This document discusses how a handmade turtle puppet called Turtle can help facilitate communication with children in therapy. Turtle is made of soft material and its head fits into its shell, allowing it to express emotions. Therapists use Turtle to help normalize therapy sessions and build relationships with children experiencing issues like trauma, resistance, or attachment problems. Therapists encourage children's emotional vocabulary by asking what emotions Turtle seems to be expressing and using Turtle as a way to gently discuss topics like feelings, communication skills, and finding support.

1. How a shy little turtle can help to open communication
with children in therapy

2. Turtle is a machine and hand sewn
puppet created specifically for
therapeutic work with children
engaged in therapeutic therapy. My
search for a sweet and sensitive turtle
puppet was unsuccessful so I decided
to design and make my own. Turtle is
made with soft bunting material and
can be cuddled outright be children
and/or used as a hand puppet to
express a variety of emotions. The
hand fits right into the head of the
turtle which can be retracted into the
`shell’ body. This little fellow has
already assisted dozens of little people
and he has been well used and loved.

3. Turtle can help to normalise situations
with children in different scenarios:
• Initial counselling sessions
• Relationship building
• Children who experience resistance
• Children who have experienced
trauma and attachment issues
• Basically most issues that may
arise in therapy
* Strategy Tips *
A sentence starter to open up
communication:
Would you look at that…(direct
attention to Turtle in a normal
surprised voice). Turtle looks as if
she/he might need to let us know
something. ( soft whisper voice) What
do you think Turtle is trying to
communicate to us right now?
Encourage the child’s emotional
vocabulary in exploring what message
Turtle may be trying to express.

4. Turtle has a strong feeling inside
and runs away…
Turtle pulls her head into her
shell so she can hide…

5. * Strategy Tips *
A great time to talk about:
• Communicating our feelings
• Skills for communicating
• How support might look/feel
• Safety hand concept
• Support networks
• Tools to stay safe
Sentence starter:
O my – Turtle has gone into her
shell for now. I am wondering what
she needs to be able to come back
out of her shell… (soft gently tone)