Suitcase Termination Activity

Suitcase Termination Activity: At termination, your client is finally ready to continue their journey on their own.  Even though they will be leaving you behind, they can pack up everything that they have learned during their time with you to take with them.  This metaphor is easy for most people to identify with and it is a fun activity. 

Supplies: Plastic or cardboard suitcase (see tutorial here); Blank sticker labels; Paper luggage tag (real ones are cheap, but you could also just use the template); String; Cards; Travel stickers (optional)

Goals: Process termination; Provide transitional object; Help prevent regression; Identify accomplishments, goals, coping tools, etc.

Directions:

1. Have your client make and/or decorate their suitcase. 
2. Then they write something they will “take with them” from their time in therapy on each card provided (I print cards with travel clip-art on the back).  This can be things they have learned, coping skills, supports, resources etc. 
3. You can also integrate this with the after-care kit I posted.
4. On the labels they write or draw goals they have accomplished.  (Like the old suitcases in movies that are covered with stickers of past travels).  I also provide additional travel stickers.
5. On the luggage tag they write where they are going next.  This could be a new life stage (ex. my 8th graders usually write “high school”) or a goal they would like to accomplish that the contents of the box will help them achieve on their own.
6. Process feelings about termination throughout the activity.

Treasure Chest Termination Activity

Supplies: Treasure box (Michaels has wooden “treasure” boxes that are cheap and easy to decorate.  Directions on how to make a paper one can be found here; Stick-on plastic jewels (found at crafts stores, oriental trading co., etc.); Small note cards (cut to fit the box); Pen.

Directions: First, have your client decorate a treasure chest.  Then stick a jewel to each card as your client writes down the “task” that is assigned to that specific color (see below).  On the back of the card they include a specific example of how what they identified has helped them in the past and/or how it will help them in the future.  Below are examples of possible color codes, but you should change them to meet your client’s specific age and needs.  In the end the chest will be full with a stack of jeweled cards.

• Blue: Strengths (Identified by both the client and therapist)
• Red: Coping skills
• Green: Supportive people in their life
• Orange: Resources from therapist (ex. hotline numbers, therapist referrals or directions for reenrolling in services.)
• Purple: Self-care activities
• Pink: Inspiration (future goals, motivational quotes, etc.)
• Yellow: Things they have learned in therapy

You’ve Got Mail: Group Termination Activity

Directions: First, have your clients create their own paper mailbox (click here for a tutorial).  Then, each person, including the therapist, writes a short note to every other member of the group.  You can instruct them to write something that they have gained by knowing that person, a strength they can identify, a motivating message, etc.  The notes are then placed in the mailboxes for the group members to take home.

Travel Play Therapy Ideas

Travel Play Therapy Ideas: Lots of clinicians work at multiple sites and must take their office with them.  Here are some portable ideas.

1. Travel Play Therapy Kit: This rolling case is perfect for a travel kit.  This link also has a list of important toys to include.
2. Portable Art Studio: This is easy to grab and can fit a lot of supplies.
3. Play Therapy Cart: I worked  as a school therapist and would sometimes get kicked out of my office during standard testing, etc.  One of these carts made the move much easier.
4. DVD Art Box: Easily pack up your colored pencils/markers with paper.
5. Portable Dollhouse: This is easy to make and when you are ready to put it away it turns into a box for you to store your dolls.  Here is a similar dollhouse that collapses flat.
6. Game Supplies: A good way to organize game supplies without losing small pieces.
7. Lego Box: Just glue a lego board onto your storage box.
8. Snapwear Sand Tray: You can put sand in the top and then keep your miniatures in the bottom portion.
9. Rainbow Rice Tray: Sand is ideal, but if you are going somewhere that you can’t risk sand spillage then fill a tub with colored rice for east clean up.

DIY Sensory Substances

DIY Sensory Substances (My social skills groups for young Autistic children love these activities)

1. Slime (Glue/liquid starch)
2. Glow in the Dark Slime (Borax/glue/glow paint)
3. Cloud Dough (Flour/oil)
4. Silly Putty (Clear glue/liquid starch)
5. Moon Sand (Sand/corn starch)
6. Goop (Cornstarch/water)
7. Flubber (White glue/borax)
8. GAK (Clear glue/borax)
9. Floam (Borax/Glue/styrofoam)

Click here for more DIY sensory substances

Separation Anxiety Pocket Hearts

Separation Anxiety Pocket Hearts: Young children often have trouble separating from their caregivers.  It sometimes helps for them to carry transitional objects (ex. a photo) with them to help manage their anxiety during time apart.

1. The caregiver can make these hearts for their child on their own, or the dyad can create them together (Click here for a tutorial).  The hearts can be substituted by any other handmade or personal items the family desires. 
2. Just before each separation the caregiver gives the child a heart representing their love and assures the child that they will be reunited.  The hearts are not a substitute for taking time with the child to process their anxiety (do not “sneak out” of the house).  They can tell the child that if they begin to miss them then they can take out their heart and know that their caregiver loves them, is thinking of them, will come back, etc.  Sometimes it might help for the parent to carry around a heart as well representing that their child is always in their thoughts and they are connected (kids like this).
3. If possible, take baby steps.  Initially, a child might use a heart for a brief separation when the parent is in another room, and then move on to short outings that get progressively longer as the jar gets fuller.
4. Each time they are reunited they place their heart in a jar.  Children may have trouble recalling all the times their caregivers returned and this provides a nice visual.  Looking at their jar will help to assure them that their caregivers always come back.
5. Ideally, separations will become easier and they will look to the heart for support less and less until they no longer need it.  At this point just thinking about their jar back at home should become enough to assuage any remaining anxiety.
6. These hearts are a supplemental intervention.  It is more effective when caregivers commit to building trust, following through with what they say will do, and continue to talk to their children about separation and encourage self-expression.
7. I have also known children who used a calm bottle to help self-regulate after their caregivers leave (click here)
8. More suggestions for dealing with separation anxiety and promoting independence can be found here.

Free PTSD Books

Message or E-mail me (uclasocialworker@gmail.com) if you want me to send you PDF versions of any of these books.

Trauma Mask-Making

This activity that creates a visual representation of a person's trauma and its impact can be highly therapeutic aid in self-expression and processing. Click here for a DIY suggestion. Above are masks created by Veterans suffering from PTSD.  You can read the full article here. Below are descriptions of the masks above (numbered left to right, top to bottom)

1. This mask from an army medic features the quote "I have destroyed my life and myself so that others may live'
2. This Marine depicts a 'split sense of self' in his mask
3. 'The Shock of Death' shows the traumatic memory of seeing an Iraqi killed after a gunshot wound to the head
4. 'Emotional Hostage' is the name of this mask
5. This mask shows the soldier's need to camouflage to try and acclimate back into society
6. This mask dually examines the significance of death and the surviving spirit that exist once a person is killed.
7. Fingerprints on the nose and chin represent resuscitation efforts by this commanding Marine for troops he lost.
8. The three stitches represent the healing process the soldier feels at Walter Reed
9. The soldier who created this mask wanted to show his trouble with opening up to his emotions

DIY Dollhouse Furniture

Click the links below to view directions on how to create each of the furniture pictured (numbered from left to right, top to bottom).

1. Matchbox Drawers
2. Yarn Rug
3. Wire Chair
4. IPhone Box Fridge
5. Cardboard Bed
6. Block Kitchen
7. Plastic Toilet
8. Bottle Cap Stools
9. Cardboard Sink

Emotional Regulation Activities

Emotional Regulation Activities: A follower suggested I should compile a post with all the emotional regulation activities I’ve posted so here it is.

• Calm Box
• Glittler Bottle
• Jellyfish Jar
• Calming Rain Stick
• Deep Breathing
• Separation Anxiety Hearts
• Free Guided Meditation
• Worry Bag
• Anger Management Balloon Activities
• DIY Sensory Substances

I also created an emotional regulation page here

Suggested Sand Tray Activities

• "Create your own world" or “Tell me a story in this tray"
• Client constructs representation of real-life experience, interaction or problem situation.
• Can provide reassuring distancing for client by keeping in third person.  For example, suggest a scene about "a girl who feels betrayed by her best friend"instead of the client.
• Client builds tray portraying particular issue requiring solution.  Client then selects miniature to act as a Helper or Wise One to answer questions or aid in needed actions.
• Client builds tray illustrating particular feeling and circumstances (or miniatures) that evoke that feeling.
• Client constructs a scene representing own family.
• Therapist selects clinically significant group of miniatures (to focus upon particular situation) and then asks client to create a world for the miniatures.
• Client may play out situation in tray
• Client and therapist do a Joint Tray (similar to Oaklander’s joint picture technique).
• Therapist and client create story in tray together where client selects miniature and supplies first sentence. Therapist follows suit for next sentence and miniature, etc.
• Therapist suggests that client build an Amplification Tray for certain part of constructed world that is confusing or difficult to experience.
• Miniatures involved are moved to second empty tray where they dialogue or play out situation.
• Client adopts physical stance of particular figure in constructed tray, (Therapist may mirror client’s stance.) Client focuses on feelings/thoughts the stance evokes.
• For small group: Members construct individual trays, then select figures symbolizing their own journey to form a group tray.

FREE Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Books

FREE Cognitive Behavioral Therapy books.

Just send me an e-mail at uclasocialworker@gmail.com if you want Pdf versions of any of these.

FREE books on using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with children and adolescents

Just send me an e-mail at uclasocialworker@gmail.com with the title of any books you want and I’ll send out a Pdf version.