1. The electronic teddy bear:
using technology as a
transitional object
Methods and techniques for creating a virtual “you”
for use in therapy

2. When to use tech
 Although based first and foremost on clinical decision
making, there may be times when technology is
warranted:
 To decrease face to face client contact by replacing it
with other means
 To increase feelings of connection
 To reinforce a skill or a concept
 To give clients something to do between sessions
 To provide support or relief without having to be
physically present
 To interact with those who may be homebound or
otherwise unable to participate in face to face treatment

3. Which do I use?
 In general, those tech choices that provide the
most sensory cues tend to provide a higher level
of connection
◦ To increase connection, use tech that has a lot of
cues – like your own voice on a CD for example
 Other considerations
◦ What kinds of devices/technology do you and client
both have access to?
◦ What is your comfort level with the various forms of
tech?
◦ What are the legal and ethical considerations?
 Because of agency policy regarding confidentiality, certain
tech options are not offered here including e-mail, text
messaging, online support groups or client chat
rooms/discussion boards.

4. Technology choices
 Website
◦ Use JCMH site
◦ Create your own
 Cartoons/Animations
◦ Goanimate.com
◦ Xtranormal.com
 CD/MP3/Video
 Avatars and virtual interactions

5. Website
 The clients have access to the JCMH DBT
website at www.jcmh.org/dbt
 You may want to create something different
or provide the same support for non-DBT
concepts
 Google sites has several options for using
template designs, without having to know any
computer codes or HTML
◦ Must have google account
◦ Access to templates and domain hosting free
 Many other sites available, but may require
hosting fees or domain name sites

6. Steps for creating Google
website
 Go to: https://sites.google.com
 Click on the button that says: Create
 The next step will be to name your
site.
◦ For example, cbttherapysite
 You can then choose from a template
or blank
 This will lead you to a new site.

7. Steps for creating google
website
 Once you are in the site, you will see a button
with a pencil in the top right hand corner.
 Click on this button and it will allow you to
type, load images or put in links to other
sites.
 You do not need any special codes, it works just like a
regular Word Document.
 There are headers along the top to guide you.
 When you are done, click the Save button on the top
right corner.
 Next to the pencil, there is a square with a
plus in it. Click on this button to add new
pages to your website.

8. Other considerations for Google
website
 Site privacy:
◦ In the top right hand corner, you will see a
button that says “More”
◦ Click on this button and scroll down to
“Manage Site.”
◦ Once there, on the left hand side, you will
see a button that says “Sharing and
Permissions.”
 This is what allows you to keep the site private
 Choose individual people to send it to (for
example, just one client or one specific group you
are working with)

9. Practice makes perfect
 Feel free to try different things
◦ You can’t really mess anything up
◦ You can delete anything you don’t like
◦ All changes are saved in “Revision History”
so if you don’t like your changes, revert to the
old ones
◦ You can delete pages or the whole site if you
would like
 Consider working on a site with a client
as a way for them to express their
creativity or to give them something to do

10. Cartoons/Animations
 Allows for you or clients to role play
situations without another person being
present
 Way to demonstrate a skill/concept with
representations of people rather than
real people
 Clients can work through different
scenarios and make different choices
 Because it is not real people, may invoke
different kinds of emotional responses
than a real life situation might

11. Cartoons/Animations
 Two sites to choose from:
◦ Both free up to a certain point
◦ Both allow for downloads or publishing to
websites (youtube, etc)
◦ Both allow for animations to be set to
private
◦ Both have similar editing features and
both are relatively easy to use
 www.xtranormal.com
 www.goanimate.com

12. Cartoons/Animations
 Xtranormal
 Go to site
 Create new account
 Once in site:
◦ Go to Create
◦ Choose Scene
◦ Choose Actors
◦ Click on Story
 This is where you can enter the dialogue
◦ When done, click on preview
◦ Make changes or publish when ready

13. Cartoons Animations
 GoAnimate
 Go to site
 Create new account
 Once in site:
◦ In right hand corner, click on the Make a Video button
◦ Go to Create
◦ Choose Scene
◦ Choose Actors
◦ Type in or record your dialogue
 This is where you can enter the dialogue
 You have the choice to type it and have voices be computer
generated or record your own voice
◦ When done, click on preview and save

14. When animations are complete
 How to share them with clients:
◦ Load them on to a website
◦ Download them and give them to client on a flash
drive
◦ Create a “shared account” for both you and
clients to create and share animations
◦ Publish to a video hosting site such as youtube
or vimeo
 Both sites allow you to choose whether
videos are public or private
◦ If you opt to make them public, the sites will link
them for you to a
youtube/facebook/twitter/google+ accounts

15. Practice makes perfect
 Feel free to try different things
◦ You can’t really mess anything up
◦ You can delete anything you don’t like
◦ Sites are very user friendly and will walk
you through all the necessary steps or tell
you if something is missing
 Consider having clients do their own
animations to share with you

16. Videos and CD’s
 You can use devices specially created, although
most smart phones have both audio and video
recording devices attached to them.
 Consider having clients make a video for you
about their day or certain aspects of their life
 Very simple to make and share:
◦ Record a CD or video (maybe with a mindfulness
activity)
◦ Connect device to your computer
◦ Most computers/audio & video programs will allow
you to drop and drag
◦ You can then transfer to a flash drive or Burn a CD

17. Avatar Therapy
 While somewhat unconventional, some
therapists are using Avatar Therapy
 You create a representation of you that
interacts with others in a virtual world
 http://secondlife.com/
◦ You will need to sign up, but then it will walk
you through creating an Avatar and
interacting with others
 JCMH is looking into other programs that
would allow the same thing, but in a
slightly more controlled setting

18. Final considerations
 While not necessarily appropriate for all
situations, hopefully this will provide you with some
additional resources for working with your clients
◦ Many choices are based on client and therapist individual
preferences and treatment goals
 Not all clients have access to the same resources, but
computers typically available at libraries and at Summit
Center
 Internet or WiFi available at most libraries, but also at
Panera Bread, McDonalds, Perkins, Denny’s… even
Home Depot
 While computers may be limited, many have cell phone
access and sites can be viewed using smart phones