Chapter One
The Magic of Metaphor
WHY TELL HEALING AND TEACHING STORIES TO KIDS AND TEENS?
Do you remember what it was like as a young child to have a parent or grandparent sit on the side of your bed at night
and read a story that gave you permission to journey into your own fantasies? How
the magic of the story engaged you, entranced you, changed you into a different yet somehow familiar
character, and took you into experiences you may not yet have encountered? How, in the process,
you discovered something new about yourself, felt the emotion of reaching the tale's conclusion,
and shared a special intimacy with the teller?
From time immemorial, stories, legends, and parables have been effective and preferred methods
for communicating information, teaching values, and sharing the important lessons of life. Just
hearing those often expressed four words
"Once upon a time ..." is like an instant switch from reality
to pretense or to an ...
read full excerpt from 101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teens: Using Metaphors in Therapy ebook
