Introduction to the Interactive Role-playing Workshop
P.   for Potential
R.   for Respect
I.     for Independence
D.   for Determination
E.   for Empowerment

Therese Kallstrom and Kim Gangwish will provide group workshops. P.R.I.D.E!, for adopted children and their families to better communicate some of the complexities of the adoptive situation. These groups provide a safe haven and confidential environment for adoptive children to share some of their questions and concerns regarding their unique challenges. Effective communication tools are presented in these groups in a playful, effective and age-appropriate manner. Adoptive children are encouraged to share some of their concerns and experiences in a relaxed and supportive environment with a group of their peers with similar cultural backgrounds. Therese and Kim have created this interactive role-playing workshop that encourages the adoptive children to explore some of their concerns in a creative yet effective process.

Goal:
It is our mission as group facilitators to provide the adoptive children with the tools to effectively communicate some of their questions, concerns and fears regarding their unique background, in a safe, fun and supportive environment.

Workshop size, age and duration:  
Each group will consist of 9-15 adoptees, depending on the median age group. For children 10 and under, the maximum group size will be 9. For children between the ages of 11-16 years the maximum group size will be 15. The duration of these classes will be one and a half hours.

The Interactive Role-playing Workshop outline:
The primary goal of this group is to provide the children with tools to effectively communicate about their adoption, uniqueness and cultural heritage. The workshop will be divided into three separate phases: Introduction, Role-playing and final processing.

• Introduction, Q & A, and Confidentiality
As facilitators, we will provide the space for exploring these individual concerns in a question and answer format and provide an introduction at the beginning of the workshop. We will discuss the importance of confidentiality in order to encourage the children to speak freely and with the knowledge that the information will stay within the confines of this particular space. (Duration - approximately 10-15 minutes)

• Role Playing Activity
We will provide the children with the tools needed to express themselves in situations that may have come up for them regarding their adoption. Each group will be broken up into sets of three and each child will take on the part of either the adoptive child, parent or others. The children, with the help of the facilitators, will set up a short skit, which they will present to the rest of the group. The skit will reenact a situation the children may have encountered in the past or perhaps something that is difficult to express, or may happen in the future. We will provide the children with props, such as hats and other clothing so that they can have more fun and become the character. It will also provide them with the safety of being someone else if there are issues that are difficult to express. (Duration will be approximately 1 hour to create and perform each individual skit).

• Feedback and Final Processing
The children will be given the opportunity to discuss their feelings and thoughts concerning their skit and the performances of their peers. This down time will allow the facilitators to answer any remaining questions and concerns. (Duration will be approximately 15-20 minutes).

Supplies List:
The facilitators will provide the props. There will be dresses, skirts, jackets and other articles of clothing for the children to wear. These articles will help them get into character.

It is often very difficult for children to communicate and verbalize their concerns regarding their adoption. This role-playing workshop will give them an effective and safe environment to express their questions and concerns. Role-playing can be a safe and effective communication strategy as supported by the following ideas:

•  Creating a skit is fun, challenging and interactive for the child.

•  Role-playing will enhance the child's social and interactive skills and encourage teamwork and group expression. Collaboration, trust and team-building are encouraged.

•  The child will see that adopted children often have similar questions, concerns and fears. The child will realize that they are not alone.

•  Taking on another persona by using masks and props will provide a safe situation for expression, as it allows for a degree of anonymity. The child may feel less exposed and less vulnerable. Anonymity may facilitate the expression of more challenging questions, feelings and fears. Acknowledgement of these feelings increases self-awareness and understanding.

•  Creating a skit together with their peers allows the child to feel a sense of leadership, accomplishment and increases self-esteem.

•  Role-playing allows the child to experience each individual viewpoint of the characters and may expand their understanding of the different circumstances involved. This may create a deeper understanding and empathy for each individual character (e.g. adoptee, parent or other).

•  Experiential and interactive learning tools and strategies have been shown to be more effective when dealing with children.

•  The final processing will allow the child to gain further insight into his/her experience and allow for time to discuss any further question and concern.

Therese Kallstrom, M.A. & CAT
is a Jungian Psychotherapist and Artist. She has a private practice in Boulder, where she counsels individuals, couples, families and adoptive children/families. Therese has developed the Creative Expressions Program , a 10-week art-inspired interactive workshop to increase communication with adoptive children and their parent/s. She co-created P.R.I.D.E! Interactive Role-Playing Workshop, (presented at the Colorado Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families, Summer 2005). Therese has lived abroad for 18 years (India, The Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland), so she can empathize with the feelings of being unique and different.

Education: Academic diploma, The American International School of Zurich (1984), B.A. in Psychology, University of Boulder (1993), M.A. in Jungian Psychology, Regis University, Denver, (1995), CAT (certified archetypal therapist)) and certificate of training in Jungian and Archetypal Psychology, The Archetypal Academy, Boulder, (1995). Certification in EAP (Equine Assisted Psychotherapist), from EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association), awarded in 2005. EAGALA Member.

Languages : English, Swedish, German, Swiss-German and conversational French.

Kim Gangwish AP
graduated with honors from the University of Colorado. She has a background in Child Psychology working with emotionally disturbed adolescents and adults in the Boulder County Mental Health and Psychiatric hospitals. She has trained in Applied Kinesiology, Applied Physiology and the Learning Enhancement Advanced Protocol and she currently is in practice at the Life Enrichment Center in Boulder, Colorado.

Kim lives in Louisville, Colorado with her two sons Casey and Jake who was adopted from Sibera. She has a background in Child Psychology working with emotionally disturbed adolescents. She has spoken across the country about her specialized form of Brain Integration at both health expos and Adoption Heritage Camps. She is the co-founder of the P.R.I.D.E. workshops that will be presented at the Colorado Heritage Camps in 2005.   Kim is currently in practice in Boulder, Colo., Berkeley and Santa Barbara, Calif. She has founded this integrated team of professionals who offer a full spectrum of therapeutic services for adoptive parents.

Contact Information:
Kim Gangwish, A.P.
303-717-8860
ksgangwish@aol.com

Therese Kallstrom, M.A
303-665-7981
tesskall@juno.com