Newsletter 5
‘Playing with Heart around the Globe’
Hello Everyone!
The rain, the snow, the floods seem never-ending; even here in Athens there is a chill factor and we have had torrential rain.
I have to share this example of the amazing ‘spoon’ puppets created by the Greek NDP students:
I was pleased to be able to contribute to their Creative Supervision Training and we explored the various models of supervision – ‘in the group’, ‘by the group’ and ‘through the group’ - and the contrasting journeys of ‘body and brain’. There will be more about these complementary ways of supervising in the subscribers’ section today.
I have been asked to write more about NDP and childhood trauma, which is certainly high on many people’s agenda, both therapists and parents, and more recently teachers. Whether we are working through the trauma, being aware of the trauma, or acknowledging the impact of the trauma, we need to be trauma informed. At the very least, we need to be able to create ‘safe spaces’ or ‘bolt holes’.
Don’t miss our ‘short course’ webinar on the subject later this month. See Eventbrite HERE for more details and to book.
There is more about trauma in the Main Feature. Also, there is a description by a participant regarding our NDP course on Naxos. It gives a very good flavour of the unique experience of this NDP training.
On that thoughtful note – see you next week.
With Love,
Dr Sue
March 2024
Main Feature: Trauma
The phrase ‘trauma-informed’ is proclaimed in articles, news items and advertisements, so we are unable to escape it.
Two teenagers were discussing trauma on a train that I was also travelling on; they had been asked to define and explain it for their homework. One of them said, ‘You know, it’s like when someone exaggerates everything, and you say to them, “Don’t be so traumatic!” ’. I paused for a second before asking them if they would like help with their homework, and they agreed they would. And so went on to have a very productive twenty minutes, discussing trauma, drama and OTT!
Trauma is caused by an emotionally damaging incident such as physical violence or abuse. Children in particular have typical ‘F’ responses to trauma:
Flight, Fight, Freeze, Fawn, Flock, to which I have added Fabling, which is the telling of impossible stories and insisting they are true.
There are three essential types of traumas, which are called: Acute, Chronic and Complex. Each of them needs a different approach in our responses.
We shall be exploring various techniques for addressing trauma issues with children and young adults in our aforementioned NDP Short Course. Meanwhile we must remember it is not a question of ‘time will heal’ or ‘worse things happen at sea’ or ‘just get over it’. The physical or psychological pain following trauma is very real and usually needs careful intervention.
And love to you all too.
Dr Sue
Study NDP on a paradise island? Sound too good to be true?
Read about one participant’s experience…
The Cyclades Island of Naxos is a place I have been going to for 30 years. It’s special. I haven’t met anyone who has been there that hasn’t fallen in love with it. So, I was delighted to have the excuse to visit the island again for the second time last year to observe one of the courses run by Naxos Creative on the island.
Naxos for me has always been a restorative place and a place of self-discovery. A self-sufficient island, the largest in the Cyclades, the local inhabitants live among the evocative monuments to ancient Greek mythology. Zeus, the king of Olympian gods, grew up on Naxos. Dionysus, the god of wine, loved Naxos so much that he made its land fertile, full of vineyards, producing wine of excellent taste and high quality, and the famous Naxos potatoes are unrivalled in their delicious, sweet waxiness. The ruins of the Temple of Dionysus are there as a powerful reminder of the still so present ancient civilisation. Naxos is also where Theseus took Ariadne, who helped him find his way in the labyrinth where the Minotaur lived. There, he left Ariadne with whom Dionysus then fell madly in love. The Potara or Temple of Apollo stands majestically above the main town, greeting visitors arriving by ferry and providing a breath-taking backdrop to Naxos’ famous sunsets.
So, I was very intrigued and excited when Naxos Creative announced that they were running a Neuro Dramatic Play (NDP) workshop on the island with the renowned Professor Sue Jennings – pioneer of dramatherapy and NDP. I decided to go along and observe. I have been privileged to watch Sue at work many times over the years so I was looking forward to learning more; but I wasn’t expecting to have such a transformative personal experience.
NDP focuses on the early playful relationship between mother and unborn and new-born child. Through play and drama, it emphasises a combination of basic trust, security, and ritual, with stimulation, exploration and risk. Ritual and risk form the basis of children feeling safe in the world, as well as a desire to explore it. As Sue herself explains: “Children need to play messily before the can create form. Their play may seem chaotic at first, but it will eventually lead to order.”
NDP is a process that promotes essential play development in children. Early play has contrasting themes: water play, sensory play, messy play, rhythmic play and dramatic play.
Over the course of four days, I partook in workshops through which our party of six strangers, through play, develop a powerful performance on the beach inspired by the story of Odysseus. After defeating the Trojans at war, Odysseus is on his homeward voyage when he blinds Polyphemus, a Cyclops. Polyphemus then places a curse upon Odysseus, causing him to take 10 years to return home to his wife Penelope who waits for him.
I realised from day one that NDP can be totally relevant (necessary) and highly accessible to all of us whether we are expectant parents, parents or grandparents.
I saw that NDP offers a very simple set of principles to help us bring up our children to feel safe, brave and adventurous. The importance of early attachment between mother and child before the child is even born and how that attachment continues through childhood as we grow up is so obvious when you think about it, and once you accept that a baby in the womb hears its mother, father and even grandparents and siblings. They hear us and feel us, get to know us before they are born.
This final performance was developed through exploration of the four stages of play. The participants, like children themselves created a bond of trust and creativity with each other through touch and sound and role play. These strangers develop a close affinity which enabled them to produce an extraordinary and powerful piece of improvised theatre. It was fascinating to watch the group build such a strong connection. They were all very different people from different backgrounds and cultures. The energy within the group deepened and changed throughout the course. As time went on, the group’s bond developed, and they were able to collaborate and create almost as one which was amazing to witness. As I have come to expect, Naxos held us in her spell.
This course is just one of the many on offer from Naxos Creative. They are for everyone. Whether your motive is professional development, or personal growth and exploration there is no better place than this beautiful Greek island.
Explore the opportunities for studying NDP on Naxos on 26-31 May 2024 by visiting Naxos Creative’s website here. You can complete the diploma, advanced diploma or trainers’ courses.
Bits and Pieces:
The NDP Supervisor Training will be announced shortly: three modules for people who are already trained supervisors, six Modules otherwise.
Remember that on Naxos you can complete most of the Diploma or the Advanced Diploma or the NDP Trainers' Course.
I can’t wait to get home and see what my lovely cook has prepared: I think there will be soups in the freezer!
Judi Dench says: ‘Be kind, be curious, be playful. And keep a sense of humour.’
Bedtime Story:
Sedna’s Reflections on her Life and Trauma
As Sedna sat on the sea-bed, surrounded by little sea creatures that had once been her fingers, cruelly chopped off by her father; her long hair matted with sea-weed and small shells, she thought about all that had happened, leading up to her present situation. She needed to understand things before she had become the patron of sea creatures.
As a beautiful maiden, she had defied her father and rejected all his suitors, fallen in love with the Storm Petrel, and allowed herself to be taken to his messy and dirty nest, high on the cliff top. She had realised her mistake and sent her father ‘thought waves’ to come and rescue her. Which he did, arriving with his canoe at the edge of the water and starting to paddle towards the cliff, in order to rescue his daughter. Sedna saw him and began to climb down the cliff and swim towards him. The Storm Petrel saw what was happening and sent a fierce storm to try and sink the boat. Sedna reached her father and took hold of the side of the boat to hoist herself in, but her father chopped off her fingers with his machete. She tried with her other hand and he did the same, and her ten digits floated to the bottom of the sea, followed by Sedna herself.
Through the trauma of what had happened to her, Sedna realised how frightened her father had been, frightened that he would be destroyed by the Storm Petrel, and drown when the boat sunk.
She wondered whether to let her father know that she understood his fear and that she forgave him… she wondered…
(If you prefer to listen to stories, look out for my YouTube Story channel which will be announced soon).
Don’t forget next week’s essential NDP Short Course on Managing Social Anxiety in Children and Young People on Wednesday 13 March, 1200-1330 (UK time). Only £25 for 90 minutes of tuition - an ideal bite-size CPD opportunity. See Eventbrite for more details and to book. Or, if you’re a paid subscriber then you can attend for FREE - just email us at admin@ndpltd.org and we’ll add you to the list.
Our paid subscribers’ edition includes new techniques, new stories, time to talk and share, free webinars, consultations and discussion time. Thank you hugely if you have decided to join my community of subscribers (know as ‘The Nest”), or give it as a gift - it makes a big difference.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Sue Jennings Presents to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.