My Therapy Buddy

[my therapy buddy]

Thank you Barb-SAN and Beeinatree for noticing My Therapy Buddy. For those who do not know what it is. It is a soft,huggable creature that says "Everything is going to be all right." It was designed to be a tangible reminder to anyone who need some comfort any time day or night. It also says "Hear my voice, Feel the words, and Believe it."
The more you hear and FEEL the words , the more you believe it. It first came to public prominence when it was aired on ABC's American Inventor last season. TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly as well as Salon.com all agreed it was the best thing on American Inventor,even though the judges did not agree. MTB is currently on Access Hollywood as a potential Emmy interviewer. The inventor, Richard Kopelle,made it to help his fear of flying. Whenever he was in a plane his mind would create these horrendous scenarios of crashes. He discovered that if he could hold on to a tangible reminder that spoke the words, "Everything is going to be all right," these bad thoughts would disappear. That is the true story of how it came to be.
Since then,hundreds of people have e-mailed me with other uses. Everything from a smile to help alleviate any difficult times people may be going through. Please let me know your thoughts

[Barb-SAN]

Richard, Can you tell us more about your history with fear of flying, how it developed, how you thought of the product (MTB), and how long it took you to overcome your FF?

[Passenger Mark]

Welcome Aboard Taking Flight!

:welcome2:

Sounds like you have put a lot of time and work into your invention! That is to be admired. :thumbsup:

Sharing your personal struggle and accomplishments with The Fear of Flying is most welcomed! It helps folks to read about successes.

Asking folks here at Taking Flight their opinion of MTB is fine, however as a rule we do not allow advertisements, marketing, or solicitations.

Other than Captain Ray's book we do not endorse products here.

Just a gentle reminder, and appreciate your cooperation.

Again... Welcome!


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[Barb-SAN]

Here's a link to a news story on this invention. http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=4851229&nav=9qrx

[beeinatree]

hi, i just got a message from someone here that someone named My Therapy Buddy joined the group. i would be interested in knowing more about Richard Koppelle's FOF as i dont remember it being mentioned on his website.

i am not my therapy buddy... just for the record. im sure that a moderator could confirm the ip addresses.

i just got into san diego about a week ago and have been occupied with getting settled. i dont even have internet access. im at a computer lab. i dont know what to say.

anyway, i thought the doll was a cool and funny concept, which is why i shared it. it made me giggle.

hope everyone is doing well.

take care,
jenny
:sunshine:

[StPeteMark]

...The inventor, Richard Kopelle,made it to help his fear of flying. ... The TV story gave another reason, " Kopelle came up with the idea for “Buddy” years back, when a close friend was on his death-bed. That's when Kopelle kept telling his friend, "everything is going to be alright." He says in times of stress and sadness, few things can compete with a comforting voice and a soft touch."

Sorry, but it seems we're getting a made-to-order sales pitch here???
.

[my therapy buddy]

In reply to StPeteMark, As hard as it might be for you to compehend, my primary goal is to make a difference in the way people handle their stress and cope with all the difficult moments life confronts us with. Both stories of how My Therapy Buddy came to be are true as can be. News articles do not necessarily print all the aspects or all the facts. I am sorry if you do not understand.

[Barb-SAN]

Richard, This is your chance to tell your story, and you have a group of people here who understand fear of flying.

[my therapy buddy]

My personal story of how FOF has effected me is pretty simple. When I was younger I had little or no fear. I would fly on short or long trips with ease. Then, at around 20 or so, this uncontrollable fear would take over whenever I flew. My mind would start creating these dreadful scenarios that would quickly progress to panic attacts. After a while I learned that as soon as these frightful stories would begin in my mind, I had to forcefully eradicate them from my head. The tool that worked for me was to say to myself, "Everything is going to be all right." I had to say those exact words as many times as it took to get rid of the bad thoughts. The bad thoughts were strong and sometimes kept sneaking back in. So it was almost like combat in my mind. But those special words eventually worked.I did not invent the words but those were the only words that worked for me. You almost have to feel the words with your soul not with your intellect. The words need to be absorbed into your skull. But I found if you really open your SELF to the words you will believe them. The tangible, huggable reminder of those words, MTB, evolved from that idea.

[Barb-SAN]

Richard, That's really interesting that it was that exact phrase that did the trick for you. Do you remember if it was something someone (your mother?) said to you when you were very young and frightened of something? It sounds like something a parent would say to soothe a young child...there's no specific outcome promised, just that it would be "all right". I can think of a lot of situations today (in the news, for example), that it would be calming if we could just believe that "everything is going to be all right". Can you imagine if that was how the evening news concluded? After all the horror stories and images that are shown, the newscaster would conclude with "Everything is going to be all right"! Which is of course what we desperately need to hear and believe!:thumbsup:

[Passenger Mark]

In reply to StPeteMark, As hard as it might be for you to compehend, my primary goal is to make a difference in the way people handle their stress and cope with all the difficult moments life confronts us with. Both stories of how My Therapy Buddy came to be are true as can be. News articles do not necessarily print all the aspects or all the facts. I am sorry if you do not understand.

Sir,
You have become a member of Taking Flight. As the Administrator, I would appreciate it if you would respect other members opinions.

In your opening post, you advised "Please let me know your thoughts" Which St. Pete Mark did. Making statements such as "As hard as it might be for you to comprehend" are not acceptable here.

If people feel they need to communicate in that manner, I would ask they either not do it here, or leave the group.

I do not want to get into a debate, just advising of a very clear, and very defined line.

As for some friendly advice... Let me say that all inventors have had to withstand criticism. I would suggest that you not take it personally. It is not intended that way.

If you feel strongly about your invention... that is all that matters.

[Passenger Mark]

Ok... better stuff now...

I really like the way you coached your mind out from thinking bad thoughts, and seeing the vivid images.

Your key was those few works, and in looking at it... those words make sense.

[Barb-SAN]

Thank you Barb-SAN and Beeinatree for noticing My Therapy Buddy.... . Please let me know your thoughts

Richard...I'm not sure which thoughts you are looking for...product analysis or marketing ideas. I've got a couple of them....it seems like you've already seen the value of media for promotion. I'd say it takes a lot of courage to go on "American Inventor"...after watching the video on YouTube and the attitude of the judges. Of course the ultimate would be product placement in a movie. I was thinking of the millions of ET dolls that sold after that movie...which proves that you can sell some really bizarre looking dolls with the right marketing! How one goes about getting that placement is beyond my knowledge, but at least living in the L.A. area you have convenient access to the studios.

As far as product...don't know if you are still in the developmental stages, or considering other products or not. The disadvantages of this particular doll for flyers (since flying is the focus on this forum) is it's large size, given the limitations of carry-on luggage. Also, it does seem like it would take a fair amount of self-confidence and disregard for what anyone else might think to board the plane with MTB wrapped around your neck, announcing that everything was going to be all right. A child could get away with that, but it might be harder for the average adult. On the other hand, neck pillows are a totally common and acceptable accessory for the modern flyer, sold in many of the airport shops. Why not retrofit one with whatever gismo you have in MTB that makes it talk? If there were a way to plug in a headset so no one else could hear it talking, no one would ever know the difference, that you needed some extra encouragement to fly comfortably. I think many fearful flyers are embarrassed by their fear, and don't want to draw extra attention to themselves.

Is there a way to add additional soothing statements? We have some here on TF that people use frequently, like "jello", "turbulence is a comfort issue, not a safety issue", and I'm sure there are more that others can think of.

Anyway...those are my "thoughts" for tonight. Good luck with your inventions....that's one of the things that makes America strong (and interesting)...and California is a good place to test market....:cool: :D

[aerobat]

I, too, felt that MTB's first post was colored with a tinge of marketing. However, my sense of it was that it was also an innocent self-introduction and not necessarily a "come get 'em, special price for you". And, it's a somewhat awkward situation when an inventor with both a product and a story is invited to come post here. I hope that MTB's alter-ego will stay around and share more of his story vis-a-vis the fear of flying.

When I first heard about this huggable pal from Barb-SAN a few weeks ago, I had an image (while chuckling :lol: ) of the airlines getting some of these to loan to nervous fliers...and that segued into an image of every third or fourth passenger on the flight holding one ;) (this isn't a sales pitch, just one of Barb's off the wall notions).

Now, what would they say...(they should be programmable, methinks)...

"turbulence is inconvenient, but it's not dangerous" :cool:
"no matter what happens, we can handle it" :happyguy:
"look outside; it's so beautiful" :love:
"takeoff is so cool and so...sen..su..al..." :banana: :banana:
"you don't have to help the pilots fly the plane; they know how" :ray: :ray: :thumbsup:
"don't stare at the frowning flight attendant and think disaster; she burned the toast this morning; that's all" :fuming:
"take a deep breath and leggo the armrests" :hug:
"you could be at home watching Jackie Gleason reruns" :sigh:

So, Richard and MTB, I extend you a welcome also! :welcome2: :hamster:

I am very interested in what you have said about your magic words, and wonder, like my Barb doppelganger, whether these might have been soothing words said to you in childhood by your mother. When I was working through my own fear of flying, I had a few magic phrases, too, and they had just the sort of effect on me that you describe, as though I heard them with my soul. But I sortof doubt that these were things my mother said to me (but who knows; she wasn't mainstream): :shakehead :rotflmao:

"(the chance of a crash is so small) it's not worth worrying about" :thumbsup:
"trust the process" (this became my mantra) :nod:
"courage is its own reward" (and when that really sank in, hoo boy!! :tongue: )

[spiffyone]

I teach in this med school class that is very oriented toward getting students in touch with their feelings and their patients' feelings. It is a little wooby-wooby but definitely a good course to have in the curriculum. At the end, students are given these little red plush stuffed hearts made by residents of a local nursing home (really a very sweet idea). They are called "Feelie Hearts," and the inscription that comes with them says something like, "Keep this in the pocket of your white coat and when times are tough, you can touch it and know that you are loved." Something like that.

While I don't mean to make fun of the concept at all, I had this sudden image of the wards two years from now full of students and residents who are looking forlorn and rubbing their Feelie Hearts...kind of like if they all brought their blankies to work...

:tongue: When Barb wrote about adults carrying their stuffed animals on the plane, it kind of reminded me of that...

[Barb-SAN]

I woke up this morning thinking about a talking neck rest to take on the plane, and that morphed into talking photo frames, that I recalled seeing for sale somewhere...that you can personalize by recording your own message. So....a Google search of "talking photo frames" turned up many entries, including one from Radio Shack that had instructions for using the actual "gizmos" to help a child with learning disabilities. Here's a representative link (no endorsement implied of the company...just an illustration of how the technology is already in use)http://www.talkingpresents.com/searchresults.asp?cat=8. Note that the plush teddy bear has the device that lets you record your own special message. So, the ability is already there to customize your "security item" with your personal significant phrase. The photo frames could combine both the visual (seeing a photo of a loved one that would be comforting), and the sound of their voice saying a phrase that was particularly soothing.

Maybe that's an idea for Capt.Ray...he could sell talking photos of himself in his pilot's uniform and cap, saying some reassuring aviation phrases :D. If he got on this project in time, he could even have them available in Nashville...the signed, collector's edition....;)

Spiffy...I like that idea about the hearts...and imagine the patients could use them as well as the doctors...there are surely many lonely hours spent in those hospital beds. Maybe the talking device could be implanted in the hearts? It looks pretty small...then their loved ones could record a special message for them, that they could play as needed.

[Passenger Mark]

Maybe that's an idea for Capt.Ray...he could sell talking photos of himself in his pilot's uniform and cap, saying some reassuring aviation phrases :D.

Why does no-one ever want a talking photo of ME???? :( :( :( :D

I could have one made of me in speedos! Now that would take your mind off of the Fear of Flying! :shocked:

[noflyingfan]

Why does no-one ever want a talking photo of ME???? :( :( :( :D

I could have one made of me in speedos! Now that would take your mind off of the Fear of Flying! :shocked:

Maybe we could integrate this idea with the advertisements on the sides of barf bags. :lol:

[Passenger Mark]

Maybe we could integrate this idea with the advertisements on the sides of barf bags. :lol:

OUCH!!! Now that just plain hurts! :D

[noflyingfan]

Sorry, but you were asking for it.

Bear in mind that I've never seen you in person. Who knows, you could be as handsome and manly as this guy (http://www.gunthernet.com/gallery/13.jpg).

[Barb-SAN]

Bear in mind that I've never seen you in person. Who knows, you could be as handsome and manly as this guy (http://www.gunthernet.com/gallery/13.jpg).

Erika...I love how you always manage to weave Gunther into the conversation from time to time....:tongue:

[noflyingfan]

I can't help it. It's like an obsession.

Actually, I was going to look for some buff-looking model type photo, but I figured Gunther would be appreciated more.

[Barb-SAN]

Why does no-one ever want a talking photo of ME???? :( :( :( :D

I could have one made of me in speedos! Now that would take your mind off of the Fear of Flying! :shocked:

Well, Mark, Usually the way it works in this "invention" business is that the inventor makes some prototypes, and tries to sell them, and does market research to see who would buy them, how the product could be improved, what's the optimal price, etc. So the only way to find out if someone would buy a talking photo of you, in Speedos, would be to make up some prototypes, and test the market, say, at FlightFest....since you have your target market of FF's conveniently available to critique the product...:angel: . We could let you know how helpful the photo was in taking our minds off of any flight anxieties on our return flights....:lol: . Most of the talking gizmos only give you 10-20 sec. to record...so think carefully of words with the most impact for fearful flyers....:thumbsup:

[Barb-SAN]

I can't help it. It's like an obsession.

Actually, I was going to look for some buff-looking model type photo, but I figured Gunther would be appreciated more.

Erika, perhaps you need a talking Gunther photo to soothe you on your next flight. I'm sure you could find 10 sec. worth recording to the frame from that vast collection of songs you own....:D

[my therapy buddy]

Anyone who may be interested may want to investigate studies done in the fifties by psychologist Donald Winnicott. He came up with a theory called transitional objects. It focused on small childrens means of coping with loss and separation from the maternal object and instinctually creating an artificial attachment (i.e. blanket or doll) to help them "transition" into a more independent existence and help them tolerate the stress. This was one of the theories I used when I ceated MTB. Why can't this natural instinct be used for people of all ages going through difficult times.

[noflyingfan]

Erika, perhaps you need a talking Gunther photo to soothe you on your next flight. I'm sure you could find 10 sec. worth recording to the frame from that vast collection of songs you own....:D

Hmm...what Gunther phrase would make me feel most comforted?

Probably something from his unforgettable love ballad "One Night Stand" would make me feel best when flying.

"In the night, I'm feeling high high high, in the morning, I'm wondering why why why, you don't need to be shy shy shy, just give me a kiss and bye bye bye."

I feel this song isn't about a one-night stand at all but a pilot enjoying redeye flight and trying to tell a nervous passenger that everything will be okay. When the passenger boards, the pilot feels happy to help (or, high high high, which is, of course, also an allusion to taking to the air) but in the morning wonders why people are afraid of flying at all...but then tells passengers everywhere not to worry, just to find their seats and enjoy the flight.

MTB, I am 27 and still carry around a stuffed pig I've had since I was two months old. I mean, not to work and stuff, but he sits on my lap for all my flights, and he has definitely been a source of comfort to me in many bad times. I completely understand that notion, and I think it's great to have something like that as an adult. I'd rather lean on a stuffed pig in hard times than turn to something like drugs or booze, which many adults do.

[Passenger Mark]

Why can't this natural instinct be used for people of all ages going through difficult times.

Oh... but I think it can! It just comes in differant forms for differant folks.

For you, and others it is your MTB. For others it may be something less tangible... like music or movies.

Often here you will see where people write about their goodie bag, which is full of all sorts of stuff to bring comfort.

For me... It is my camera, and grabbing shots of amazing scenery as my plane glides above the earth.

The Fear of Flying manifests itself differently in folks. Each individual's personality is as unique as their fingerprint. Therefore it would only make sense that their "magic" solution for dealing with the FoF would be just as unique. Some things the same, some things differant.

There is no one solution that fits all.

I used to be okay with flying, but now that there is the threat of Mark in a speedo on the other end of my next Nashville trip, I'm having second thoughts.

Sean... Not to worry. The Fest is in October... too cold!

[Barb-SAN]

Yep...my camera goes with me everywhere too. I think for women THE PURSE is a big security item...full of "tools" to take care of "what-if" scenarios...plus identification and money/credit cards. Guys get the essentials down to wallet-size plus key ring....but still it's a "don't leave home without it" item. I suspect the ipod has become a new "security blanket" as well.

My comments about the inconvenient size of MTB for flyers shouldn't be construed as dismissing the whole idea. It just seems like the large version might be more appropriate as an "in home" comforter. If there could be a portable, smaller version (e.g. the neck pillow...maybe with that TB face on it to make it unique), and the same recording, OR the ability to record your own soothing phrase, that might have a broader market appeal.:thumbsup:

[Jeff California]

Beer.

[EyesSkyward]

Not to poke fun or anything, but... in some other forums (http://bikeforums.net/) I frequent, "MTB" is the usual abbreviation for "mountain bike".

So, as I'm reading these posts, I'm picturing someone dragging a big, muddy, knobby-tired bicycle onto a plane and snuggling up with it. :eek:

- Jeff

[WillFlyToDisney]

Yep...my camera goes with me everywhere too. I think for women THE PURSE is a big security item...full of "tools" to take care of "what-if" scenarios...plus identification and money/credit cards. Guys get the essentials down to wallet-size plus key ring....but still it's a "don't leave home without it" item. I suspect the ipod has become a new "security blanket" as well.


Yep - my purse is full of stuff I "might need" like meds, Kleenex, eye drops, hair brush, etc... I mean you never know when I might need to know my frequent flyer number or use a gift card to Toys R Us so I may as well carry it all with me all the time, right?

On a plane my Ipod and Camera are lifelines for distraction. I love to take cloud pictures (snapped some cool ones on the way to NYC a few days ago) and I can crank up my "flying mix" on my Ipod when turbulence hits.:hyped:

I carried a blankie as a baby and actually on my bed at home is a small quilt that my Mom made for me when I was 12. It's not really a security blanket but more something I treasure because of it being a gift from my Mom. It also is the perfect size and weight for the temps in SC - I would burn up under a comforter. I never thought about taking it on a plane with me.... :angel:

I guess the bottom line is this - if something gives you comfort and security then use it to help you cope with your fears and anxieties. :tiphat:

I may have to bring my quilt to FF-BNA to wrap around Mark if there is warm enough weather for the Speedo modeling! :mg:

[Barb-SAN]

Yep, Sean, I was just running through the scenario in my mind of asking to meet the pilots with MTB hanging around my neck. My greatest fear would be that they would want to take MTB away from me, in case they needed it to soothe themselves in turbulence or in case of an inflight emergency.:rolleyes:

[WillFlyToDisney]

Did anyone ever see the episode of the Golden Girls where Dorothy's ex-husband Stan used a stuffed monkey made out of a traffic cone as his transitional object to get over Dorothy?

I could never carry an object like that around and can imagine it would create MORE anxiety out in public because of the whispers, stares and laughter you would get from strangers. I think that fear of embarrassment is a huge factor with some people's fear of flying because they are scared of "freaking out" on the plane which honestly to me means they are scared of doing something embarrasing on the plane...

Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but this one wouldn't work for me personally.

Kelley

[Barb-SAN]

I was just wishing that Richard would add to this discussion, and tell us more about his actual experience using MTB to overcome his Fear of Flying.

Richard, you wrote and said you developed FF in your early 20's...that article said you are 60 now. So that's 40 years...did you have FF all that time? Were you "grounded", like many of us here were, for a period of your life? I'm assuming that since you said MTB did help you, you did carry it on the plane, What was that experience like? Were people interested? Did they laugh? Were they sympathetic? Did anyone want to hold it? Did you experience any embarrassment? Several people here have indicated they might feel embarrassed to carry MTB on the plane with them.

There are so many different ways that people work to overcome their fears, and I find it interesting and helpful to try to understand what it is that works for people, and why....if it was effective quickly, or took a long time to work, etc. My interest probably stems from my science background...or maybe my years of reading National Enquirer and Weekly World News (inquiring minds need to know).
;)

Here are a few more questions....How far does MTB's voice carry? How many other people around you in the plane would be able to hear its voice? Did you have any problems taking it through security? What do you tell people when they ask you about it? Do you explain that it is a transitional object and that you are a fearful flyer and that it comforts you? Do you have any training/education as a therapist? That's enough questions for now....!!