RE-IMAGINING DREAMS, THE DANDELION WAY... by Marguerite Black

A part of being a registered Wellness Counsellor, is my NPO that offers quality psychosocial care to children and teens with illness,
disability and victims of abuse.

Our aim is to promote a holistic approach to psychosocial care and to enable
children and adolescents to experience psychological freedom despite the
limitations of illness and disability. Through the cultivation of positive,
empowered or relaxed attitudes and perceptions, patients learn to reclaim
their identities and embrace mental wellbeing.

Our work entails play therapy, body and emotional intelligence training,
art, music, relaxation techniques, visualisation, journaling and other
counselling techniques such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. The theoretical
underpinning of our work is based on a Gestalt epistemology which emphasises
the raising of the child's awareness, exploration of sensory stimulation and
interaction with the child or adolescent on a holistic level. Our work stems
from the fact that children heal from stress and trauma through play. Trauma
counselling is also of paramount importance and is fundamental to our work.
We work with children and adolescents on an in-depth level (more or less 2
hours per child). Being cognizant of the child or adolescent's developmental
phase  and working within age appropriate parameters, form the foundation of
the work.

An existentialist space is created for the child in which to be seen, heard
and understood. The child has the opportunity to use this as a platform on
which to tell his/ her authentic story. The child is also encouraged to
externalise illness or disability and to rather explore his/ her talents,
abilities and strengths, to develop new thinking or perspectives and,
therefore new life possibilities. The aim is for the child to see
him/herself as being separate from the usual description of identity in
pathological terms. The multi-modal approach also has a post-modernist,
positive orientation which implies that we focus on the child's strengths
and on what work in the child's life.

IN SUMMARY:
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The following approaches form a framework to the therapy:

GESTALT - We have a very holistic approach with much emphasis on sensory
exploration.
POST-MODERNISM:  We have a positive orientation, focusing on the client's
strengths and what WORKS in his/ her life.
EXISTENTIALISM: Together we explore each individual's purpose and reason for
living.
CBT: challenging negative thinking and exploring helpful self-affirmations.
PERSON-CENTRED ORIENTATION:  Our approach focuses on listening,
understanding to and compassion for the  client.

Techniques include
.       Creative arts therapy including music making, art and movement/
dance
.       Play therapy
.       Journaling

The work is embedded in the theories of Piaget, Erikson and Vygotski.