Once Upon an Assessment

For this research Six-Piece Story Making, an assessment created by Mooi Lahad (2006), was used to elicit a more creative way of assessing risk daily with children. After reviewing the literature on the topic of using storytelling as a therapeutic intervention with children, it was found that there is a lack of information around using storytelling within a partial hospitalization environment. This research began to explore the possibilities of using storytelling in a partial hospitalization setting with male and female children aging in range from 6 to 13 years of age. It was found that within a partial hospitalization program using storytelling at the start of the program fostered within the clients the ability to create playful environment that fostered an openness with the children during the risk assessment questions. Another finding was that the participants showed more agency and ownership when creating a treatment goal to focus on during that day of treatment. This was an unexpected benefit that was documented through the research and was evidence to the fact that by implementing Six-Piece Story Making at the partial hospitalization program risk can be assessed in a creative and playful way that encourages the child’s involvement in their treatment goals