Talking Cards
When conducing a group session or when building rapport with a new client, it is vital to start off with some small talk questions 🗣
These small talk cards are able to prompt conversation, introduce feelings/emotions and probe into what strategies the client may already have/need to work on 🙌🏻 Thanks to @therapist.aid for the resource! 😍
Behaviour Solutions
Highly recommend Behaviour Solutions and the tips/tricks they’ve taught me for the classroom, home and community context!
Coles Stikeez
These collectibles are a favourite of mine as they help create a fun space that generates conversation and now, a really cool board game that incorporates exercise/quiz questions 🤗
You could even add your own spin on this game by implementing questions about feelings, emotions or ‘small talk’ questions 🙌🏻
Now, next and later
I’ve designed these now, next and later worksheets to help children understand the importance of choices and the positive/negative consequences of such choices.
If you would like a copy, email me at lightbulbscounselling@gmail.com!
Trouble
Need an easy turn based game that tests patience, strategy and social skills? Whip out the old classic, Trouble! 🙌🏻 🔴🟡🟢🔵
Magic Sand
Creativity = Mindfulness 😀
Baking
Need to find a strategy that allows you to relax, become creative and enjoy some treats? Look no further, baking is is the perfect solution!
Feeling stressed or need a fun fidget toy? Stress balls come in a variety of designs and sizes to satisfy various needs!
Got some LEGO lying around and need a visual way to consolidate a worry monster/bad monster? Use Minifigures or scary LEGO structures to help!
Colour Breathing
When teaching clients about deep breathing, a technique that I love to use is Colour Breathing 😍
I ask my clients to breathe in their favourite colour and then breathe out a colour that they don’t like 🤗
This allows them to visualise ‘good’ colours going into their body and the ‘bad’ colours coming out of their body 🙌🏻
Feeling Wheels
Incorporating a client’s favourite characters or colours into this wheel activity can create an engaging, memorable task 🤗
All you’ll need is paper, pencils and a paperclip (or something similar) 🧷✂️ Moving the wheel around should expose various characters that represent various emotions/feelings that a client can relate to 🙌🏻 Realising these emotions then allows for the recognition of triggers and the formulation of strategies 😍
Worry or Happy Monsters
Really loving these art and craft stickers from @kmartaus 😍
These stickers are easy to peel and allow clients to make their own superhero, worry monster or strength character using the many options provided! 👩🏼🎨👨🏼🎨🧑🏻🎨 An excellent way to recreate and visualise their inner feelings! 🤗
Trapped Penguin
Loving this Trapped Penguin game by @kmartaus😍
This activity has been so helpful in assisting with turn taking, social skills and aiding in play therapy! 🙌🏻
Don’t Drop The Penguin
Making jungles and zoos using @kmartaus animals and props have been a real help in play therapy and engaging with many of my clients 😍
Supporting our Youth through Grief and Loss
To assist and help manage feelings of grief and loss, the five stages of grief can provide a young person with a process and various themes they may experience on their road to recovery: * Denial – a young person may feel helpless, experience dreams about their loss and/or formulate alternate reasons that caused the loss;
* Anger – a young person may feel alone and responsible for their loss, often causing negative emotions;
* Bargaining – a young person will begin to internally discuss the ‘what ifs’ and what they could have done differently to prevent their loss;
* Depression – a young person may experience a sense of helplessness, hopelessness and deserted often causing a state of sadness;
* Acceptance – a young person may accept a reality that involves loss and is able to commit to this reality through coping mechanisms and support.
These Big W toy animals make for imaginative story telling during a session! Very helpful for children who find it hard to draw, write or verbalise.
