Possibilities of using psychocorrectional fairy tales

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Fairytale therapy is a term meaning “treatment with fairy tales.” Fairytale therapy methods are used in various fields - pedagogy, medicine, but primarily in psychology. Fairytale therapy is applicable for both the adult generation and children. Mainly used when educating the younger generation, when communicating with preschoolers. Using this technique, you can effectively and accurately influence the child’s psychological world and his worldview.

The essence of the fairy tale therapy method

The concept of fairy tale therapy

Fairytale therapy is an old way of socialization, transfer of knowledge and life experience from one individual to another; expanding the listener's imagination; psychological help in seemingly insoluble life situations.

The essence of fairy tale therapy lies in psychological development and solving a person’s internal problems. When analyzing a particular fairy tale, a person mentally imagines the plot in a modern light, analyzes fairy-tale situations and characters. Thus, he mentally comes to understand and solve real life circumstances.

Experts distinguish three areas in this type of therapy:

• Diagnostics. Defines the main scripts used by a person under certain conditions and life situations. The specialist determines the main character traits of the individual, his strengths, mental abilities, talents, his perception of the environment;
• Therapy. Helps a person create his own image in specific conditions, tune in to a certain model of behavior to achieve set goals;
• The predictive direction of fairy tale therapy helps a person to realize how his behavior in the present time can affect his life in the future.

Fairy tales contain the unchanging values ​​of human civilization, culture, the essence of the morals of the entire society, formed from generation to generation. Therefore, its main impact on a person occurs on a spiritual, moral level: development, awareness of oneself and one’s life path.

Types of fairy tale therapy

Fairy tales are divided into four types. Let us consider fairy tale therapy methods for preschoolers in more detail.

• Didactic fairy tales

They are also called training. They are actively used when presenting educational and cognitive information to children. A child perceives knowledge more easily through images and symbols.

• Psychocorrectional

Often used by adults to influence a child's behavior. So, with the negative behavior of a child, with the help of psychocorrective fairy tales, you can gradually change the child’s behavior, changing his own view of his behavior, and teach him to understand the world around him.

• Psychotherapeutic fairy tale

Its goal is to create a mental picture of the environment. In such fairy tales, the heroes experience various real events and situations. By analyzing the behavior of acting characters, a person begins to understand the behavior of real people from the outside. The child learns to understand other people, their character and human qualities.

• Meditative

Aimed at ridding a person of an anxious, tense state, immersing himself in pleasant thoughts, dreams and sensations. In such fairy tales there are only good, kind heroes; negativity is completely absent, which allows you to immerse a person in a positive mood. They are also used to help the client through his analysis of the fairy tale, coming up with a further scenario, and finding solutions to real life problems.

Fairytale therapy as a method of correcting the psychological level is very effective and applicable by specialists in various fields - both in work related to children, adolescents, and when interacting with adults, to solve internal psychological problems. Effectiveness lies in the perception of fairy tales by all generations without exception. After all, from childhood, from generation to generation, adults tell children fictitious stories. Many kids often ask to tell the same story several times in a row, because they perceive it most realistically and vividly.

Fairytale therapy is the easiest, most perceptible way to influence a person’s behavioral model, his inner world, and thinking.

In fairy tale therapy, various literary genres are used, both folk (myths, anecdotes, parables) and more modern (fantasy, detective stories). Depending on the psychological problem, an appropriate genre of story is selected for each client. The basis of any fairy tale is a metaphor. The term defines the use of words and phrases in a figurative sense based on superficial similarity or comparison.

History of development

The emergence and development of fairy tale therapy as an independent phenomenon was significantly influenced by the works of D. Elkonin and L. Vygotsky. The theory summarizes the research experience of K. Jung, B. Bettelheim and the ideas of E. Fromm and E. Bern. The history of the use of therapeutic fairy tales refers to such well-known names in Russian psychology as A. Gnezdilov, T. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva, I. Vachkov, N. Sakovich and N. Kiseleva. A significant date for Russia is considered to be 1997, when the Institute of Fairy Tale Therapy was opened in St. Petersburg.

Today this approach is actively used in pedagogical and psychotherapeutic practice. It can also give positive results in directing, acting and other creative professions. Demand gives impetus to the creation of many therapeutic programs by T. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva, A. Lisina and others.

M. Osorina is currently studying children's subculture and horror stories. After all, scary stories can give excellent results in working over children's fears. The experience accumulated in domestic psychology has been useful to preschool and school institutions, rehabilitation centers for the disabled and institutions for adolescents with deviant behavior.

Functions of fairy tales

The following functions are distinguished in fairy tale therapy:

The impact of a fairy tale is directed to two psychological directions - the consciousness and subconscious of the individual.

The goal is to convey to the individual vital phenomena, values, to help set a goal, to convey the inner world of the author (the author's fairy tale).

The symbolism of the tale lies in conveying information:

• about the structure of the world, its creation;
• self-realization in the lives of men and women;
• about life's obstacles and overcoming them;
• about human values;
• relationships with the surrounding society (friendship, love);
• relations between generations;
• forgiveness.

Types of fairy tales

There are several types of fairy tales depending on their purpose, method of creation, and their functions. There are five main types in total:

• Artistic

This includes original narratives, as well as stories passed down from generation to generation. Invented by the peoples of the world at various times, today they are successfully used by psychotherapists in psychological correction.

• Folk tales

It has long been customary to call them myths and legends. These can be stories about relationships between animals and humans (for children), about everyday situations in family relationships, tales about rebirth and change (for example, for people with low self-esteem or children who find themselves in an unfamiliar, completely new environment, for example, a new family), horror stories (for experiencing stress internally and preparing to endure external anxieties), tales of magic and miracles (spiritual development).

• Author's fairy tales

As a rule, they are used for those who are spiritually tired, have lost strength and hope for anything (victory over a serious illness, reconciliation with a very important person, etc.).

• Didactic

Used to present educational material to schoolchildren.

• Psychocorrectional tales

Usually they have a certain sequence, a plan for the development of events. The plot, as a rule, is somewhat similar to the client’s life situation. At the end, the story should have a moral, a conclusion.

• Psychotherapeutic tales

Such stories are aimed at life situations, feelings, relationships, have a deep meaning and make you think about it. These can be either independently composed author's stories or ancient folk tales.

Possibilities and results of using fairy tale therapy

Fairytale therapy can reveal a person’s personal potential. By plunging into a therapeutic fairy tale, children, adolescents, and adults accumulate energy, discover new opportunities for themselves and, thus, change the situation for the better.

Exposure to fairy tales is suitable both for resolving difficulties in the learning process and for overcoming severe personal crises. The secret of the universality of the technique is that, first of all, the consequences of treatment are important here, pushing the client to further development without anyone’s help. In order to make the most of the possibilities of fairy tale therapy, it is important to remember the principles of appropriateness, dosage and sincerity.

Fairy tale treatment gives positive results in combination with other methods and techniques: sand therapy, iso-, color-, play therapy. You can monitor a child’s emotional background using the paints, plasticine, appliqués, and sand he uses.

Psychotherapeutic tales can solve a wide range of problems. Below you can find a list of them:

• loss of a loved one or beloved animal;
• difficulties of adaptation in society and acceptance of one’s personality in it;
• depressive states;
• children's whims, fears, phobias, jealousy;
• manifestations of aggression, excessive irritability;
• stuttering;
• increased anxiety;
• hyperactivity;
• psychosomatic disorders.

Method of influence using fairy tale therapy

The fairytale therapist offers several options for working with fairy tales. In any case, there is a therapeutic effect on the client’s consciousness. The main age category of exposure is children and adolescents. As a rule, the therapist acts according to a specific plan:

• telling a fairy tale by a specialist to create a positive mood for the client before further actions;
• fairytale therapy diagnostics (discussion of the story told by the therapist, detailed examination of the story);
• independent creation of a fairy tale by the client himself.

Before this stage, the client can draw a picture or create a sculpture. In the future, this will help him build on his creation and come up with characters and a plot. At the same time, this stage is called for creativity, and during creation, as is known, a person expresses his inner state with color and shapes. So, for example, if a person is tense and filled with negativity, his drawing or appliqué will be in bright or dark tones. During the session, negative emotions will remain in the craft, and thoughts will become more enlightened. If at the end of the lesson you ask the client to draw a picture, it will be in calmer tones than the first;

• preparation for translating a fairy tale into reality (making dolls for a mini-theater). Creating dolls - heroes - helps to understand the internal problem;
• translation of a fairy tale into real action.

This can be either acting out (convenient for a group lesson) or staging using a puppet theater.

Methods of use

A fairytale therapist can use this method in different ways, the differences depending on the client’s age and the depth of the problem. The most common methods in practice are:

1. Using a ready-made plot. Reading a fairy tale is accompanied by its detailed analysis and conclusions.
2. Creation by a specialist of a specific story for the client, based on his personal problem.
3. Writing by a child or adult his own fairy tale, in the process of narrating which he realizes his problem and finds ways to solve it.
4. A theatrical production of a story, ready-made or composed independently.

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Fairytale therapy for children

What does fairy tale therapy help against?

Fairy tales are divided into different types - some have a tense plot, others have a calming effect, and others show life situations from the outside. Fairytale therapy for children involves solving certain psychological problems of the child. They are divided into several varieties:

• Fairy tales that help overcome internal fears (doctors, darkness, dogs, etc.)
• Calming for children with hyperactivity.
• Fairy tales designed to pacify aggression. They are relevant not only when working with preschoolers, but also with teenagers.
• Fairy tales for solving behavioral disorders in which physical problems manifest themselves: loss of appetite, incontinence and others.
• Fairy tales for children experiencing global family changes - parental divorce, the appearance of a new family member, the desire to find another family.
• Fairy tales for children who have experienced separation/loss of an important person in their life, a pet.

These methods are especially popular and effective in correcting behavior in children (both toddlers and preschoolers). At the same time, in the absence of pathologies, parents do not necessarily need to contact a professional psychotherapist. It will be enough to know the basic techniques of fairy tale therapy in order to help your child yourself and influence his behavior without much pressure. Fairy tales can be used to treat a huge number of child’s whims - laziness, reluctance to go to kindergarten, aggression, carelessness, lies, problems with eating. Also, therapeutic fairy tales are actively used in the treatment of fears and experiences associated with the loss of relatives or the appearance of a new family member. In the latter cases, sometimes the help of a professional fairytale therapist is required. He can show you exactly where to look for the problem. This is not always obvious, but it is very important: after all, it is not the symptom that should be treated, but the cause. Why do fairy tales help children? So why do therapeutic stories have such an impact on children? A fairy tale is the language of a child; he understands it better than moral teachings and instructions. Fairy tales help us to gently influence the child’s inner world, show the situation from a different angle, gain life experience and make it clear that our child is not the only one who has such a problem. In addition, despite the fact that the child is already able to distinguish the real from the fairy tale, these boundaries are still very blurred, and while listening to a fairy tale, the child truly experiences its events along with the characters. At what age can fairy tale therapy be used for children? At what age can therapeutic fairy tales be used? It is not recommended to use story therapy for children under 2 years of age. The point is that they simply won't be effective. The child is not able to analyze a fairy tale, establish cause-and-effect relationships, or draw conclusions. After 2 years, you can gradually use simple therapeutic fairy tales to calm the baby, show an example of good behavior, warn about possible dangers, calm the baby during children's tantrums, and with problems with food. Starting from the age of 3, you can use therapeutic fairy tales to the fullest, and they will be most effective. Types of therapeutic fairy tales 1. Therapeutic fairy tales about a child who is similar to your baby. In such fairy tales, you make the main character a child who finds himself in a situation similar to the situation of your baby. The fairy tale should not directly repeat the plot from your baby’s life, but should be similar. The child understands that he is not the only one who may find himself in a similar situation, and using the example of another child, he draws conclusions and learns to solve the problem on his own. Such fairy tales always develop according to a certain scenario: • Getting to know the characters (Once upon a time there was a boy, Petya, who...). If the child is very small, then in the place of the hero there may be an animal or a toy. For older children, it is much more effective if the hero of the fairy tale is a real child. For preschoolers (after 4 years), it is advisable to introduce magical characters or magical objects into a fairy tale, and from the age of 5, magic is a prerequisite for a fairy tale (in most cases). • Problem. The hero of the fairy tale faces a problem, a conflict, a fear inherent in your child. • Ways to solve the problem. It tells what the hero of the fairy tale needs to do to cope with the problem. Often, he needs the help of magical objects. • Climax. The hero of the fairy tale copes with the problem. • Denouement. A therapeutic fairy tale should always have an ending. You can't leave the end open and unfinished. • Morality. Conclusions made by the hero of the fairy tale. The moral should not be too long, 1-2 sentences. You should not discuss it with your child. He himself will draw conclusions on a subconscious level. Fairy tales of this kind should not be too complex, with a confusing plot. Examples: Let's give a couple of examples. • Your child is extremely careless. He does not clean up his things, toys, etc. You tell him a fairy tale about a girl (boy) who magically ends up in the country of sluts and sees how the inhabitants of this country live. He draws conclusions about how terrible it is to be careless and promises himself to improve. • Another common problem is that the child does not want to eat healthy vegetables and fruits. Tell him a fairy tale about how the hero of the fairy tale overheard a conversation between vegetables about how healthy they are. It is important to remember that the hero of this type of fairy tale is another child, not yours. Otherwise, you can cause your child’s denial by telling him directly about the problem, and such a fairy tale can harm rather than help. 2. Therapeutic tales about your child. These fairy tales differ from the first type of fairy tales in that the main character is your baby. When telling fairy tales, you must definitely use some elements from the child’s life, the names of friends and family, the name of the street, introduce a favorite toy, household items, etc. into the fairy tale. Thus, the child will really believe that you are telling a fairy tale about himself. Children are self-centered by nature. Gianni Rodari, in his book “The Grammar of Fantasy,” spoke about how important fairy tales about himself are for a child and what enormous potential they are endowed with. The main difference between this type of fairy tale is that you endow the main character of the fairy tale (your child) with the quality that you want to instill in him. Roughly speaking, mom or dad create an ideal utopian situation for their baby, showing what can be achieved if desired. Examples: For example, if your child is impolite, in a fairy tale you show him as very polite, he always greets everyone he meets and says thank you. If a child is afraid of the dark, in a fairy tale he is a brave hero who helps a little kitten who is lost in the dark. A child who has difficulty going to bed in a fairy tale always goes to bed on time and, falling asleep, finds himself in a magical land, where incredible adventures await him, etc. Such fairy tales differ from the first type of fairy tales in that the problem you want to solve is not in the central place. The positive quality of the child plays a supporting role, helping the hero fight enemies, protect the weak, etc. The plot of this tale may be a little more complicated, the therapeutic goal is more veiled. Important points in practical fairy tale therapy for children that should be remembered: 1. In order for a fairy tale to work, it is advisable to tell it more than once. You can come up with several fairy tales on the same topic. If a child asks you to tell the same story over and over again, do not refuse him. This means that the plot of the fairy tale is really important to him. 2. Don't use therapeutic stories too often. Remember that they are like medicine that must be taken as prescribed. If used too often, fairy tale therapy may lose its effectiveness. 3. You should not explain the moral of the fairy tale to your child. He himself will draw conclusions about what is good and what is bad, what should be done - often on a subconscious level. 4. Don't forget about such a great tool as humor. A fairy tale that contains jokes is easier for a child to understand and remember better. Not to mention the fact that jokes bring parents and children closer together. 5. Don't tell yourself that you can't come up with a therapeutic story! You are the best fairytale therapist for your baby, because no one but you knows his problems and experiences so well. You can always turn to books and the Internet for help, read other fairy tales on this topic, and then come up with your own, somewhat similar to the others, but created taking into account your specific situation and, of course, with love. Other types of fairy tales are also used in fairy tale therapy: 1. Folk tales. Among them, several genres can be distinguished: fairy tales, fairy tales about animals, and everyday ones. Fairy tales have one historical basis; they contain many pagan symbols and motifs. Fairy tales include: “The Frog Princess”, “The Tale of Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf”, “Baba Yaga”, “Koschei the Immortal”, “Ivan Tsarevich and the Tsar Maiden” and others. In fairy tales about animals, children are attracted to the element of recognition. Children can easily determine what character is hidden behind this or that animal. For example, a hare is always associated with a cowardly person. Accordingly, his main feature is cowardice. The fox symbolizes a cunning person. The main characters of fairy tales about animals are: hare, fox, bear, wolf, cat and rooster. Examples of fairy tales about animals: “Cat, Rooster and Fox”, “Wolf and Goat”, “Cat and Fox”, “Cockerel - the Golden Comb” and others. Everyday fairy tales reflect real life with a certain amount of irony. They miraculously intertwine the combination of what is possible in real life with unusual solutions applicable in certain situations. Examples: “Porridge from an axe”, “The Master and the Man”. 2. Author's artistic tales. They are richer in images and experiences than folk tales, so they can help reveal the child’s inner feelings. (Examples: Andersen's fairy tales). 3. Didactic fairy tales. They are suitable for fairy tale therapy for schoolchildren, because with their help children can quickly and easily learn educational material. 4. Meditative tales. There are no evil heroes or conflicts. The purpose of meditative fairy tales is to instill in the child the concept of “ideal” relationships with the world and people around him. Such tales help relieve stress and relax. 5. Psychocorrectional tales or psychotherapeutic stories . They help to gently correct the child’s behavior. Suitable for children up to 13 years of age. They help in solving a specific problem. Psychologist Razida Tkach gives a classification of fairy tales from the point of view of the problems they are aimed at solving. She identifies the following types of fairy tales: for fearful children; for hyperactive children; for aggressive children; fairy tales aimed at eradicating behavioral disorders with physical manifestations; fairy tales for children who have problems in the family (the birth of a second child and the jealousy of the first child, divorce of parents, and others). How to use famous fairy tales to correct psychological problems in children? Many popular folk and original fairy tales can be used in fairy tale therapy. The table below provides information about which famous fairy tales can be used to correct psychological problems in a child. Table No. 1. Fairy tales for the treatment of psychological problems in children.

In his book “Fundamentals of Fairytale Therapy,” Doctor of Psychology T.D. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva shows how the famous folk tale “Kolobok” can be used for fairy tale therapy: There are many messages for us in the story of Kolobok. Let us solve them with you. Do you remember how the fairy tale began? Once upon a time there lived a grandfather and a woman. They lived poorly and did not eat enough. Grandfather asked grandma to bake a bun. There seemed to be nothing to bake from, but the grandmother swept the barn, scraped the bottom of the tree, and found flour for the bun. What do you think the fairy tale wanted to tell us? Yes, it seems that the fairy tale teaches us to stock up. There are different situations in life, so it is customary to make preparations for future use. So, the first fabulous lesson is - in order not to be hungry, store up for future use. Let's remember him. But what happened next in the fairy tale? Grandmother baked a bun, it turned out ruddy and beautiful. She put it on the window. Why did grandma put the bun on the window? Maybe because too hot food is bad for us? Therefore, the second fabulous lesson is don’t eat too hot food, don’t rush, even when you really want to try. And then our bun came to life in a fairy tale! He jumped from the window and rolled along the forest path. What is hidden behind this event? Maybe some advice not to leave Kolobok unattended? Who can behave like this? Of course, child! Probably, all parents need to learn the third fairytale lesson. The fairy tale teaches them not to leave children unattended. Who does Kolobok meet on the forest path? First the Hare, then the Wolf and the Bear. They all want to eat him, and he sings his song to them: “I left my grandmother, I left my grandfather...” What does the fairy tale teach us? Of course, first of all, don’t get scared right away if someone threatens you. What method does Kolobok choose in the fairy tale to overcome the difficulty? Yes, he sings a song and runs away. But what is he singing about? “I left my grandmother, I left my grandfather, I left the Hare, and I’ll leave you, Wolf, even more so...” What does Kolobok do when he sings a song? Of course he brags and then runs away. Kolobok teaches us not to get lost in a difficult situation, not to be afraid, but to come up with a way to cope with the difficulty. You and I understand that in his song Kolobok is bragging. And further from the fairy tale we will learn what this led to. The sly Fox ate Kolobok. Let's think about what a fairy tale can teach us in this situation. Of course, boastful songs, even if they helped out before, will not lead to any good. Therefore, the fifth fairy tale lesson may sound like this: when in the forest, if you find yourself in a difficult situation, be on your guard, since dangerous people or animals do not always directly communicate their intentions (“I will eat you”). This is a very important life lesson. Table No. 2. A guide to creating a fairy tale with a therapeutic effect.

An example of a fairy tale for the correction of psychological problems There are many interesting fairy tales with a therapeutic effect in the book of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of psychology, practicing psychologist R. M. Tkach, “Fairy tale therapy for children's problems.” A fairy tale for overcoming fear “My friend is a dragon (Almost a true story)” I have a girl friend named Daria. Mom and dad call her Dasha, and her older brother is Trusishka. A year ago, when Daria was a very little girl, her older brother told her a fairy tale about an invincible three-headed Dragon. No one could defeat this monster, neither brave heroes, nor evil sorcerers, nor good wizards. The dragon was immortal. If his head was cut off, three new ones grew in its place. It was a very scary fairy tale. Since then, Dasha has not slept well. Every night she had the same dream, that a fire-breathing Dragon would burst into her bedroom and... Dasha woke up in horror. The girl was never able to watch this dream to the end, she was so scared. When Daria told me her dream, I remembered that all dragons have a big sweet tooth, they really love candy and cookies. Dasha and I agreed to leave a dish of sweets on the nightstand near the bed before going to bed and watch the dream to the end. The next morning Daria told me the continuation of the dream. When the Dragon burst into the room and was about to pounce on her, he saw a dish of sweets and cookies. The dragon carefully approached the nightstand and began stuffing his mouth with sweets. After everything was eaten, he quietly whispered: “Dasha, you are the best girl in the world. You alone did not chop off my head, but fed me sweets and cookies. Now I'm your friend. Never be afraid of anyone, from tonight your sleep is guarded by the Dragon.” After that night, Dasha stopped having nightmares. List of books on fairy tale therapy:

• Khukhlaeva O.V., Khukhlaeva O.E. "Labyrinth of the Soul: Therapeutic Tales."
• D. Brett “Once upon a time there was a girl like you...”
• R.M. Tkach "Fairytale therapy for children's problems."
• I.V. "Fairytale therapy for solving personal problems."
• Zaryana and Nina Nekrasov “Fairytale Possibilities.”
• A.V. Miklyaeva, P.V. Rumyantsev “We ​​are not afraid of the gray wolf” (an excellent and very useful book on working with children’s fears).
• L.A. Litvintsev “Fairy tale as a means of educating a preschooler” (an excellent guide for parents, psychologists and educators, it provides sample questions for a conversation based on fairy tales, as well as various interesting tasks).
• Tatyana Grabenko “Why read fairy tales to children?”
• Svetlana Kuznechenkova “Useful fairy tales and exercises for parents.”
• N.V. Miklyaeva, S.N. Tolstikova, N.P. Tselikina “Fairytale therapy in preschool educational institutions and families.”
• Natalya Malyutkina “A delicious fairy tale or how to feed a child.”
• E.K. Prudis "Fairy tale therapy to help parents."
• A.S. Rusakova “Keys to a child’s soul or how to tell and compose stories and fairy tales.”

And also books by T.D. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva, Dmitry Sokolov, Nadezhda Ognenko, I.V. Vachkova and other famous fairytale therapists who wrote many interesting and useful books.

Sources: https://www.blogimam.com/2014/04/skazkoterapiya-dlya-detej-kak-pomoch-svoemu-rebyonku/ https://baragozik.ru/vospitanie/skazkoterapiya-kak-lechit-skazkoj-psixologicheskie- problemy-u-detej.html