Articles by Jon
Lava-Man and Witch Lady: Engaging the imagination in arts-based child psychotherapy
New book chapter on working with a sick child during COVID-19.
Changing families, changing times
This article first appeared in the September 2010 issue of CCYP (Counselling Children and Young People).
Am I Bovvered? A Gestalt approach to working with adolescents
This article describes a Gestalt approach to working with adolescents in an NHS child and adolescent mental health clinic.
Working with refugee children – some thoughts…
Ten thoughts that may guide anyone undertaking therapeutic work with child and adolescent refugees.
I Stand Up Next To A Mountain: Adolescence, Anger and the Abyss
This article is based on a talk I gave for ‘BGJ day’.
“Breathe in…!”
This article is from the forthcoming book, What’s in a Session? Who we are and what we bring – From therapists around the world, edited by Karen Fried.
Goodbye to Violet
Violet Oaklander died aged 94 in Los Angeles on 21 September 2021. In this piece, I attempt to give a flavour of Violet’s creative flair, including sharing memories of meeting her.
Witnessed Improvised Diaspora Journey Enactments (WIDJE): an experiential method for exploring refugee history
This article by Jon Blend and Roz Carroll was originally published in the Journal of Jewish Historical Studies: Transactions of the Jewish Historical Society of England volume 51.
The drama of being an adolescent
How did adolescence as a Western phenomenon come about?
Working with children: making contact with ‘Jardie’
Children who grow too fast often miss out on vital experiences of mastery essential for healthy development (Oaklander, 2005). This can happen when parents do too much for the child or disallow opportunities for exploring and expanding their Lifespace (Lewin, 1957)....
A flavour of therapeutic arts group work
A Gestalt approach to working with children: Oaklander method NB the following is a composite account, based on several years of delivering an Easter intensive, arts–based workshop in London, UK. All names used are fictional. “Can you cut the clay into lumps, Khalid-...
Helping children to sleep: part 2
This month’s entry continues exploring some ways of helping children drop off to sleep, with assistance from natural sensory aids and soothing dialogue. Sight All lights should be off. If a child is afraid of the dark, however, a low-powered night-light can be used....
Helping children and young people get a better night’s sleep
Children who get a good night's sleep are more likely to handle life’s everyday stresses and strains. They are likely to be better tempered on waking and may manage to get ready in the mornings with greater ease. Moreover, children and teenagers who sleep well often...
Lifemusic – putting the hum back into human
This article was written ahead of a Lifemusic taster workshop I gave for the Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility (PCSR) in November 2015. "Music turns life into soul. It unfolds from and expresses the mystery of time." Rod Paton What is...
I Got Rhythm: music-making with children and adolescents
During her summer training course in 2000 Violet Oaklander introduced our group to some enjoyable exploratory exercises based on the work of renowned musician Paul Winter (Oaklander, 2006.) Her steady presence as facilitator enabled us to safely explore our own...
