Therapeutic Bubbology

NOTE: There will be no entries tomorrow (Friday) or Monday, as I am taking a long weekend for a family celebration. I’ll be back on Tuesday. In the meantime, I thought I’d share a brief article I wrote a few years back. Enjoy!

Whether I’m doing outreach/streetwork, counseling in an office setting, or simply sitting in traffic in my car, it is a rare moment indeed that I am without a supply of bubbles. That’s right -- bubbles, the liquid soap-like kind that you blow through a wand. They’ve been standard equipment in every program I’ve run since I discovered their therapeutic qualities.

Just what qualities might those be, you ask? Well, for one thing -- they’re stress-relieving. Blowing bubbles has an amazing calming effect that can really help put things into perspective. Former smokers have pointed out that watching the bubbles is quite similar to the thought-producing effects they used to get from watching the smoke curl off of their cigarettes. And in terms of making contact with young people, sit on a street corner blowing bubbles and it’s nearly guaranteed that they’ll make contact with you! That’s why bubbles always have a place in my outreach/streetwork packs. Some of the best conversations I’ve had with youth -- both on the streets and in an office -- have been over a jar of bubbles.

But I’m not kidding when I say that they can be used therapeutically. If you’re dealing with someone who is extremely upset -- reach for the bubbles. It seems to be an almost unconscious human response to blow bubbles if they are available. Once a person starts blowing bubbles they are, by the very act, taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly. Isn’t this exactly what we are taught in crisis intervention to help someone calm down? Yet how successful are you telling someone who is upset to take deep, regular breaths? Often, our instructions simply upset them more. But hand them a jar of bubbles and they begin to follow those instructions without being instructed. What more could you ask for?

Over the years I’ve become quite a connoisseur of bubbles, so I’ll leave you with some tips to help get you started.

What kind of bubbles should you use? The short answer is that any kind will do, but there is a brand that I recommend over others. That brand is Pustefix -- made in Germany but easily available in better toy stores everywhere. They are a bit more expensive than other brands, but the bubbles are more colorful, lighter, and longer lasting then any other brand I’ve tried. These qualities are especially important if you’re going to be using them outdoors. You can visit the Pustefix web site by following the link below (it will appear in German, but they have an ‘English’ link). While you’re there, check out the Bubble-Art section!

http://www.pustefix.de/

If price is a factor, you can get other types of bubbles much more cheaply -- the cheapest being those that you make yourself out of dish soap. 1 part Joy or Dawn to 8 parts water works really well! For stronger, longer-lasting bubbles, add 1 tablespoon of glycerin, available in any drugstore. Bubble solution will improve with age, so allow the mixture to sit in an open container for a day or so before use. But be careful about trying to save a few cents, Bubbles that don’t last, or leave a wet, soapy mess in your lap, may be stress-inducing as opposed to stress relieving.

Always buy containers that have the wand attached to the cap. Having to fish for the wand with your finger is messy and unpleasant. The best size container is the 2 ounce size -- large enough for a good supply of bubble mix, small enough to be easily carried -- and easily given away without too great of a loss. I like to keep a nice supply of 2-ounce containers handy (which I sometimes put my own labels on), and a bulk container of Pustefix to refill them.

Also strongly recommended are the ‘Little Kids’ brand no-spill bubble tumblers ( http://www.littlekidsinc.com ). They come in both large and mini sizes. I keep a large one on my desk and a mini in my car. You can use the wand without opening the top, and they really don’t spill. I’ve turned mine upside-down without incident!

So, enjoy your bubbles. And remember -- they’re not just for playtime anymore.