SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY IN PRACTICE AUTUmN 2008 15

HERE’S ONE I MADE EARLIER / WINNING WAYS

“Here’s one I made earlier...”Alison Roberts with more low-cost, flexible therapy suggestions suitable for a variety of client groups.

MATERIALSLarge pieces of paper – eg. flip chart sheetsWater-based, washable wide felt tip pens for the outline drawingNarrow felt tip pens for the writing

IN PRACTICEIn twos, draw around each other’s shoes. It is easier to do this with the shoes off, but make sure they are not drawing round their own shoes - it’s important that they find out about their partner. Make sure they do not draw on the shoes, especially if they are a pale colour.Now one of the partners asks the other one questions on how the partner feels

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about all sorts of subjects and why. He then writes their opinions in the shoe out-lines. For example “I prefer to borrow vid-eos rather than go to the cinema because I don’t like such a loud noise”, or “I am a vegetarian because I once saw a TV pro-gramme about abattoirs” or “I’m against pedestrian zones because they are scary at night”. Try to fit in as many comments as possible. Now swap over and let the other partner do the interviewing and writing.Conclude the session by having a dis-cussion about the expression “Standing in your Shoes”, and how it is possible to tolerate other people’s ideas once you know why they feel as they do.

“The idea is to help the clients become more aware and tolerant of other people’s ideas and perspectives. It is carried out in pairs, perhaps partnering established friends or less well-acquainted people. It also promotes interviewing skills. It is quite an intimate activity, involving touch and possibly smell! In my experience, if you approach it light heartedly, there will be no complaints.”

Standing in your shoes

Shadows“This is a lateral-thinking game that involves drawing as well as describing. It is suitable for a group, or could be used for a one-to-one session.”MATERIALSOdd objects that are flat enough to go in a photocopier. These could be: -

Several paperclips grouped togetherSome pressed flowers or leavesA pair of scissorsA scrunched-up piece of netA squiggle of stringA few buttons or sequinsBits of torn paper

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IN PRACTICETo prepare, place the odd objects to the side of the paper as you copy, so that the resulting image has an “unfin-ished” look, with room for further ad-ditions to be drawn on. Make enough copies of the odd objects for everyone in the group to have one. Try to arrange it that the participants cannot see each other’s work. Ask them to finish the pictures, and to add a title to them. Now they describe their work of art to the group.

Jo Middlemiss is a qualified Life Coach who offers readers a con-fidential complimentary half hour coaching session (for the cost only of your call), tel. 01356 648329. Her book with CD ‘What should I tell you? A Mother’s final words to her infant son’ is now available.

Carole’s job was changed recently. While before she was based in a clinic where she had a room, a filing cabinet and a cupboard for her resources, she is now moving around different nurseries. Her car boot is permanently full and she has very limited space to store items in the department’s central clinic. Although she can see her service to the children is more effective, Carole feels rootless and frustrated that her car is no longer her own.

Speech and language therapists do get stressed about all the ‘stuff’ in their cars – and no doubt the rest of the family does too! On the surface Carole’s situation is deeply frustrating. She seems to have had a set-up that was comfortable, secure and to her liking and now to be in the middle of an unsettling storm. But oh how our boat needs to be rocked sometimes.

Carole’s car has turned from her precious space into a mobile cupboard. What can she do? She can certainly readjust her attitude to the car. What is a car? What is it for? How is it organised? Is it the right size and shape for what she needs? Is there any alternative around the area of the car? How is the stuff organised in the car? Can it be taken in and out easily? And what are the freedoms of a mobile office?

Attitude is again all important when looking at the change in the overall context of her job. Does Carole think beyond her own frustrations to the job she has to do - or is she communicating these frustrations to her colleagues and thus perpetuating the problem? Has she really looked for the advantages of working with a multidisciplinary team in an educational setting? Can she see this as a developing situation and look for opportunities to put down new roots?

Assuming that this change has been implemented across the speech and language therapy service, I’m willing to bet that Carole will be able to find a colleague with a different attitude to the workspace. If all decide to make the best of it - or the worst of it - then that is what will play out. Our thoughts are things. If the situation is totally unworkable then organise change. If it is functioning well but needs tweaking, then facilitate the tweaks by communicating with colleagues or managers.

If Carole really wants her situation to change she has to put her attention constantly onto what an improved situation would look like, feel like and sound like. She must first create it in her mind’s eye before it can possibly appear in reality. If you can change the way you think about your life, your life will change.

Life coach Jo Middlemiss offers readers positive suggestions for coping with common problems.

Speedy categories“This is a quick filler for ends of sessions, or as an introduction to other category work.”MATERIALS

Empty plastic drinks bottlePlastic counters or stickers in a range of colours, or you can even use felt-tip pens

IN PRACTICEPlace the coloured counters, stick-ers or pens in a large circle, with the bottle in the centre. Take it in turns

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to spin the bottle, say the name of the colour, and then think of as many items as you can in that colour. To add a sense of urgency, and only for se-lected groups, you can try a variation where one person begins naming items while the next one is spinning the bottle for their turn.