Digital interactive narrative tools for facilitating communication with children during counseling: A case for audiology

Abstract

In this article we explore the means by which state-of-the-art knowledge on children counseling techniques can be combined with digital interactive narrative tools to facilitate communication with children during counseling sessions. The field of narrative play therapy could profit from the reconciliation between free-play and narratives afforded by interactive digital tools in order to promote children's engagement. We present a digital interactive narrative application integrated with a step-by-step guide to the counselor, which could be adapted to many different situations and contexts where an adult professional counselor (or therapists) needs to establish a trustful and efficient communication with children. Furthermore, the tool was specifically customized to pediatric audiology counseling. Our evaluation shows that the tool maintains the centrality of the child's perspective thanks to the emergent interactive storytelling process. At the same time the counselor is given the means for obtaining valuable information for guiding and structuring the therapeutic process. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.