What is Mending Me?

Communication is so vital that we as adults often take it for granted. As children, we are just learning how to communicate. Combine that learning curve with trauma, abuse or birth conditions, and often children can only conclude that they must have done something wrong to hurt so much. This can result in closing up or lashing out at the adults trying to help.

Consequently, Mending Me designed three therapeutic toys in an attempt to make the process of interaction as supportive as possible. These toys provide the practitioner (physician, psychologist, counselor, teacher, or therapist) an opportunity to observe the child's interaction with these toys, providing an environment for the child to play out what they might be feeling. It also allows the therapist to evaluate at what point of the healing process the child has attained, providing important knowledge on how to engage with the child in the child's psychological space at the most appropriate point of entry.

The therapist provides the child with an opportunity to select one of the three toys. After the selection the therapist may read a letter from the toy or tell the child a story about the toy. The therapist shares with the child that the toys they have chosen will be with them throughout the healing process. This simple action is a way of giving the child the ability to release and or displace some of their hurt on an inanimate object rather than a human form. The child has an opportunity to bond with the toy through play while at the same time receiving comfort and enjoying embracing the softness of the toy.