using puppets.
OFFLINE COURSE
1 days
Max. 13 participants
Building your puppet
Learning to operate a puppet
Understanding puppetry vs. kids
Certificate of training
Tuition fees:
150 EUR
Deep in Puppet Therapy
Next available course date is 10-15 of July 2024
Summer course in the center of Prague
You have passed the “Touch of Puppet Therapy” course and you have found out that there is much more to be explored. Continue your expertise and understand more with your life Puppet Therapy experience.
Day 1
You will create your own therapeutic puppet in our workshop in the center of Prague
Day 2
The aims of the day 1 are to:
* create our own puppet with guidance
* understand how we made that choice
* Learn the basic craft skills needed to make our puppet
* explore its name and identity
* feel confident in the process of creating
Learning outcomes:
1. Creation of a crafted puppet to use in education and therapy
2. Understanding of the transferable skills for puppet creation
3. Confidence regarding the role and function of the puppetD
Day 3
The aims of the day 2 are to:
* complete a puppet we can own and be proud of
* Name and contextualize our puppet
* explore the physical life of the puppet
* Develop the emotional life of the puppet
* to create simple interactions with another puppet
* enable children to create their personal puppet
* practice minimal intervention to enhance confidence
* be truthful in our feedback to the children
* encourage children to take some risks in their creativity
Learning Outcomes:
1. Feel skilled to create a puppet and to support a child making a puppet
2. Greater confidence in understanding the application of puppets to explore feelings
3. Understand the limits for exploration, enabling ‘de-roling’ and closure
AM
- Any last-minute finishing of puppet – painting, clothes etc.
- Naming the puppet: decide who this puppet is and whether it represents someone important in your life or maybe a part of yourself, past, present or future?
- Give your puppet a name.
- Explore how your puppet can move – large movements as well as small. What gestures can it make? Do those gestures indicate feelings?
- What feelings is it important for your puppet to express?
- Work with a partner to explore a range of emotions, and your puppets sharing the main emotions of: sadness, anger, joy, disgust, fear, surprise.
PM
- Working with children to create a simple puppet; the child leads and the adult supports, maybe if something is very fiddly. For example, if something needs screwing, then help to start it but encourage the child to finish. This must be a failsafe activity.
- Some children will need short breaks for physical activity if they are short in concentration.
Day 4
The aims of the day 3
Having explored the physical and emotional aspects of our personal puppet, the aims now are to:
* take some risks in our exploration
* find ways to go beyond the personal
* discover the world of improvisation – verbal and non-verbal
* acknowledge the ease of identifying with the puppet
* begin excursions into storytelling
* observe any of the above with the children
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will have achieved the following:
1. Greater confidence at risk-taking
2. Discovery of new worlds through improvisation
3. The beginnings of Puppetry and Therapeutic Storytelling
4. The children will have gained confidence in communication.
5. Also to use a structure to unfold a simple story
The third day of the Summer School will bring additional skills for the adults in the group, and greater awareness of their own creativity for the children.
AM
A short talk followed by practical exploration of our own puppet (and ourselves). We shall push the limits in terms of risk taking through improvisation.
This will lead into storytelling both personal and fairy tales.
PM
Encouraging feed-back from the previous day, and emergent identity of the children’s puppets. First steps into improvisation and storytelling.
Day 5
Participants will now have had experience with their own puppet, movement, sound and improvisation. Thy will have also explored basic storytelling through their puppet, as individuals, in pairs and in small groups. They will have kept a daily journal and recorded their feelings and reflections on their puppet journey.
Aims:
* Create scenarios for confidence building
* Enable original stories to develop
* Improve puppeteer skills
* Inspire children to move forward
* Support children to develop their own ideas
* Encourage children to create their own performance
Learning Outcomes:
1. Basic skills for applying therapeutic use of puppets
2. Understanding of the therapeutic impact of puppetry
3. Working schemas for application with children
AM
Feedback and reflections from participants on their own therapeutic journey through their puppet. Planning for final workshop for children without imposing ideas or being over directive.
More storytelling skills with puppet and practice of manipulation. Practice with a more complex puppet if ready. Remembering it is the learning they have experienced through their puppet that provides the understanding and rationale for puppet therapy.
PM
Remind children it is their final workshop and we are going to share ideas together. They will choose a story they would like to enact with their puppets and practice scenes. Adults there in supportive capacity – and if any repairs are needed!
Sharing of performance (parents/carers/teachers to come too. Finish and take puppet home.
Day 6
AIMS:
* Consolidation of learning across the 3 Courses
* Understanding of the uniqueness of Puppets in Therapy
* Grasping the complexity of Puppets in Therapy
* Adapting the application to other age groups including elderly people
* Being able to share the discourse of why Puppets are important
* Appreciating the borders and limits of Puppet Therapy.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Participants will have a learning model of Level 1 of Puppet Therapy
2. They will have integrated the history, theory and practice of Puppet Therapy
3. Participants will have fulfilled the basic knowledge assessment to achieve their Certificate
AM
The group will re-look at their journey through the 3 Courses and identify any gaps in understanding or knowledge base. There will be practical work on a performance piece and a consideration of ‘puppet as narrator’ and ‘puppet as performer.
Fill in assessment questionnaire.
PM
Rehearsal time for final performance (staff on hand for any support needed); groups can give feedback and suggestions to each other.
Final performance and we need to have said what the criteria are.
We can give a general indication of standards but cannot give final result until questionnaires are marked.
OFFLINE COURSE
6 days
Max. 13 participants
Building your puppet
Learning to operate a puppet
Your questions being answered
Supervision
Certificate of basic PT training
Tuition fees:
890 EUR
Masters of Puppet Therapy
Experience puppet therapy in a holistic view
We will introduce you to the puppet Prague. You will make your own puppet, which we will teach you how to use. You will play in a world-famous puppet theatre in a live performance. We will show you the most valuable historical collection of puppets and many other surprises. All this with the participation of the greatest personalities of contemporary puppetry in the Czech Republic.
You will gain a deep understanding of why the puppet has always fascinated human beings and how to use it in therapeutic work at every level.
In addition to the study part, you will also practice puppet therapy on real clients.
OFFLINE COURSE
4 x 4 days
Your questions being answered
Your case training
Certificate Master in PT
Tuition fees:
10 790 EUR
Puppet Therapy Conference
Prague 8-10th of May 2025
Conference about using Puppet as a therapy tool.
With many experienced experts in the field, we will discuss the topic of the impact of puppets on human life, the awareness of the use of puppets as a tool for communication and therapy.
OFFLINE
2 days in Prague
Admition fees:
150 EUR
Be informed
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