My Blanco™ – Express Yourself SM!

Introduction:

my Blanco™ is a stuffed, washable, white monkey designed as a “blank slate” for children of all ages to artistically express their feelings.  This therapy tool comes with washable markers so that whenever the client desires, Blanco™ can be washed clean of the emotions and the individual can “start again” with his or her creative emotional expression.

Rationale:

This therapy tool was designed by Renate Allen after speaking to a parent of an abused child.  The story, as understood by Ms. Allen, was that the alleged abuser was never brought to justice and the identified child had unresolved concerns without an outlet for expression.  Since there was no conviction, free community services were not available and therapy monies soon were exhausted.  The child’s mother was left feeling powerless to help her daughter with her care and from this place; Ms. Allen developed the first Blanco™ as a way for the child to express emotions regarding her alleged abuser.  The mother accepted the tool with gratitude and later reported that her child enthusiastically marked, colored, and expressed her sadness, rage, terror, etc. on Blanco™.  Blanco™ accepted and held these emotions until the child was ready to move on – at this point the monkey was washed.  Over time, the child’s worries declined and her sense of empowerment increased.  Ms. Allen, noting this child’s improvements, felt a desire to share this resource with play therapists for use in their child practices.

This tool can be used to:

 Informally assess your client

Informally gather client history

Provide opportunities for client emotional development and mastery

Provide opportunities for client emotional release for otherwise forbidden thoughts and impulses

Provide a photographable chronology of the client’s progress

Provide photographable evidence for forensic investigation(s)

Population:

While this tool was developed for children, its usefulness is ageless.  It can be used for individuals aged 3 to 93.

Items needed:

My Blanco™

Washable Markers

Washing Machine and soap

Instruction:

The child client is presented with my Blanco™.  my Blanco™ or Blanco™is the name of the tool – the children are encouraged to name the item according to their needs/desires.  Once Blanco™ is renamed, the child is given washable markers and told they can draw, write, and create anything they would like on the item that would let the therapist understand more about their feelings.  If this is a small child, the therapist may need to assist in developing a short list of emotion possibilities.   (Examples: Mad, Sad, Glad)  The child then designs whatever is needed on the item and at the end of their creation is encouraged to share (although not required) their experience or explain the art on the Blanco™.  An example question might be:  “Is there anything you can tell me about what you’ve created on Blanco™ (or the new name the child has given the tool)?  The therapist listens to the child’s responses and therapeutically determines if additional inquires are helpful.  At the end of the experience the therapist asks if the child would like the item washed so as to have a clean start for next time; if the child would like the item left as is to add more at another time or to have it remain unchanged.

Additional Uses:

Transitional object when a child leaves therapy – this could be the item a child takes away from treatment and uses like a personal journal.

Family therapy tool –in session folks communicate on the item with markers to facilitate direct expression.

General play travel toy – for use in the car when traveling to assist in preventing or resolving sibling conflicts.

The potential uses of my Blanco™ are endless!