Dr.Greer has developed a unique approach to combining one of his favorite hobbies, collecting,performing and appreciating the art of presenting magic tricks along with child/adolescent psychotherapy and social skills training.

Since you may want to show you child this article, I will keep it simple and fun....which it is. It also works to teach and increase sustained attention, the ability to be patient and delay gratification, and how to "trick" someone while still respecting their feelings and intelligence.

I prefer to call magic "effects ",rather than tricks.The purpose is to entertain, arouse curiosity,and a sense of wonder .The word "trick" already creates a feeling of dishonesty or deception.

So how does performing brief magical effects produce therapeutic results in a child? Following are, at least some, of the reasons:

1. Magic becomes a perfect " ice-breaker" for a child coming in to see a Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist. Children are often unclear about why they are coming,what kind of doctor am I, and may be nervous with thoughts about the visit meaning they were " bad" in some way.Breaking this ice with a cool effect like making a coin disappear,or watching as I make a jar of peanut butter switch places with ajar of jelly,creates a fun,creative atmosphere.This instantly provides relief and a smile,maintains the doctor as the experienced host,and does not mean that we are not going to proceed with a session which will provide seriously productive change.
2. An immediate social skill is acquired when your child learns a few impressive effects, and they will, after a session or two.This social " power " is that of getting to be KNOWN amongst the peer group as being a " magician ". No longer is he known as just Matthew or Michael ; no longer is she known as just Jane or Michelle.The buzz will become, " did you hear that------------- is a Magician ? " . The phone will start ringing,play dates will be accepted, you'll have to limit who you invite to the next birthday party.....etc.
3. Your child will learn how to verbalize what we call," patter". This is the play by play story or narrative which the audience or spectator hears as the magic is unfolding in front of their eyes. Rather than just, " watch as I place the folded paper you wrote on into this box..and it will disappear".....Your child will learn to tie in the magical effect to an aspect of mastery of emotions...."Thank you for writing down three things which you would like to have vanish from your mind. Now...just as the wizard who taught me this said (the paper is graciously taken and placed in the vanishing box).."HOCUS POCUS.....FOCUS ! ".(The box is now shown to be empty.)
   "These problems have now vanished from your mind.....as they did from this box!" This process, adjusted for the verbal skill level of your child, helps them develop language skills, abstract thinking, timing , and ,most importantly ,the ability to be a gracious host while "tricking" the spectator(s).As a famous magician once said, " No one minds being fooled by a gentleman".
4. Magical effects develop coordination, fine motor skills, and sensory integration. If you've read this...you qualify to learn a free magical effect requiring no props : Mentally select a number between 2 and 9..including the possibility of 2 or 9 as you choice. Now multiply this number by nine.This should produce a two digit number( ex. 47 )...now add your two digits together to form a single digit number ( ex.-4 added to 7 = 11 ) Take your number and subtract 5. Now match this new number to a letter in the alphabet...in numerical AND alphabetical order (ex.say your number is 8.Your letter would bethe eighth letter of the alphabet:H) Using that letter...think of a COUNTRY in the world which starts with that letter. Go to the final letter of that country, and choose an animal starting with that letter. Finally...using the final letter of that animal..choose a color which starts with that letter.

When I see you in person, tell me you did the "two through nine mystery".