Introducing Digital Storytelling to Influence the Behavior of Children and Adolescents

• Published in: Journal of creativity in mental health Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 274 - 283
• Main Authors: Sawyer, Cheryl B., Willis, Jana M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-10-2011; Routledge
• Subjects: Adolescents; behavior problems; Children; Counseling; creativity; Elementary Secondary Education; High Schools; Influences; Mass Media; Mass Media Effects; peer intervention; Pilot Projects; Program Effectiveness; School Counseling; Secondary School Students; Story Telling; Storytelling; Student Behavior; Technology; Technology Uses in Education
• ISSN: 1540-1383; 1540-1391
• DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2011.630308

Storytelling as a creative counseling tool for children is well supported in counseling literature (
Bradley, Whiting, Hendricks, Parr, & Jones, 2008
;
Burns, 2004
;
Pehrsson, 2005
). Storytelling, whether in the form of oral, pictorial, written, or film media, has been an essential element in the lives of mankind throughout history (
McClean, 2007
). Stories help in the exchange of experiences from one individual to another. Now with the growth and accessibility of multimedia tools, the practice of storytelling as a counseling tool with children can be expanded through the use of technology. The creation of the digital stories can be therapeutic for both the originator and the viewer. This article includes an introduction to digital storytelling and a description of a pilot program.