Magic and Tricks

Ellis's Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) focuses on cognitive strategies to dispute irrational beliefs, while also incorporating emotive and behavioral strategies to decrease emotional disturbances and self-defeating behaviors, and increase self-actualization (Sharf, 2000).

REBT methods and techniques include coping self-statements, teaching others, problem solving, role-playing, imagery, activity homework, reinforcements and penalties, and skill training (Sharf, 2000).

The use of magic and tricks can be incorporated into the structure of REBT.  Specfically, magic tricks can be used to parallel and teach REBT's A-B-C-D-E therapeutic approach to older children and adolescents.

A magic trick, like the vanishing coin , can be broken down in to parts much like a child's problem.
 
 

	Magic Trick	Child's Problem
Activating Event	The handkerchief is placed over the glass and the glass is moved	The child received a low test grade
Consequence	The coin is no longer visible	The child feels sad, embarrased
Belief	Magic caused the coin to disappear	I am stupid
Disputing	Help the child determine if magic really occured, or if there is another explanation	Help the child to determine if there are other conclusions that could be drawn from receiving a low test grade, rather than the belief of being stupid
Effect	The child develops improved problem solving skills and improved rational thoughts	The child develops improved problem solving skills, rational thoughts, self-esteem, and self-actualization

After the magic trick is broken down into parts and thoroughly explained, a Myrick "leap" can be made between solving the magic trick and solving problems in everyday life.  Perhaps something to the effect of "Do you think that sometimes it is possible to change the negative beliefs about ourselves by disputing them, just as we did with the coin trick?"

Magic and tricks can be wonderful therapeutic tools with or without incorporating REBT.  Learning a magic trick and perhaps even teaching the trick to other peers can positively effect self-esteem, self-confidence, and social interaction skills.  Effective listening and attending skills are fostered when learning a trick from an adult or peer.

Performing and sharing magic tricks can also help to build initial and ongoing rapport between child and therapist throughout counseling intervention.  Also, magic tricks can be used as a reward in a behavior modification program if this is motivating to a child (Gilroy).

Advantages to using Magic and Tricks:

They are fun and entertaining
They catch children's attention
They may make abstract cognitive concepts (i.e. A-B-C-D-E approach) more concrete and understandable
They encourage creative thinking and problem solving
They automatically encourage social interaction with others, as once a child learns a magic trick he or she will likely want to show it to someone else
 

Limitations:

Some children may struggle with understanding the leap between magic tricks and disputing irrational beliefs about themselves
Some children may have difficulty understanding how the magic trick is performed, despite step-by-step explanation
Some children may have difficulty physically or cognitively coordinating the sequence to effectively perform the magic trick themselves
 

Recommendations/Cautions:

Choose a magic trick that is fairly simple to understand and perform.  Several resources for magic tricks are available on the internet, such as Funology and Rainho.
Make sure the child understands all of the steps to the trick, and provide the child with several opportunities to practice the trick before showing it to peers.
Intervene prior to frustration if the child has difficulty learning a trick.
Try to make the link between the A-B-C-D-E steps, the magic trick, and personal problems as clear as possible.  It may be helpful to use a visual aid such as the table above.
Further guidelines for performing magic tricks can be found here.
 

References:

Gilroy, B. via internet www.magicforcounseling.com

Sharf, R. (2000). Theories of psychotherapy and counseling. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

www.kidsmysterynet.com

www.funology.com

www.rainho.com