Ronen Berger

This book presents fresh and practical interdisciplinary arts-based concepts and methods to support and improve therapists' work assisting individuals and groups to develop coping, expressive, and communicative skills, broaden creativity and increase flexibility. It is written in a hands-on style combining theory, detailed protocols, and examples that the author brings together, offering an array of creative ways to work with different clients for a variety of aims. The book expands arts therapy practice to additional dimensions, enriching and improving professionals' work by presenting new knowledge in fields such as "performance-based therapy," "nature therapy," supervision and assessment, and mind-body connections. Berger's creative and pioneering style extends to sharing with readers the thought processes that culminated in developing the methods he presents. This approach inspires and invites practitioners to develop and implement their own creative methods. Ronen Berger, Ph. D., is a senior lecturer, drama therapist, and supervisor. Founder of Nature Therapy and former ecologist and dancer. He is head of the Drama Therapy MA Program at Ono College - The School for Arts and Social and Tel-Hai College, and teaches at Tel-Hai College and abroad. This is his 5th book.

Nature Therapy is an innovative approach for working with children who have experienced stress or trauma. For the first time in the English language, this book presents the theory behind the approach along with detailed guidelines for introducing it to the classroom and other group settings The flexible 12-session programme pairs nature-based activities with storytelling and other expressive arts approaches. It is designed to strengthen coping and resilience in children who have been through common causes of stress such as the divorce of parents, moving home, the illness of a loved one or bullying. It can also be used in the aftermath of large-scale crises such as war, terrorism and natural disasters to prevent and treat post-traumatic stress disorder. An evocative colour storybook, 'The Guardians of the Forest', is also included for use within the programme. The original, evidence-based approach described in this book will be of interest to all those working therapeutically or creatively with children who have experienced stress or trauma, including teachers, arts therapists, psychologists and counsellors.