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9 . Examples of role play
This section provides an example of role play . You should act out your part as either a helper or a survivor . Make use of your skills and your knowledge . The situation may evolve in directions you did not foresee ; if it does , continue to play your part . It is a good exercise for learning how to communicate and how to react to a survivor ’ s responses and body language .
PART III : THEORY
If you wear a scarf to indicate that you are the Survivor , be sure to take it off when you change roles or finish . Always brush off your role before you take on a new one and when you end the session .
Example of role paly 1 : The first meeting between a Helper and a Survivor
Helper . Welcome , my name is Katy . Please come in . I am glad to meet you . What is your name ? Survivor . I am Jenny . H . Welcome to our first meeting . I am glad you decided to come . H . Where would you like to sit ? S . Hmm , I don ’ t know . H . Is it OK to sit like this ? Are you comfortable ? S . No , you are too close , can you move further away ? H . Is this OK ? S . Yes . H . I can see that you do not feel comfortable . S . I feel terrible and very sad . H .
S .
Let me say that you decide what you want and don ’ t want to say . I respect that there are things you do not want to say .
Thank you … H . I respect you and that you have your boundaries . S . You do not know what happened to me . H .
S . H .
I know and that is OK . You don ’ t have to tell me anything about it . You completely choose what you want to say . Oh , I can see that you moved your legs a little bit , can you feel the ground under your feet ?
No …
Because that is very important when we are overwhelmed by horrible feelings . Feeling our feet on the ground is a way of anchoring us in the room .
And you ’ re here with me now , you are safe , you are sitting in a calm room . S . I am afraid . ( Looks at the door .)