The Narrative Video Therapy Workshop (NVT) was held in November, 2011 and April, 2012 with 16 participants who each developed a narrative about their experience growing up with a facial difference. Narratives were shared through prose and photography and helped participants to gain insight into their own strength and resiliency. Participants bonded with one another in an emotionally safe and supportive environment. Through videotaping, they enjoyed a therapeutic experience as they created a documentary to educate and inform others about craniofacial differences. This video can be viewed on the NFFR’s website at www.nffr.org. We thank Variety the Children’s Charity of New York for sponsoring this workshop. Below is a testimonial from one of our participants:
I admit I was a bit reluctant to participate in the NVT project at first. The idea of opening up to people about having a facial difference made me slightly uncomfortable. It is one thing to tell people that I have to see countless doctors and need a few more surgeries, but sharing how that all affects my life and how I feel is completely different. As I walked into the room filled with some familiar faces and many more non-familiar faces awkwardly staring at each other in silence, I was mentally preparing what I may want to say. Yet, that awkward silence did not last too long; before I knew it, we were all eating pizza together, joking about our addiction to coffee, laughing, and eventually being silly by doing the wave. Most of us were nervous; however our nerves were settled as we saw each person walk out of the room with a smile of relief on their face.
A few weeks ago, we viewed the finished video. Hearing what the others had to say felt very encouraging- it made me feel like I wasn’t alone. We’d all dealt with surgeries, constant visits to doctors, people asking questions and the awkward moment of having to explain it in the simplest way possible. I am recovering from a recent surgery and getting ready to start my freshman year at Vassar College next month. While I am aware that starting college after just having had a surgery will not be easy, I know that somehow I will find a way to be able to deal with this as well. I have done so before and so have my peers, therefore I know that I will be able to do so once again.