Puppetry as a Structured Therapy Offer in Child Psychotherapy – An Overview with Practical Examples for the Development and Implementation of Puppet Therapy

Abstract

This article describes a practical und structured way to work with hand-puppets in psychotherapy with children as well as in therapeutic work with adults. In addition to the importance of self-determined play – in particular the free selection of puppets, props and theatrical settings – the significance of creating figures – as ‘embodiments’ of internal figures – is emphasized. Theoretical aspects are furthermore illustrated by case examples from the therapeutic practice.