Stories mutually told and healing metaphors created in the context of individual and family therapy do not necessarily lose their power once the index case is closed. If the story or the metaphor conveys some truth or truths about the disorder afflicting the child and the nature of the treatment, it may be recognized for having more general relevance. Hence, there is a discernible pathway beginning in therapeutic metaphor and mutual storytelling in individual cases, merging along the way with pathways of knowledge shared about specific conditions and treatments and issuing in the development of a psychoeducational special needs library. In a way, Riley Children's Psychoeducational Workshop carries on the tradition of the Brothers Grimm, collecting and cultivating stories that merit being told again. Over the last decade, we have contributed to growing psychoeducational literature for children and their families.
Subjects range from a child's first visit to a therapist to understanding the nature of encopresis.
Our first effort was in 1985. Work was begun on a book for children entitled, Ignatius Finds Help, A Story About Psychotherapy for Children. The story was illustrated by a colleague in Special Education at Larue Carter Hospital, Ms. Sandra Ferraro. Nancy Roeske, James Simmons and Takuya Sato and by the Special Education teachers at Carter. The final draft was complete with illustrations, and about 300 books were printed.