The Silent Selkie describes a character who is unable to communicate in words and whose only way of communicating is through the weather, which leads to disastrous consequences not only for the Selkie, but also for everyone around her.
But behind her golden scales, the Selkie hides a secret wound that even she is unaware of, and it is only when the Selkie's skin becomes uncovered by the force of the sea that she remembers the terrible story of what caused her hurt, long ago. Only then can the Selkie come to terms with her wound and begin a journey of healing that will bring her face-to-face with what she has needed all along.
Beautifully illustrated and sensitively written, The Silent Selkie deals with the effects of trauma on a young person - including hypersensitivity and emotional reactivity. The story uses the metaphor of trauma as a 'hidden wound', which in reality is an emotional or psychological pain that needs both acknowledgement and expression, within the context of a safe, supportive environment, in which to begin to heal.
This colourful storybook:
- Helps adults provide a safe environment for children to use non-verbal expression to communicate experiences that may be difficult to talk about.
- Uses creative metaphors and symbols to offer children a supportive way to communicate, whilst maintaining a safe distance from the source of their emotional pain.
- Inspires and empowers children to begin their journey of healing.
The Silent Selkie encourages young people who may have adverse childhood experiences or trauma to develop greater understanding of how this can affect them and is ideal reading for those working with vulnerable children and young people seeking to use the expressive arts to develop greater emotional literacy in children with a background of trauma.
For effective use, this book should be purchased alongside the guidebook. Both books can be purchased together as a set, Supporting Children and Young People Who Have Experienced Trauma, 978-0-367-63944-0
About the Author: Juliette Ttofa is a specialist educational psychologist and child therapist with a long-standing interest in the complex issues surrounding trauma, attachment needs and emotional resilience.
