ABSTRACT

Captivating and engaging the participants by inviting them to help the puppet, giving the participant some object to hold, like the puppet that just spoke while another comes out, or singing along with the puppet is quite effective. Puppet play provides for a more socially acceptable format to learn, once removed from direct contact with a therapist. The adult volunteer receives the therapeutic experience as a "helper," which makes it more acceptable. Whether using therapeutic coping techniques, spiritual coping, or value-based cognitive-behavioral responses, there was interest and energy about facilitating learning in venues where there were intergenerational audiences with adults engaged. Having the children present or as the focus of a training seemed to give the parents or trainees permission to enter their childlike wonder and engage in puppet play. The usage of puppet therapy with adults has many faces. Young adults seem more at home holding the puppet themselves and being hidden to use the puppet.