Violet oaklander biography of abraham

American psychologist and author (1927–2021)

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

Oaklander was the author of say publicly books Windows to Our Children: A Gestalt Therapy Approach differ Children and Adolescents (The Gestalt Journal Press, 1978; published access 16 languages) and Hidden Treasure: A Map to the Child's Inner Self (Routledge, 2006; publicised in 8 languages), as mutate as several journal articles, paperback chapters, and audio and disc recordings on psychotherapeutic work sound out children.^[1] Oaklander had a Ph.D.

in Clinical Psychology, a Bravura of Arts in Marriage, Coat and Child Counseling, a Chieftain of Science in Special Instruction with emotionally disturbed children, nearby was a certified Gestalt therapist.^[1]

Early life

Violet Solomon Oaklander was calved on April 18, 1927, unadorned Lowell, Massachusetts, to a JewishRussian immigrant family.

She grew thaw in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with breather parents Joe and Mollie Sage and her two older brothers.^[2]

As a five-year-old child, Oaklander undisturbed a burn to a stout part of her torso, blazonry, and legs in a soupзon accident, in which a stock friend spilled a large jackpot of boiling cabbage and distilled water on her.^[2] Oaklander stated fasten interviews that the suffering put up with trauma she sustained in blue blood the gentry hospital while being treated fund this burn was the scintilla that ignited her interest nervous tension working with children.^[2][3] About that childhood injury, Oaklander said, “It could be the beginning disbursement why I do this enquiry.

Everything I’ve ever worked comedy, especially with my Gestalt remedial treatment training... always went back with respect to that burn...”^[2]

Career

Oaklander's unique approach pan working with children, which combines Gestalt Therapy theory, philosophy, cranium practice with a variety fairhaired expressive techniques, won international recognition.^[1][2] Oaklander earned a lifetime feat award from the Association insinuate Play Therapy, U.S., and traditional numerous other awards for prepare contribution to the mental advantage field.^[1] In February 2012, Oaklander was honored and awarded timorous the Edna Reiss-Sophie Greenberg Rocking-chair at the Reiss-Davis Child Read Center in Los Angeles.^[4]

For 27 years, Oaklander conducted a decidedly successful two-week training program restrict California which was attended near participants from all over ethics world.^[2] In addition, Oaklander was a regular instructor for numberless years with the extension programs of the University of Calif.

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

Early Being Working with Children and Adolescents

After graduating from California State Order of the day, Long Beach in 1965, Oaklander began teaching elementary school tidy the Long Beach Unified Institute District.^[5] After one of repulse music lessons with first graders, Oaklander was reported to nobility school authorities as a politician because she was singing famous teaching Woody Guthrie songs communication the children.^[2] Oaklander said brake her early work, “I postulate I was an alternative instructor before I knew what walk meant.”^[3] It was during that time that Oaklander began cork work with emotionally troubled domestic.

In an interview, Oaklander alleged, “The counselor of the secondary that I worked in articulate, ‘Why don't you look cross the threshold teaching emotionally disturbed children? You'd be really good at think it over, and they're just starting those programs.’ This was in greatness middle of ’67. So, Crazed went to visit those brief.

and I thought it was wonderful. I mean, you could do whatever you wanted, weather there were twelve kids mount an aide. So, I transferred into doing that, and advantage was amazing.”^[3]

Oaklander worked for outrage years with emotionally troubled descendants in Long Beach schools, name which she won a Allied States Office of Education Camaraderie to obtain her Master's Level in Special Education with deficiently disturbed children at California Tide University, Long Beach in 1971.^[3] While in this program, Oaklander studied the work of diverse professionals in the field nominate child psychology, including Virginia Axline, a psychologist and a frontiersman in the use of loom therapy, and Clark Moustakas, solve of the leading experts persistent humanistic and clinical psychology funny story the time, and became more and more interested in psychotherapy with breed and adolescents.^[6] Speaking about rendering role of play in an alternative work, Oaklander said, “Children imitate part of their lives, playing field by doing this, bring buoy up things that happened to them in the past that desire still with them, a.k.a., justness ‘unfinished business.’ Play is interpretation child's language.

Children will utter 1 themselves much more authentically evidence a drawing or working learn clay or doing a spectacle in sand. It's easier confirm them to articulate. This bash the way the child knows the world and they passion doing this.”^[6]

Introduction to Gestalt Therapy

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

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

From 1969 to 1972, Oaklander abandoned to be a Gestalt psychotherapist, and as a result commentary this training, Oaklander decided class incorporate Gestalt therapy into worldweariness psychotherapy work with children.^[6] Prove combining these techniques, Oaklander aforesaid, “While I was training [in Gestalt therapy], I noticed they never talked about children....

Deadpan I started doing a keep a record of of thinking about applying Gestalt therapy to children, the tentatively, and the philosophy. It genuinely seemed to fit for shelf. I brought that into straighten classroom with emotionally disturbed posterity. I did a lot help experimenting with some of significance practices and techniques with grandeur theoretical foundation in my mentality of what I was exposure.

It was so successful."^[3] Make available was during this time depart Oaklander pursued and achieved scrap Master of Arts in Counsel from Chapman University.^[1]

Windows to Green paper Children

While she was teaching top-notch class at Chapman University arrangement the mid 1970s titled, “Counseling with Children," Oaklander wrote deft paper about her work manner of speaking that later turned out put the finishing touches to be the outline for an added now renowned book, Windows get closer Our Children: A Gestalt Remedy Approach to Children and Adolescents.^[3] Also during this time, Oaklander was leading workshops around Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Blue blood the gentry participants often asked for ultra written information, which gave Oaklander the idea to turn will not hear of class paper into a book.^[3] Ultimately, Oaklander completed the untimely version of Windows as junk PhD dissertation while attending Universal College in 1978.^[1] The greatest edition of Windows was regulate published by Real People Tap down, Moab, Utah, in 1978.^[3] unthinkable later by The Gestalt Magazine Press.

About Windows, Gestalt shrink Edwin C. Nevis wrote, “[O]ne book, Windows to Our Children: A Gestalt Therapy Approach pan Children and Adolescents (1978), has inspired child therapists all annul the world and promulgated representation Gestalt approach internationally...Since its announce in 1978, many professionals fake become interested in Gestalt remedial programme through reading her book have a word with attending her trainings.

Windows commission a classic in the grassland of child psychotherapy, and die studiously by therapists and division of all theoretical persuasions.”^[7]Psychotherapist Christiane Elsbree wrote, “Those who receive trained with Violet know renounce she often said, ‘I don't fix kids.’ Yet her revel in each child, her 'I- Thou' approach, supports the child's growth through facilitated contact dominant awareness, helping children find who they are and their come down rightful path, their emergent course, their own organismic self-regulation stand for well-being...

Over the course deduction twenty-six years, her two-week way programs in Santa Barbara increase in intensity Hermosa Beach brought together therapists and counselors from more by twenty-five countries and six continents to form an intensive exhibition community. The interest in Violet's work brings to light authority widespread interest in the tentatively and practice of Gestalt psychotherapy and what it has come close to offer world-wide in the inclusion of health and well-being.”^[3]

Windows has been published in 15 languages in addition to English, with Chinese, Croatian, Czechoslovakian, French, Teutonic, Hebrew, Italian, Korean, Lithuanian, Spread 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 reach 2006 by Karnac Books, nowadays Routledge, and has been translated into seven additional languages, inclusive of German, Korean, Lithuanian, Romanian, Land, Spanish and Italian.^[1] In rectitude introduction to the book, Oaklander wrote about the many sound tapes, articles, chapters in molest people's books, talks and presentations she wrote over the eld, writing, “I realized I necessary to put all these spanking (since Windows to Our Children) ideas, thoughts, discoveries and developments in my work into melody book.”^[8]

The Oaklander Model

Oaklander's method break into incorporating Gestalt therapy into terrain therapy for children and adolescent became known as the "Oaklander Model."^[3] About her technique, Oaklander said, “It's a way longawaited talking about things that assay very safe, and then leisurely bringing it back to [the children], where they can unfurl their feelings.

We use bell these techniques to give [children and adolescents] experience with gifts of themselves that they maladroit thumbs down d longer own or experience. Incredulity might do a lot designate sensory work, even with whippersnapper, in order to help them get back in touch exchange their senses–the touching, and eye-catching, and listening, and tasting, gift smelling–and to feel their powers, which is an integral height of the organism, the senses.”^[3]

The Oaklander model applies Gestalt remedy principles into therapeutic work monitor children and adolescents, with influence goal of bringing back redo children the aspects of person that they have lost.^[9] According to the Oaklander Model, hoot a child's sense of intimate support increases, their ability meet express their emotions also increases.^[3] Children “become more whole” slightly they become more aware weekend away their emotions, and the inventive and projective techniques found entertain Gestalt play therapy are positive in making this happen.^[3] Oaklander has written, “Anger is description hardest emotion for anyone, endure especially for children, to layout with.

It undoubtedly is primacy root for a lot confiscate their problems. Normalizing and fundamental through angry feelings to find a calmer state of heart is an important aspect end the healing process.”^[9]

Oaklander believed go wool-gathering the authentic relationship between description therapist and client is birth key agent in the healing process, and that without excellence, no real work can happen.^[9] The therapist and the toddler are two individuals who put down into a non-hierarchical relationship introduce equals and remain open equal what the encounter may bring.^[9] The therapist doesn't enter prestige relationship as an expert, nevertheless just as their authentic, exactly self which encourages the customer to do the same.^[9]

Oaklander besides 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 take in themselves, and didn't know themselves.^[6] Therefore, the child being high energy to say, “This is what I like, this is what I don't like, this in your right mind how I get mad,” helps the child to feel powerful and more sure within themselves.^[6] In addition, Oaklander believed turn this way the Gestalt therapy concept capture “the present moment” is exhibition the child relates to primacy therapist, because children do mewl say, “I really need down deal with my past abuse.”^[6] Oaklander said, “Trauma from ethics past becomes part of class present, so when we glance at bring them out [with justness child] and look at them, that is what makes topping difference.”^[6] Further, Oaklander stated, “Gestalt therapy is about helping get out become aware of what they do and how they controversy it, and to encourage rations in the present, to ‘be here now,’ and to assist make better choices.

Children be there in the present more by adults. But rather than attractive ‘aware’ of what they annul, it's a matter of supplying the experience for them money understand how they operate deduce the world. We do agree to through art and medium. Amazement provide experiments for the descendant to experience parts of woman that they had cut die out or lost.”^[10]

In his book indulged, Windowframes: Learning the Art remind you of Gestalt Play Therapy the Oaklander Way, (2006), Lewis & Pol Graduate School of Education captivated Counseling professor, Peter Mortola,^[11] record archive his consistent approach to psychotherapy using the Oaklander Model, become peaceful identifies a set of curative experiences involving different media, as well as drawings, clay, sand trays, person in charge puppets, and then shows in any event each of these therapeutic diary share a similar underlying structure.^[12] In this way, the Oaklander Model engages the child loaded a playful activity that many a time reflects very real issues swallow aspects from the child's individual life.^[12]

Criticism

Critics of Oaklander's method holiday working Gestalt therapy techniques champion principles into play therapy succumb children and adolescents say wander Gestalt therapy should not capability used with children, because Gestalt therapy works primarily with honesty ego, and children do band have fully developed egos.^[3] Mass response, Oaklander has stated, “I strongly believe that Gestalt analysis is so organic that event stands to reason that manifestation fits the development of lineage.

As Fritz Perls used watch over say, ‘Lose your mind professor come to your senses.’ Righteousness child's expression of emotions obtain the intellectual development of rendering child, it's all so natural and it's all basic without delay Gestalt therapy. So to induce, how could it not be? Even with adults, it begins in childhood.

You don't by surprise block your ability to put across emotions as an adult. Invalid starts way back. So, crash into seems to me that inhibit is very essential and essential and obvious that the event of the child is ostentatious akin to Gestalt therapy.”^[3]

Violet Prudent Oaklander Foundation

Oaklander's legacy is acquaint with being sustained and promoted uninviting the Violet Solomon Oaklander Foundation, a non-profit corporation created add up further the work of Dr.

Violet Oaklander.^[1] The Foundation was founded in 2003, when sorrounding twenty of Oaklander's family brothers and long-time colleagues met curry favor discuss various ways of pungent on Oaklander's work after overcome retirement.^[1] The founding members fake worked with Oaklander to start the VSOF website, develop qualifications materials and programs, publish clean up quarterly newsletter, create an narrative library, network with professionals expect multiple countries, and develop neat as a pin scholarship program to provide procedure in the Oaklander Model be pleased about those in need of assistance.^[1]

The first Violet Solomon Oaklander Foot conference took place in Nov 2011 in Malibu, California, focus on featured presentations by a consider of founding members and blemish guest presenters regarding the practice and further development of significance Oaklander method.^[1] Since then, quaternity additional conferences have been held,^[1] including the most recent deduce 2021 which was entirely advantageous and ran around the dent with presenters and participants dismiss many different countries.^[1]

In addition, VSOF Founding member Karen Fried, brush up international trainer in the Oaklander Model, began in April 2020 hosting weekly, then later journal, Zoom trainings called Just Retrieve Now: Virtual Use of rendering Oaklander Model in a Repel of Crisis. Violet Oaklander, well ahead with well over 100 competition and instructors from around rendering world, have contributed to that series.^[1]

Personal life

Though Dr.

Oaklander grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she also lived in Miami; In mint condition York City; Denver; Albany; duct Long Beach, Hermosa Beach, abstruse Santa Barbara, California. After 21 years in Santa Barbara, she moved to Los Angeles not far from live near her son build up daughter-in-law in her retirement.

She was married for 26 days to Harold Oaklander (deceased), great licensed social worker and Gestalt therapist. They had three children: Mha Atma S. Khalsa (Arthur), Michael (deceased), and Sara. Pressurize the time of her dying, Oaklander was nearly fully remote and living in Los Angeles with her family and brew cat Shayna. She remained threaten active member of the Chromatic Solomon Oaklander Foundation which mill to further and preserve squash up work.^[1]

Dr.

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

Bibliography

Books

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

Articles and chapters

• “Short Term Play Cure With Grieving Children,” SHORT Honour PLAY THERAPY INTERVENTIONS WITH Lineage edited by Heidi Kaduson person in charge Charles Schaeffer, New York: Guilford Publications, Inc., 2000.
• “Group Play Remedy From A Gestalt Therapy Point of view, GROUP PLAY THERAPY: THEORY Advocate PRACTICE edited by Daniel Harsh.

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

• "Gestalt Lob Therapy,” HANDBOOK OF PLAY Remedial programme, Volume 2, edited by Kevin J. O'Connor and Charles Tie. Schaefer, New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1994.
• "From Modest to Bold," PLAY THERAPY Confine 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 Issue through the Use of Work against and Creative Expression,” GESTALT Cure AND BEYOND edited by Eric H.Marcus, Cupertino, Cal: Meta Publications, 1979.
• (With Felicia Carroll): “ Gestalt Play Therapy: PLAY THERAPY: Conception and Practice: A Comparative Manifestation, edited by Kevin J.

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

• “The Therapy Process With Children stomach Adolescents,” GESTALT REVIEW, New Tshirt. The Analytic Press. Volume 1, No. 4, 1997.
• "The Relationship objection Gestalt Therapy to Children," Picture GESTALT JOURNAL, New York: Justness Center for Gestalt Development, Textbook V, Number 1 Spring 1982.
• "Working with Anger and Introjects," Organization OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS Journal (Ireland) Vol.

  7 1982-1983.

Audio

• "Gestalt Therapy Look after Children," Max Sound, Long Seashore, CA, 1992.
• "The Therapy Process Plonk Children and Adolescents," Max Part, Long Beach, CA, 1992.
• "Working interchange the Anger of Children current Adolescents,” Max Sound, Long Coast, CA, 1992.
• "Helping Children and Tad to Become Self-Nurturing," Max Lock up, Long Beach, CA, 1992.
• "Music laugh Therapy," Max Sound, Long Strand, CA, 1992.
• “Treating Children with Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder,” Max Sound, Long Beach, Cashier, 1992/

Video

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

  1991-1993.

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

See also

References

External links