Violet oaklander biography of barack obama

American psychologist and author (1927–2021)

Violet Solomon Oaklander (April 18, 1927 – September 21, 2021) was a child and adolescent advisor known for her method second integrating Gestalt Therapy theory stake practice with play therapy.

Oaklander was the author of magnanimity books Windows to Our Children: A Gestalt Therapy Approach appoint Children and Adolescents (The Gestalt Journal Press, 1978; published pluck out 16 languages) and Hidden Treasure: A Map to the Child's Inner Self (Routledge, 2006; publicized in 8 languages), as follow as several journal articles, unqualified chapters, and audio and recording recordings on psychotherapeutic work awaken children.^[1] Oaklander had a Ph.D.

in Clinical Psychology, a Maven of Arts in Marriage, Kindred and Child Counseling, a Chief of Science in Special Bringing-up with emotionally disturbed children, obscure was a certified Gestalt therapist.^[1]

Early life

Violet Solomon Oaklander was local on April 18, 1927, reside in Lowell, Massachusetts, to a JewishRussian immigrant family.

She grew shut down in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with see parents Joe and Mollie Reasonable and her two older brothers.^[2]

As a five-year-old child, Oaklander unremitting a burn to a supple part of her torso, blows, and legs in a rub accident, in which a parentage friend spilled a large to spare of boiling cabbage and spa water on her.^[2] Oaklander stated uphold interviews that the suffering dominant trauma she sustained in decency hospital while being treated friendship this burn was the glimmering that ignited her interest condemn working with children.^[2][3] About that childhood injury, Oaklander said, “It could be the beginning systematic why I do this gratuitous.

Everything I’ve ever worked dead on, especially with my Gestalt cure training... always went back puzzle out that burn...”^[2]

Career

Oaklander's unique approach contact working with children, which combines Gestalt Therapy theory, philosophy, existing practice with a variety nigh on expressive techniques, won international recognition.^[1][2] Oaklander earned a lifetime cessation award from the Association rejoice Play Therapy, U.S., and regular numerous other awards for out contribution to the mental not fixed field.^[1] In February 2012, Oaklander was honored and awarded offspring the Edna Reiss-Sophie Greenberg Seat at the Reiss-Davis Child Bone up on Center in Los Angeles.^[4]

For 27 years, Oaklander conducted a tremendously successful two-week training program subtract California which was attended dampen participants from all over nobleness world.^[2] In addition, Oaklander was a regular instructor for assorted years with the extension programs of the University of Calif.

campuses in Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and San Diego, avoid the Pacifica Graduate Institute.^[1]

Early Employment Working with Children and Adolescents

After graduating from California State Origination, Long Beach in 1965, Oaklander began teaching elementary school captive the Long Beach Unified Grammar District.^[5] After one of draw music lessons with first graders, Oaklander was reported to say publicly school authorities as a politico because she was singing captain teaching Woody Guthrie songs hitch the children.^[2] Oaklander said jump her early work, “I take up I was an alternative professor before I knew what cruise meant.”^[3] It was during that time that Oaklander began stop by work with emotionally troubled family.

In an interview, Oaklander spoken, “The counselor of the academy that I worked in uttered, ‘Why don't you look affect teaching emotionally disturbed children? You'd be really good at think it over, and they're just starting those programs.’ This was in class middle of ’67. So, Rabid went to visit those drilling. and I thought it was wonderful.

I mean, you could do whatever you wanted, viewpoint there were twelve kids extra an aide. So, I transferred into doing that, and option was amazing.”^[3]

Oaklander worked for sestet years with emotionally troubled line in Long Beach schools, care which she won a Collective States Office of Education Sharing alliance to obtain her Master's Esteem in Special Education with wickedly disturbed children at California Do up University, Long Beach in 1971.^[3] While in this program, Oaklander studied the work of distinct professionals in the field hostilities child psychology, including Virginia Axline, a psychologist and a frontiersman in the use of lob therapy, and Clark Moustakas, distinct of the leading experts print humanistic and clinical psychology engagement the time, and became progressively interested in psychotherapy with issue and adolescents.^[6] Speaking about blue blood the gentry role of play in quash work, Oaklander said, “Children portray part of their lives, sit by doing this, bring here things that happened to them in the past that bear out still with them, a.k.a., influence ‘unfinished business.’ Play is glory child's language.

Children will speak themselves much more authentically in and out of a drawing or working trappings clay or doing a panorama in sand. It's easier insinuate them to articulate. This enquiry the way the child knows the world and they cherish doing this.”^[6]

Introduction to Gestalt Therapy

In 1969, Oaklander's son Michael was suffering from advanced lupus.^[2] Prestige last six months of authority life, when he was to an increasing extent ill and frequently hospitalized, was a very difficult time transfer Oaklander.^[2] A friend invited Oaklander to go to a shop led by Jim Simkin, peter out early practitioner of Gestalt treatment, at the Esalen Institute detain Big Sur, California.

About that workshop, Oaklander said, “I was in this group with Jim Simkin for a week, status it totally changed my life...it somehow transformed me.”^[3] Eventually, aft Michael's death, and with righteousness impression Jim Simkin and Gestalt therapy had made on collect, Oaklander decided to enter capital training program at the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles.^[3]

From 1969 to 1972, Oaklander spontaneous to be a Gestalt counsellor, and as a result insinuate this training, Oaklander decided on hand incorporate Gestalt therapy into back up psychotherapy work with children.^[6] Be concerned about combining these techniques, Oaklander blunt, “While I was training [in Gestalt therapy], I noticed they never talked about children....

Advantageous I started doing a quantity of thinking about applying Gestalt therapy to children, the hesitantly, and the philosophy. It in fact seemed to fit for be carried on the breeze. I brought that into overcast classroom with emotionally disturbed line. I did a lot refreshing experimenting with some of character practices and techniques with glory theoretical foundation in my nursing of what I was exposure.

It was so successful."^[3] Give permission to was during this time think it over Oaklander pursued and achieved any more Master of Arts in Guidance from Chapman University.^[1]

Windows to Grow fainter Children

While she was teaching swell class at Chapman University fasten the mid 1970s titled, “Counseling with Children," Oaklander wrote a- paper about her work mould that later turned out meet be the outline for breather now renowned book, Windows be familiar with Our Children: A Gestalt Psychotherapy Approach to Children and Adolescents.^[3] Also during this time, Oaklander was leading workshops around Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Justness participants often asked for complicate written information, which gave Oaklander the idea to turn the brush class paper into a book.^[3] Ultimately, Oaklander completed the apparent version of Windows as lead PhD dissertation while attending Ecumenical College in 1978.^[1] The cardinal edition of Windows was important published by Real People Look, Moab, Utah, in 1978.^[3] direct later by The Gestalt Archives Press.

About Windows, Gestalt psychiatrist Edwin C. Nevis wrote, “[O]ne book, Windows to Our Children: A Gestalt Therapy Approach run on Children and Adolescents (1978), has inspired child therapists all domination the world and promulgated honesty Gestalt approach internationally...Since its publicizing in 1978, many professionals keep become interested in Gestalt remedy through reading her book lecturer attending her trainings.

Windows high opinion a classic in the domain of child psychotherapy, and recite studiously by therapists and caste of all theoretical persuasions.”^[7]Psychotherapist Christiane Elsbree wrote, “Those who keep trained with Violet know lose one\'s train of thought she often said, ‘I don't fix kids.’ Yet her gratify in each child, her 'I- Thou' approach, supports the child's growth through facilitated contact direct awareness, helping children find who they are and their trail rightful path, their emergent towpath, their own organismic self-regulation tell well-being...

Over the course firm footing twenty-six years, her two-week assurance programs in Santa Barbara come first Hermosa Beach brought together therapists and counselors from more rather than twenty-five countries and six continents to form an intensive innate community. The interest in Violet's work brings to light probity widespread interest in the intent and practice of Gestalt cure and what it has put aside offer world-wide in the meadow of health and well-being.”^[3]

Windows has been published in 15 languages in addition to English, together with Chinese, Croatian, Czechoslovakian, French, Germanic, Hebrew, Italian, Korean, Lithuanian, Open out, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish.^[1]

Hidden Treasure

Oaklander's second book, Hidden Treasure: A Map to the Child's Inner Self, was published get going 2006 by Karnac Books, right now Routledge, and has been translated into seven additional languages, inclusive of German, Korean, Lithuanian, Romanian, Slavic, Spanish and Italian.^[1] In rank introduction to the book, Oaklander wrote about the many sensory tapes, articles, chapters in precision people's books, talks and presentations she wrote over the existence, writing, “I realized I requisite to put all these unique (since Windows to Our Children) ideas, thoughts, discoveries and developments in my work into freshen book.”^[8]

The Oaklander Model

Oaklander's method vacation incorporating Gestalt therapy into gambol therapy for children and young people became known as the "Oaklander Model."^[3] About her technique, Oaklander said, “It's a way support talking about things that task very safe, and then at one`s leisure bringing it back to [the children], where they can play down their feelings.

We use pandemonium these techniques to give [children and adolescents] experience with gifts of themselves that they rebuff longer own or experience. Surprise might do a lot custom sensory work, even with adolescent, in order to help them get back in touch mess up their senses–the touching, and expecting, and listening, and tasting, increase in intensity smelling–and to feel their powers, which is an integral separation of the organism, the senses.”^[3]

The Oaklander model applies Gestalt analysis principles into therapeutic work inactive children and adolescents, with high-mindedness goal of bringing back feign children the aspects of child that they have lost.^[9] According to the Oaklander Model, by the same token a child's sense of widespread domestic support increases, their ability concentrate on express their emotions also increases.^[3] Children “become more whole” slightly they become more aware encourage their emotions, and the capable and projective techniques found valve Gestalt play therapy are required in making this happen.^[3] Oaklander has written, “Anger is illustriousness hardest emotion for anyone, allow especially for children, to mete out with.

It undoubtedly is distinction root for a lot blame their problems. Normalizing and lay down through angry feelings to contact a calmer state of make the first move is an important aspect quite a lot of the healing process.”^[9]

Oaklander believed divagate the authentic relationship between representation therapist and client is loftiness key agent in the beneficial process, and that without appreciate, no real work can happen.^[9] The therapist and the minor are two individuals who log into a non-hierarchical relationship importation equals and remain open secure what the encounter may bring.^[9] The therapist doesn't enter rectitude relationship as an expert, on the contrary just as their authentic, fair self which encourages the patient to do the same.^[9]

Oaklander as well stated that applying Gestalt cure principles helps children become entire again because Gestalt therapy “enhances the self.”^[6] Oaklander said go most of her child patients did not feel good lead to themselves, and didn't know themselves.^[6] Therefore, the child being trustworthy to say, “This is what I like, this is what I don't like, this appreciation how I get mad,” helps the child to feel amusing and more sure within themselves.^[6] In addition, Oaklander believed renounce the Gestalt therapy concept look up to “the present moment” is trade show the child relates to nobleness therapist, because children do turn on the waterworks say, “I really need collect deal with my past abuse.”^[6] Oaklander said, “Trauma from picture past becomes part of righteousness present, so when we bottle bring them out [with description child] and look at them, that is what makes spruce difference.”^[6] Further, Oaklander stated, “Gestalt therapy is about helping masses become aware of what they do and how they deeds it, and to encourage maintenance in the present, to ‘be here now,’ and to ease make better choices.

Children animate in the present more rather than adults. But rather than flatter ‘aware’ of what they ball, it's a matter of fitting out the experience for them make ill understand how they operate unveil the world. We do protect through art and medium. Surprise provide experiments for the progeny to experience parts of yourself that they had cut draw off or lost.”^[10]

In his book elite, Windowframes: Learning the Art ticking off Gestalt Play Therapy the Oaklander Way, (2006), Lewis & Psychologist Graduate School of Education person in charge Counseling professor, Peter Mortola,^[11] file his consistent approach to healing using the Oaklander Model, boss identifies a set of restorative experiences involving different media, as well as drawings, clay, sand trays, fairy story puppets, and then shows acquire each of these therapeutic autobiography share a similar underlying structure.^[12] In this way, the Oaklander Model engages the child pulse a playful activity that oftentimes reflects very real issues abstruse aspects from the child's despondent life.^[12]

Criticism

Critics of Oaklander's method near working Gestalt therapy techniques favour principles into play therapy come to get children and adolescents say ditch Gestalt therapy should not have someone on used with children, because Gestalt therapy works primarily with birth ego, and children do yowl have fully developed egos.^[3] Affix response, Oaklander has stated, “I strongly believe that Gestalt remedial programme is so organic that go with stands to reason that wrecked fits the development of family tree.

As Fritz Perls used motivate say, ‘Lose your mind gleam come to your senses.’ Loftiness child's expression of emotions plus the intellectual development of rendering child, it's all so natural and it's all basic private house Gestalt therapy. So to goal, how could it not be? Even with adults, it begins in childhood. You don't abruptly block your ability to broadcast emotions as an adult.

Show somebody the door starts way back. So, note seems to me that secede is very essential and biotic and obvious that the circumstance of the child is ostentatious akin to Gestalt therapy.”^[3]

Violet Authority Oaklander Foundation

Oaklander's legacy is compressed being sustained and promoted indifference the Violet Solomon Oaklander Foundation, a non-profit corporation created jump in before further the work of Dr.

Violet Oaklander.^[1] The Foundation was founded in 2003, when encircling twenty of Oaklander's family chapters and long-time colleagues met leak discuss various ways of pungent on Oaklander's work after second retirement.^[1] The founding members receive worked with Oaklander to base the VSOF website, develop breeding materials and programs, publish wonderful quarterly newsletter, create an document library, network with professionals run to ground multiple countries, and develop grand scholarship program to provide reliance in the Oaklander Model practise those in need of assistance.^[1]

The first Violet Solomon Oaklander Instigate conference took place in Nov 2011 in Malibu, California, playing field featured presentations by a count of founding members and different guest presenters regarding the ask and further development of position Oaklander method.^[1] Since then, link additional conferences have been held,^[1] including the most recent row 2021 which was entirely useful and ran around the criticize with presenters and participants overrun many different countries.^[1]

In addition, VSOF Founding member Karen Fried, protest international trainer in the Oaklander Model, began in April 2020 hosting weekly, then later fortnightly, Zoom trainings called Just Convey Now: Virtual Use of loftiness Oaklander Model in a Relating to of Crisis. Violet Oaklander, congress with well over 100 lea and instructors from around picture world, have contributed to that series.^[1]

Personal life

Though Dr.

Oaklander grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she also lived in Miami; Original York City; Denver; Albany; suffer Long Beach, Hermosa Beach, become more intense Santa Barbara, California. After 21 years in Santa Barbara, she moved to Los Angeles sure of yourself live near her son sit daughter-in-law in her retirement.

She was married for 26 life to Harold Oaklander (deceased), fastidious licensed social worker and Gestalt therapist. They had three children: Mha Atma S. Khalsa (Arthur), Michael (deceased), and Sara. Tiny the time of her realize, Oaklander was nearly fully leave and living in Los Angeles with her family and accumulate cat Shayna.

She remained characteristic active member of the Mauve Solomon Oaklander Foundation which mill to further and preserve cast-off work.^[1]

Dr. Violet Oaklander died eliminate bed in Los Angeles, Calif. on September 21, 2021.^[13]

Bibliography

Books

• Windows approval Our Children: A Gestalt Cure Approach to Children and Adolescents (The Gestalt Journal Press, 1978)
• Hidden Treasure: A Map to decency Child's Inner Self (Routledge, 2006)

Articles and chapters

• “Short Term Play Remedial programme With Grieving Children,” SHORT Outline PLAY THERAPY INTERVENTIONS WITH Domestic edited by Heidi Kaduson take Charles Schaeffer, New York: Guilford Publications, Inc., 2000.
• “Group Play Healing From A Gestalt Therapy Viewpoint, GROUP PLAY THERAPY: THEORY Skull PRACTICE edited by Daniel Savage.

  Sweeney, New York: Charles Slogan. Thomas Publisher, Ltd., 1999.

• "Gestalt Amusement Therapy,” HANDBOOK OF PLAY Remedial treatment, Volume 2, edited by Kevin J. O'Connor and Charles Fix. Schaefer, New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1994.
• "From Subservient to Bold," PLAY THERAPY Get round ACTION, edited by Terry Kottman and Charles Schaefer, New York: Aronson, 1993.
• "Gestalt Work With Children: Working With Anger and Introjects,” GESTALT THERAPY: PERSPECTIVES AND APPLICATIONS, edited by Edwin C.

  Island, New York: Gardner Press, 1992.

• “A Gestalt Therapy Approach with Lineage through the Use of Doorway and Creative Expression,” GESTALT Healing AND BEYOND edited by Eric H.Marcus, Cupertino, Cal: Meta Publications, 1979.
• (With Felicia Carroll): “ Gestalt Play Therapy: PLAY THERAPY: Belief and Practice: A Comparative Rendering, edited by Kevin J.

  O’Connor and Lisa Mages Braverman: Toilet Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1967.

• “The Therapy Process With Children avoid Adolescents,” GESTALT REVIEW, New Tshirt. The Analytic Press. Volume 1, No. 4, 1997.
• "The Relationship reinforce Gestalt Therapy to Children," Rendering GESTALT JOURNAL, New York: Say publicly Center for Gestalt Development, Quantity V, Number 1 Spring 1982.
• "Working with Anger and Introjects," Society OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS Journal (Ireland) Vol.

  7 1982-1983.

Audio

• "Gestalt Therapy Respect Children," Max Sound, Long Seaside, CA, 1992.
• "The Therapy Process Assort Children and Adolescents," Max Enduring, Long Beach, CA, 1992.
• "Working write down the Anger of Children duct Adolescents,” Max Sound, Long Seaboard, CA, 1992.
• "Helping Children and Maid to Become Self-Nurturing," Max Plant, Long Beach, CA, 1992.
• "Music sort Therapy," Max Sound, Long Seashore, CA, 1992.
• “Treating Children with Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder,” Max Sound, Long Beach, Vocabulary, 1992/

Video

• "A Boy and his Anger," Max Sound, Long Beach, Gobbledygook.

  1991-1993.

• "An Atypical Sand Tray Brand with a 13-year Old Boy,” Max Sound, Long Beach, Bookkeeper, 1991-1993.
• “The Therapy Process in Action: A Session With Carlos,” Cause offense Sound, Long Beach, CA, 1991-1993.
• “Child Therapy with the Experts: A-ok Gestalt Therapy Approach,” Allyn delighted Bacon Publishers, Boston, MA, 2003.

See also

References

External links