I am speaking specifically about Roblox today, but you can use these same techniques with Minecraft or The Sims depending on the child’s interests. A big part of therapy with kids is sharing in the child’s interests. Yes, we want to work on making good choices, modifying behavior, and developing appropriate coping and communication skills,Continue reading “Roblox”
Tag Archives: children
Antistress
I’d like to share one of my favorite therapy apps: Antistress. I actually first heard about this app from a client who had found it helpful. The app basically has several sensory items and activities that can help with boredom, fidgeting, anxiety, and self-regulation. There is a free version and a paid version, with theContinue reading “Antistress”
Color Your Emotions
I created this activity to help kids express a feeling that they might not have words for. The worksheet below shows an outline of a body and asks kids to color in where they are experiencing a feeling using a color that reflects the feeling, but another way to do this activity is to giveContinue reading “Color Your Emotions”
Backgrounds
The intervention I want to talk about today isn’t a specific game, so I am writing in a different format than I usually do in this series. Details about the client interaction that I describe below have been changed for privacy, but the spirit of the story is in tact. Since March, I have gottenContinue reading “Backgrounds”
Sand Tray Therapy
At my first practicum site, the director told us that we were welcome to use any child-friendly intervention we deemed appropriate except for sand tray because she didn’t want to deal with the mess. Well, Dr. Karen Fried found a way to not only eliminate the mess associated with sand trays but also make thisContinue reading “Sand Tray Therapy”
Dominoes
Before I started working from home, I had a huge box of dominoes in my office. I rarely used it for its original intent, as kids much prefer to build with the tiles or make a path that they can then knock over. But when I was looking for games that could be played overContinue reading “Dominoes”
Square Breathing
This is a technique that is similar to the Bubble Breathing worksheet I posted several weeks ago. Some people have trouble visualizing the bubbles or prefer not to use the imagery of breathing out the negative emotions but would still benefit from some breathing techniques. Since square breathing involves movement to trace the square, thisContinue reading “Square Breathing”
Mancala
“Mancala” refers to a group of board games that originate in Eritria and Ethiopia, but most Americans think of one specific variation when we hear this term. In therapy, this game helps kids with strategy and executive functioning, and I was excited to learn that it was available online for use in telehealth sessions. ThisContinue reading “Mancala”
Scattegories
When I think of Scattegories, I think of my first job at a dry cleaner. On slow days, one of my co-workers would get it out of her car, and we would play to pass the time. This is a game that I actually didn’t use in my pre-COVID-19, in-person therapy practice, but it isContinue reading “Scattegories”
Pictionary
Although I am not certified as an Art Therapist, I have done continuing education in art therapy and lead a group for teenagers who want to explore how their creative side can help them cope with mental illness. There are a lot of great ways to use art in a session, and even over telehealth,Continue reading “Pictionary”