Art Therapy With Children After a Disaster a Content Analysis

Positive Kid Therapy Changes Lives. Prototype past Pixaby.

Child therapy is not always easy for parents to discuss.

With the stigma of mental health, nobody wants their child to "demand therapy," which is unfortunate considering therapy can change lives.

Whether kids take traumatic issues or are struggling with the brave and simple deed of being man, qualified professionals tin aid kids deal with really hard subjects.

It makes sense that parents and guardians need professional person insight, especially for tender subjects or developmentally appropriate bug of growing upwards. Many people consider child therapy for huge topics like abuse, fail, and trauma, but it can take an equally weighted focus on positive growth and strengths.

Therapy sessions can focus on working towards an optimistic future, developing positive coping methods, as well as boosting cocky-esteem, cocky-conviction, and other positive states and traits in children.

Whether the kid is participating in play therapy, behavioral therapy, or expressive therapy, it can provide them with opportunities to survive later trauma and somewhen, thrive.

Before you continue, we thought yous might like to download our 3 Positive CBT Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will provide y'all with detailed insight into Positive CBT and give yous the tools to utilize it in your therapy or coaching.

What is Child Therapy?

Child therapy (also called child counseling) is similar to therapy and counseling for adults: it offers a safe infinite and an empathetic ear while providing tools to bring most change in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Just like developed clients, child clients receive emotional and goal support in their sessions. They tin focus on resolving conflict, understanding their own thoughts and feelings, and on thinking of new solutions to their daily problems.

The just big divergence betwixt developed therapy and child therapy is the emphasis on making certain children understand what is happening, and how they are not alone.

Kid therapy tin be skillful with i child, a child, and a parent or parents, or fifty-fifty with more than one family. It is oft administered by a advisor or therapist who specializes in working with children, and who can offer the parents and/or guardians insights that may not be immediately apparent.

The therapist and client(southward) can cover a broad diversity of issues that include:

• Divorce or separation;
• Death of a loved one;
• Trauma;
• Bullying;
• Sexual abuse;
• Emotional abuse;
• Physical abuse;
• Family unit or kid relocation;
• Substance abuse or addiction in the family;
• Mental affliction, like depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (TherapyTribe, 2018).

Expert therapy volition be nowadays and forward-oriented (meaning there will exist footling looking dorsum or digging up the past) and volition likely utilize non-verbal modalities like play, games, art, etc.

In addition, the therapy sessions may focus on five important goals on top of whatsoever situation-specific goals:

1. Building the kid'southward self-esteem.
2. Helping to improve the child's communication skills.
3. Stimulating salubrious, normal development.
4. Building an advisable emotional repertoire.
5. Improving the child's emotional vocabulary (Walker, 2014).

To summarize, child therapy is quite similar to therapy for adults in terms of the purpose, goals, and problems it can address, only it differs with the focus of explaining these topics to immature children.

Techniques and exercises offering ways that are appropriate, for the kid'southward age, to sympathise themselves in the world.

See our commodity on CBT for Children for more information.

When is Child Therapy Constructive?

If a parent or guardian is not sure whether the kid needs counseling or not, the list of symptoms below tin be a expert indicator. If the child is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, coupled with the parent's business organization, it's a skillful idea to take him or her in for an evaluation.

The following are symptoms that may point a problem that therapy can correct or assistance with:

• Unwarranted aggression;
• Incontinence;
• Difficulty adjusting to social situations;
• Frequent nightmare and sleep difficulties;
• A sudden drop in grades at school;
• Persistent worry and feet;
• Withdrawing from activities they usually enjoy;
• Loss of appetite or dramatic weight loss/gain;
• Performing obsessive routines like mitt washing;
• Expressing thoughts of suicide;
• Talking well-nigh voices they hear in their caput;
• Social isolation and wanting to be lonely;
• Alcohol or drug use;
• Increased physical complaints despite a normal, healthy physician'southward study;
• Self-harm such as cutting (TherapyTribe, 2018).

In addition to these issues, the child may be dealing with:

• Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness;
• Constant anger and a tendency to overreact to situations;
• Preoccupation with physical affliction or their own appearance;
• An inability to concentrate, think conspicuously or brand decisions;
• An disability to sit still;
• Diets or binging behavior;
• Fierce acts such every bit setting fires or killing animals (Thompson Jr., 2010).

If parents decide to bring their kid to therapy, they need to stay engaged throughout the therapy process.

The American University of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry suggests asking the therapist or counselor the following questions:

• Why is psychotherapy being recommended?
• What results can I await?
• How long volition my child be involved in therapy?
• How frequently will the therapist see my child?
• Will the therapist be meeting with just my child or with the entire family?
• How much do psychotherapy sessions toll?
• How volition we (the parents) be informed about our child's progress and how tin we aid?
• How soon can we expect to run into some changes?

Similarly, there are some suggestions on how to talk to a child nearly going to counseling. Information technology tin feel uncomfortable to both the parent(southward) and the child to talk virtually mental health treatment, merely following these tips tin assist make it approachable:

• Find a expert time to talk and assure them that they are not in trouble. Mind actively.
• Take your child'south concerns, experiences, and emotions seriously.
• Attempt to be open, authentic, and relaxed.
• Talk about how common the issues they are experiencing may be.
• Explain that the part of a therapist is to provide help and support.
• Explain that a confidentiality agreement tin can exist negotiated so children—specially adolescents—take a safety space to share details privately while acknowledging that you will be alerted if in that location are whatsoever threats to their safety (Wells, Sueskind, & Alcamo, 2017).

At that place are many effective forms of child therapy with testify to back them up, including Applied Beliefs Assay, Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, Family Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Organization Training (Lodge of Clinical Kid & Boyish Psychology, 2017).

Younger children may besides benefit from Play Therapy, and older adolescents may benefit from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Grouping Therapy, or Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2017).

These therapies may be administered on their own, in combination with other therapies, or as a hodge-podge of techniques and exercises from several different types of therapies. In addition, information technology may or may not exist accompanied by medication, depending on the state of affairs.

One of these therapies may piece of work for a child far better than the others, and the blazon chosen will depend on the issue(south) the child and family unit are dealing with. Similar with any course of therapy, it is most constructive when everyone involved is on lath, supportive, and contributing to its success.

How an Emotional Kid Can Benefit from Therapy

Play Therapy Changes Lives. Epitome past Wikimedia Commons.

An overly emotional child (or one that struggles with inappropriate emotional expression or emotional dysregulation) may be suffering from one or more of a variety of issues, including ADHD, mental illness, anxiety, or even an autism spectrum disorder.

Whatsoever the issue they are facing, kid therapy can aid them deal with it.

Cognitive therapy is a good choice for emotional children, as it involves reducing anxiety and learning new ideas and new ways to channel the kid's feelings and free energy. It will also help him or her to identify their inner thoughts, and endeavor to supersede the negative ones with more positive, helpful ones.

Applied behavior analysis tin can assist the kid learn how to reply to situations in ameliorate, more constructive ways, and will teach them about rewards and punishments for their behavior. Play therapy is a adept option for younger children with emotional issues since they can deed them out through toys or dolls (KidsMentalHealth, 2009).

The blazon of therapy and techniques that will work all-time for the kid may too depend on which stage of development they are in; Erik Erikson's groundbreaking theory on the eight stages of psychosocial development is a commonly recognized and accepted theory and can aid differentiate between normal, age-appropriate issues and more troublesome symptoms.

The first five stages of development are:

1. Infancy : Trust vs Mistrust. In this stage, infants require a peachy bargain of attention and comfort from their parents, leading them to develop their start sense of trust (or, in some cases, mistrust).
2. Early Childhood: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubtfulness. Toddlers and very young children are beginning to assert their independence and develop their unique personality, making tantrums and defiance common.
3. Preschool Years: Initiative vs. Guilt. Children at this stage begin learning virtually social roles and norms, their imagination takes off at this point, and the defiance and tantrums of the previous stage volition likely continue. The style trusted adults interact with the kid will encourage him or her to act independently or to develop a sense of guilt almost any inappropriate actions.
4. School Age : Industry (Competence) vs. Inferiority. At this phase, the child is building important relationships with peers and is likely beginning to feel the pressure of academic functioning; mental wellness issues may begin at this stage, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other problems.
5. Boyhood: Identity vs. Role Confusion. The adolescent is reaching new heights of independence and is beginning to experiment and develop their identity. Problems with communication and sudden emotional and concrete changes are common at this stage (Wells, Sueskind, & Alcamo, 2017).

The last three stages are non relevant for the purposes of discussing child therapy, simply they are listed here if you're curious:

1. Immature Machismo: Dearest – Intimacy vs. Isolation
2. Middle Adulthood: Care – Generativity vs. Stagnation
3. Late Adulthood: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Based on these life stages, we know that it is mutual for children in early on childhood to throw tantrums when they don't get their way; tantrums alone aren't reason enough to seek a therapist. Even so, if someone of school historic period is still throwing tantrums, information technology may be time to explore therapy and counseling options.

Child Therapy Techniques: Behavioral Therapy and More

The exact techniques that child therapy may apply will depend on the type of therapy that is administered. A few of the nigh mutual and evidence-backed techniques, equally well equally the blazon of therapy they can commonly be found in, are described below.

The Feeling Word Game

There are many play therapy techniques that have proven to be effective, fun, and engaging for children. The Feeling Give-and-take Game is ane such technique.

It begins with the therapist asking the child to list the feelings that children of their age experience. The therapist will write each word downwardly on a bill of fare or piece of paper, or draw a face up representative of the emotion if the child is also young to read. Once the child runs out of feeling words to suggest, the therapist will line up the feeling cards in forepart of the kid.

Side by side, the therapist will bring out a container of small tokens, like poker chips, and explain that these are "feelings." He or she will tell a personal story (real or fictional) that demonstrates both positive and negative emotions that a person may experience. The therapist will then put the tokens on the feeling cards that correspond to the emotions mentioned in the story.

In the next pace, the therapist will tell the child a similar story virtually a child their own age. The story volition exist non-threatening but will include the potential for several positive and negative emotions. The therapist will manus the container to the child and instruct him or her to put the tokens down on the feeling cards that represent how they would feel if they were the child in the story.

Finally, the therapist volition encourage the child to tell a story of their ain, preferably nearly their own life. For each story the child tells, he or she will continue identifying the feelings that each occasion brought upwards.

The therapist will proceed the stories going until the kid has brought up the major issues that he or she is dealing with. This is a great way to encourage a child to open up upwardly in therapy and get the ball rolling, as well every bit identifying the presenting problem(due south).

You can read more most this technique in Hall, Kaduson, and Schaefer'south 2002 newspaper "Xv Effective Play Therapy Techniques."

The Mad Game

The Mad Game, developed by Patricia Davidson and described past Hall, Kaduson, and Schaefer (2002), can exist used to show children that it's okay to feel anger and to encourage them to limited it in a healthy way. Information technology can also exist adjusted to work for other emotions as well, like sadness or anxiety.

Beginning, the therapist volition take a set of blocks ( cardboard, wooden, or plastic) and divide them evenly between themselves and the kid. Next, the therapist will explicate the rules: each person will place a block on tiptop of the other person's block during their turn. They will alternate turns, and at each plow, they volition share something that is unfair or something that makes them angry.

The therapist can begin with light-headed or lighthearted things, like "Information technology makes me mad when I desire to play outside just it'southward raining" or "It'due south not fair that I can't eat processed for every meal!" Somewhen, they will progress on to things that are more specific to the child's issues.

Once all the blocks are stacked, the therapist will instruct the child to think of ane thing that makes them the angriest, make a face that reflects how they feel (a "mad face"), and knockdown all the blocks.

This technique allows the child to discuss their anger, an do that may be unfamiliar if the kid is not used to feeling like it is acceptable to express such emotions. It will besides give the child an opportunity to act out that anger in a safe and healthy way.

The Slow-Motion Game

This technique tin be applied to help the kid learn about self-control.

It begins with the therapist explaining what cocky-command is and describing how it is sometimes hard to maintain our self-control if nosotros are moving very fast.

They enquire the child to illustrate what this fast-moving looks like. This is an first-class opportunity for the child to get moving and burn off some backlog energy!

Next, they introduce a pile of cards that take an action for the kid to human activity out, like playing soccer, climbing a stone wall, or writing a letter of the alphabet.

The child will selection 1 card at a time and deed out whatever is on information technology, but with a twist—they must practise it in slow move! They will engage in this slow-movement action for one full infinitesimal, and a stopwatch can exist used to time it. If there are multiple children, they can take turns interim out and timing each other.

This game is a fun manner for children to learn near the concept of self-control and an opportunity for them to build it through play (Hall, Kaduson, & Schaefer, 2002).

Bubble Breaths

In this game therapy technique, the therapist will use bubbles to explain an important concept to the child.

The therapist begins by blowing bubbles with the kid. While they are having fun, they will explain to the child that they tin can make the bubbles bigger by taking deep breaths and bravado slowly into the hoop.

These are "Bubble Breaths," and they have the power to chase away worries and anxiety too.

The child tin can then practise Bubble Breaths and make the bubbling as big every bit possible past taking deep, slow breaths.

This technique is a neat way to innovate mindful breathing besides as a proficient machinery for dealing with intense emotions like anger or anxiety (Kilpatrick, n.d.).

Second Story Technique

This narrative therapy technique can help the kid to open up up and share details of their trauma with the therapist (also equally parents and/or other trusted adults, if needed).

During the therapy session, the therapist will gently encourage the child to walk through the traumatic event, providing details about what happened to them. When the issue has been fully detailed and is well understood by the therapist, they will encourage the child to tell the "2d story."

The 2nd story is the same story about the traumatic event but focuses on the child's reaction to the event instead of the details of what happened. It might be difficult for the child to describe the furnishings of the trauma, but focusing on themselves and their role in the story can requite the child a sense of bureau and independence that they may not have had before.

The therapist will encourage them to think about the event and their response in terms of their strengths—how dauntless they were to talk almost information technology, how tough they are to exist able to survive the result, and the ways in which they have grown since the event.

This technique is a great fashion to get the kid to focus on his strengths rather than dwell on the details of the trauma he has suffered (Kilpatrick, n.d.).

Positive Postings

This talk therapy technique from Jacqueline Melissa Swank will help the therapist assess and improve the child's sense of cocky-esteem and encourage positive self-talk.

This activity requires structure paper, crayons or markers, and sticky notes.

The therapist begins by discussing self-esteem with the child, then asking the kid to draw an outline of their body on the structure paper. Next, the therapist instructs the child to use the crayons or markers and viscid notes to write down several of their positive qualities or traits (like "I am kind to my classmates" or "I'chiliad adept at playing tag").

Once the child has several positive quality mail service-its ready, the therapist has them stick the notes on their outline. This will help the child solidify the connexion between themselves and these positive traits.

When they are done, the therapist tin take the positive self-talk one footstep further by asking the child to think well-nigh a fourth dimension when they felt very angry, frustrated, or disappointed with themselves, and encouraging them to call up about how their "positive postings" could help them when they feel that style.

This technique can also be adapted for utilize in grouping and family therapy sessions. You can read more about this technique in Liana Lowenstein'due south (2011) e-volume Favorite Therapeutic Activities for Children, Adolescents, and Families: Practitioners Share Their Near Effective Interventions, which y'all can detect here.

13 Kid Therapy Worksheets

In add-on to the techniques described above, there are tons of worksheets, handouts, and other resources that can be used in child therapy or as a complement to child therapy. A few of the well-nigh popular and almost helpful resource are listed and described below.

Small Talk Family unit Discussion Cards Handout

This resource is a PDF with iii printable sheets containing "give-and-take cards" that can exist used to spark conversation among family members.

The outset page includes discussion cards labeled "Family," which focus on getting to know the family every bit a whole and individual family members better. They all include ane question for the family unit to discuss together, and a "Dig Deeper" option if the child wants to continue discussing that topic.

Information technology includes discussion questions similar:

• Question: Who is in your family?
  o Dig Deeper: What makes someone family?
• Question: How tin you lot tell when someone in your family is mad?
  o Dig Deeper: Look in the mirror and make a mad face. What does your face do?
• Question: Practice yous accept close friends who feel similar family? Who are they?
  o Dig Deeper: Write a alphabetic character to a friend or a family unit member who lives far away.

The second folio includes discussion cards labeled "Feelings." These cards focus on emotions, both positive and negative. They besides include one broader question and one "Dig Deeper" question on each card.

These cards include:

• Question: What are 3 things that brand you happy?
  o Dig Deeper: Share a story almost a fourth dimension you were very happy.
• Question: What does your body feel similar when you are worried?
  o Dig Deeper: Share something that is worrying you correct at present.
• Question: How does your trunk feel different when you are worn-out or tired?
  o Dig Deeper: What is your bedtime routine?

Finally, the third page includes give-and-take cards labeled "My Earth," which include broader topics that help the family unit get to know each other meliorate. Information technology includes "What if…?" type questions, "favorite" questions, and observation questions. Like the other 2 categories, each carte du jour offers one full general discussion question and ane "Dig Deeper" question.

Some of these cards include:

• Question: What is your favorite fourth dimension of year? Why?
  o Dig Deeper: How does the world change during your favorite season?
• Question: What kind of wildlife have you lot seen near your home?
  o Dig Deeper: What animals have you touched? What did they feel like?
• Question: If a magical genie granted you one wish, what would you wish for?
  o Dig Deeper: What exercise you think your best friend would wish for?

These give-and-take questions tin can help a family unit amend their advice and get to know ane some other improve. Click hereif you'd like to give information technology a try with your children or your clients.

Anger Stop Signs Worksheet

This worksheet is an excellent resources for parents with a child struggling to control his or her anger. Children can complete this worksheet with a parent or other adult, or past themselves, if they are old plenty.

It begins with a lilliputian lesson on how anger can first out very small, like feeling "annoyed" or but a little angry. Information technology then prompts children to draw what they look like when their anger is small.

Next, information technology describes how anger can grow almost uncontrollably until information technology seems similar it'south manner likewise big to bargain with. It may feel hard to control, like a car without breaks. It notes that someone who is very angry may yell, hit, weep, or intermission things. Children are and then prompted to draw what they look like when they are very aroused.

On the side by side page is a big, red terminate sign. The text prompts the child to look for anger terminate signs or clues that begin to appear when their acrimony is small but can let them know that it is growing. When they notice these signs, they can stomp on the brakes and get their anger under control.

The prompt above the terminate sign reads: "Everyone has their own acrimony end signs. Information technology'southward important to larn what yours are, and then you can spot them in the future. Write your anger terminate signs in the space below."

Information technology also includes some common anger finish signs the kid may recognize as one of their ain, similar:

• My face up feels hot.
• I start to shake.
• I raise my vocalization.
• I get quiet.
• My eyes get watery.
• I effort to bother people.
• I can't recollect straight.
• I feel annoyed.
• I want to hitting something.

This worksheet can be a bully help for a child dealing with anger issues. It volition pb them to identify the signs that the acrimony is rising and learn how to put a stop to it before it gets to the brim and starts to overflow.

Click here to view or download the Anger Cease Signs worksheet.

My Changing Family unit Worksheet

If a child is struggling to deal with a change in family unit situation, like separation or divorce, remarriage, or the death of a family member, this worksheet tin exist a great way for them to get their feelings on paper and help them explain how they feel to a therapist, parent, or other trusted adult.

It is a sentence completion worksheet, in which several prompts are presented for the child to fill in.

These prompts include:

• My family is different at present, because…
• When I call up near my family, I feel…
• Things I don't similar about the changes to my family unit are…
• Things I practice like nearly the changes to my family are…
• My biggest worry about my family unit is…
• My hope for my family is…

Utilize this worksheet to help a child take changes in the family construction, like getting a new stepmom or stepdad, gaining new pace-siblings, or seeing a parent less often than earlier. Click here to see the worksheet.

Dealing with Bullying Worksheet

It's a sad fact of life that every child will witness bullying at some point, and may even be the victim or the bully. Luckily, most children grow out of bullying and go over their bullying as they age; nonetheless, if a child is really struggling with bullying, this worksheet can assist them sympathize what is happening and effigy out how to reply to information technology.

Information technology begins with an explanation of what bullying is:

"Bullying is when a person purposefully hurts others with words or actions. Bullies will pick on their target over and over, and it can be hard to brand them stop."

Next, information technology lists the different types of bullying and a few examples of each and instructs the child to circumvolve the examples that have happened to them and underline the examples they take seen happen to someone else.

The examples include:

• Physical Bullying
  o Hit / Kicking
  o Pushing
  o Tripping
• Verbal Bullying
  o Name-calling / Teasing
  o Making hurtful comments
  o Threats
• Social Bullying
  o Spreading rumors
  o Causing embarrassment
  o Encouraging others to exclude someone from the group
• Cyber Bullying
  o Sharing embarrassing photos or videos
  o Sending hurtful comments or letters
  o Impersonating another person online

Next, the worksheet lists 5 different ways to handle bullies:

1. Tell an Adult
   a. Information technology explains the divergence betwixt telling and tattling and instructs the kid to write down iii adults they can tell when they witness bullying.
2. Don't Show Your Feelings
   a. When you hide your sadness or anger until the smashing is gone, they volition oftentimes terminate bothering y'all.
3. Avoid the Swell
   a. Sometimes the best option is to but avoid the dandy, walk away, or pretend you don't even see or hear the bully.
4. Act Confident
   a. This technique doesn't require y'all to exist confident, only to act confident; if you lot seem confident, the bully might determine yous aren't worth the try.
5. Respond Neutrally
   a. Many bullies merely say mean things to go a reaction, so if you pretend you don't intendance about what they're saying at all, they may cease. You lot can try things like:
   i. "Eh, maybe."
   ii. "Possibly."
   iii. "Hmm, I don't know."
   four. "Who cares?"

These 5 means to deal with bullies will probably include at to the lowest degree one or two methods for dealing with bullying that the child volition not have idea of or tried earlier. Encourage the child to try a new one if they find 1 of them isn't working.

Click here to download the Bullying worksheet.

Emotion Faces Handout

This handout provides cute and piece of cake to understand examples of what different emotions might look like on someone's face. This can be especially helpful for children who are on the autism spectrum or are dealing with an emotional disorder.

Information technology includes two pages of faces, with xx emotions on each page. These emotions include:

• Happy
• Distressing
• Lightheaded
• Worried
• Ashamed
• Confused
• Lone
• Overwhelmed
• Apathetic
• Resilient
• Focused

Use it in conjunction with other emotion-related exercises or techniques, or simply use it to heave the child's ability to recognize different emotions. Yous tin come across it for yourself past clicking here.

About Me Sentence Completion Worksheet

The Well-nigh Me worksheet can help the child focus on the positive and improve their conviction and self-esteem. It's good for very young children (who may demand your help writing their answers) all the fashion up to pre-teens or young teens.

There are half-dozen prompts the child is instructed to complete:

1. I was really happy when…
2. Something that my friends like nearly me is…
3. I'g proud of…
4. My family was happy when I…
5. In school, I'm skilful at…
6. Something that makes me unique is…

Work through this worksheet with your young child, or go over the responses with your older child when they accept finished. Remind them of all the things they are skillful at, the things they take to be proud of, and reasons why they should love themselves.

Click here to download this worksheet and begin working on your child's self-conviction.

Why I'chiliad Grateful Worksheet

This worksheet can help your child or client realize all the things they have to exist grateful for. It can be an excellent tool for use in positive kid therapy, as a complement to child therapy, or but to aid children learn nigh gratitude.

Like the previous worksheet, information technology includes half-dozen judgement completion prompts that the kid fills in.

These prompts include:

1. I am grateful for my family unit because…
2. Something good that happened this calendar week…
3. I am grateful for my friendship with… considering…
4. I am grateful for who I am because…
5. Something silly that I am grateful for…
6. Something else I am grateful for…

If you'd like to download this worksheet and use it with your child or client, click here.

Using Rewards and Punishments Handout

If you or your customer's parents are looking for ways to effectively implement rewards and punishments, this handout is an first-class resource for you. It describes best practices for rewards and punishments, with some other helpful advice on dealing with beliefs problems.

For Rewards, it includes tips like:

• Rewards should exist given regularly and consistently. Instead of offering 1 big reward for a long-term accomplishment, endeavor offer smaller rewards as your child completes steps toward the larger goal. For case, offer rewards for completing homework rather than a expert report bill of fare. Children tin can't plan for the time to come in the same fashion adults do, and a written report card that'due south three months away feels like information technology's one-hundred years abroad.
• Don't take away rewards that have already been earned. If your child earns a trip to the movies, and and so they arrive problem for something unrelated, don't take away the reward. Y'all can even so utilise penalty, but it should be carve up. Taking away rewards can lead to a abiding sense of defeat when a child works hard, yet never sees positive outcomes.

For Punishments, the suggestions include:

• Don't overdo it. Many parents have a habit of dishing out farthermost punishments when they're upset. Grounding your child for a month is as much a penalization to you as information technology is to your kid. Subsequently a few days, most parents have cooled downwards, and they're tired of having a bored child around the house, and so they end the penalisation early. This tells your child that you lot don't really mean information technology when you threaten punishments.
• Never apply corporal punishment (not even spanking). Striking your child might get you lot what you want at present, only it will cause trouble later on on. Children who receive corporal punishment learn that hitting and violence are advisable responses to their problems, they tend to exist more aggressive with other children, and they carry this into adulthood.

Finally, it ends with expert general advice, similar:

• Choose your battles. And then, your kid has picked the dress up off the floor and put them in the dresser, only the apparel are not folded neatly. Allow it go! Ask yourself: "Is this problem actually that of import right at present?"
• In some cases, it's better to ignore bad behavior than to punish information technology. Negative attention can feel better than no attending, and children who are seeking attention will translate a parent taking the fourth dimension to talk to and punish them as a reward. If your child's behavior isn't dangerous or destructive, and you think they're but trying to get your attention, ignore them until they stop.

To read upward on the other drops of wisdom regarding using rewards and punishments, click here.

Reward Coupons Printout

If you like the idea of using rewards and punishments, this printout may be a useful guide for coming upwardly with and doling out desirable rewards.

Information technology includes 12 reward "coupons," or fiddling rectangles of paper that specify the reward you are handing out. They include:

•  _____ extra minutes of TV.
• Go to __________.
• Visit the park.
• A fun night with the family.
• My choice of dinner.
• Become a new toy!
• Stay up _____ actress minutes.
• Sleepover with friends.
• Have some candy!
• Watch a pic.

In addition to these 10 coupons, there are two blank coupons that can be filled out with whatsoever reward you wish, or whatever advantage yous have agreed on with your kid.

Click here to download these coupons and print them out for your child or client.

Goal Sheet Worksheet

If you're a fan of goal-setting, you'll beloved this unproblematic and straightforward worksheet for helping young children stick to their goals.

At the peak, at that place is room to write in the child's name and mark it as their goal canvas.

Under their name, there is a prompt for you or the kid to fill up out:
"This week, my goal is to…"

Work with the child to figure out an appropriate goal and write information technology downwardly here.

Next, proceed track of goal striving over the week. There is a little schedule with a box for each day of the week, Monday through Sunday, where yous can identify a bank check mark if they succeed, an "Ten" if they fail to reach their goal or notes on how well they did.

It's best to complete this worksheet with the child to ensure he or she is connecting their goal to their behavior and seeing the consequences of working toward (or ignoring) their goals.

You can download this worksheet hither.

What is Worry? Worksheet

This worksheet is an fantabulous resources for parents or therapists of children with feet problems. It will walk the child through what worry is, what is a normal amount of worrying, and what they tin exercise most it.

Showtime, it provides a definition of worries:

"Worries are unpleasant thoughts that yous can't get out of your head. They're like abrasive bugs that keep buzzing around and won't leave you lot solitary."

Next, information technology lists many different things that people worry about, including:

• Family
  o Arguments or Fights
  o Upsetting Family unit
  o Family's Safe
  o Getting in Trouble
  o Sick Family Member
• School
  o Following Rules
  o Grades
  o Presentations
  o Homework
  o Tests
• Friends
  o Plumbing equipment In
  o Making Friends
  o Being Teased
  o What to Talk Most
  o Bullies
• Other
  o Getting Hurt
  o Beingness Embarrassed
  o Appearance
  o Money
  o _______________ (blank infinite to write in another worry)

The worksheet instructs the child to circle at to the lowest degree three things they worry about from this list.

Under the lists of worries, the worksheet describes the changes that the child'south trunk may feel when he or she worries. The kid is instructed to circle each of the worry symptoms that he or she has experienced from the post-obit:

• Fast Heartbeat
• Sweating
• Feeling Sick
• Shaking
• Feeling Hot

Finally, it ends with the positive message that worrying may not be fun, but that a little worry never hurt anybody. It encourages the child to effigy out ways they can control their worry, and instructs them to fill in the sentence prompt with the things they already exercise: "To control my worry, I…"

To download this worksheet for your piddling worrier, click here.

My Fears Worksheet

This worksheet can help children acquire almost how fearfulness is a normal reaction to the world, what it feels like, and what makes them scared. For the child to face and overcome their fears, they must beginning admit them!

First, they are asked, "What are some things that make y'all feel nervous or scared?"

One time they have answered this initial question, another one is posed: "What do you think about when you are nervous or scared?"

The next task allows for a little creativity. There is an outline of a child's body and instructions that say the post-obit:
"How does your body experience when you are nervous or scared? Color the areas where you tin can sense these feelings."

Finally, the worksheet closes with 1 final question: "What's something you tin do to experience improve next time you are afraid?"

If you would like to try this worksheet with your client or child, you tin notice it at this link.

Family Mindfulness Schedule

This handout is an fantabulous resources for families that want to incorporate mindfulness into their daily routine. It provides a brief description of what mindfulness is and why it is important, then jumps right into the many ways to be mindful during an average day.

It includes mindfulness techniques for half-dozen activities or times of day:

1. Waking Up
2. Meals
3. Travel
4. Schoolhouse
5. Costless Fourth dimension
6. Bedtime

For each action or time of twenty-four hours, at that place are ane or two techniques that y'all tin can practice with your child (or encourage your child to practice on their own, like the schoolhouse techniques).

For case, the Waking Up section includes the Five Senses technique:

"Five Senses. With your child, have a few moments to explore the morning time through your senses. Accept turns naming things yous see, hear, feel, taste, and smell. Endeavour to notice things you would commonly melody out, like the afar buzz of a neighbour's lawnmower, or the softness of a pillow."

The Meals section includes a technique on mindful eating:

"Rather than rushing through a meal, consume slowly and mindfully. Detect how the nutrient looks, and how information technology smells. What does it taste like? What does the nutrient feel like on your tongue? Take turns sharing different things you notice virtually the nutrient, no matter how minor the observations might seem."

Information technology ends with the Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercise, one you are probably familiar with if yous've tried mindfulness. You can talk your kid through it by slowly reading the post-obit script:

"Close your eyes, and pretend that you're holding two juicy oranges—ane in each paw. Outset to squeeze the oranges past making fists. Squeeze hard to get all the juice out. Notice what your fists feel like when you squeeze hard. Now allow get of the oranges, and permit your hands rest. Discover how good it feels to relax your hands.

Next, pretend like you're sitting on the beach. Clasp your toes as if you are trying to pick upward sand between them. Hold onto the sand past squeezing even tighter. Now, allow go of the sand, and relax your feet. Notice how your feet experience different when you let them residue.

Finally, pretend like a fly landed on your nose. You want to get it off, without touching it with your easily. Scrunch upward your confront, wiggle your nose, merely go crazy! Keep moving your face and then the bug will fly away. Now, stop, and let your whole face up relax. Pay attention to how it feels."

If you're interested in seeing the remainder of the techniques or downloading it for your ain utilise, click here.

If these 13 worksheets yet aren't enough, you're in luck! For 15 boosted resource from ParentCoachPlan.com that yous can use with your child or client, click here.

Praising Children: 136 Affirmations for Children

At that place are tons of sources you lot can observe on what not to say to a child to promote salubrious evolution. For example, this piece from Parenting.com lists the 10 things that you shouldn't say to your child:

• "Great task."
• "Practice makes perfect."
• "You're okay."
• "Hurry upwardly!"
• "I'm on a nutrition."
• "We tin't afford that."
• "Don't talk to strangers."
• "Be careful."
• "No dessert unless you stop your dinner."
• "Allow me help." (Hunker, 2014)

Another piece from Fatherly.com lists eight further things you shouldn't say:

• "Get it out of your organisation."
• "Y'all're a bad child."
• "… or else…"
• "Stop being shy."
• "Go to your room."
• "Why tin can't you be more than like your sister."
• "If you really loved me…"
• "You're request for it." (Coleman, 2017)

Some of these are obvious, some you may find questionable, and some may even exist bewildering!

The merits of each item could certainly be discussed, but let's focus on some of the positive things that y'all tin say that contribute to salubrious child evolution. In addition, there are tons of resources on affirmations for children to utilize themselves (although you lot should help them get started and encourage them to continue with them).

For example, this resource lists 66 positive things you can say to your kid, like:

• I'g grateful for you.
• You don't have to exist perfect to exist great.
• This family wouldn't be the same without you.
• I'm excited to spend time with you.
• Seeing you happy makes me happy.
• I learn new things from you every day.
• Watching you abound upward is the best.
• Not anybody will like you, and that'south okay.
• You are cute inside and out.

Click hither to run into the rest of the positive statements you tin can brand.

If you want to help your kid larn how to say positive things to themselves while also hearing positive things from you, there are some excellent lists of affirmations you can share with them.

This list of l positive thoughts and affirmations includes:

• There is no one better to be than myself.
• I am enough.
• I get better every unmarried day.
• I accept people who love and respect me.
• I can do anything I put my heed to.
• I am free to make my own choices.
• I have the power to make my dreams come true.
• I believe in myself and my abilities.
• My confidence grows when I step outside of my condolement zone.
• My positive thoughts create positive feelings.
• Today is going to exist an awesome day.

For young children, this list of 20 simple and straightforward affirmations volition brand it like shooting fish in a barrel to retrieve to exercise their affirmations every twenty-four hours:

• I am smart.
• I am a smashing listener.
• I am unique.
• I show empathy to others.
• I accept a potent body.
• I am creative.
• I intendance for others.
• I am helpful.
• I accept a positive mental attitude.
• I honey my life!
• I am a good friend.
• I am loved.
• I am compassionate.
• I am brave.
• I like myself the way I am.
• I am resilient.
• There is no one quite similar me!
• I am funny.
• I try my hardest.
• I am beautiful inside and out.

You can view or download this list of affirmations from DearCrissy.com at this link.

If you still can't get enough affirmations for children, this link lists a staggering 147! You're bound to observe at least a few that resonate with your child or customer.

Child Therapy Books

If a child is new to therapy or needs a little prompting to discuss some difficult issues, in that location are some dandy books you lot can show them or read with them to give them some encouragement.

6 Books for Children in Therapy

1. A Terrible Thing Happened – Margaret G. Holmes, Sasha J. Mudlaff, and Cary Pillo

The book A Terrible Matter Happened is an excellent choice for helping a child to larn that it'southward okay to open up up and that talking to a child therapist can be actually helpful.

It tells the story of Sherman Smith, a raccoon who saw something terrible happen and doesn't know how to deal with what he saw.

It covers some of the near mutual symptoms of trauma and depicts a friendly counselor who can assistance victims of trauma work through these symptoms.

Find the volume on Amazon.

2. Sam Feels Meliorate Now! an Interactive Story for Children – Jill Osborne & Kevin Collier

In this book, Sam saw something traumatic and sees a friendly therapist who helps him experience improve.

Reading this book volition help children to identify the difficult feelings they are dealing with and accost them.

Detect the book on Amazon.

iii. A Child's Showtime Volume Well-nigh Play Therapy – Marc A. Nemiroff, Jane Annunziata, & Margaret Scoot

The book A Child's First Volume almost Play Therapy is another great introduction to therapy for young children.

Information technology will walk the child through mutual symptoms of problems that therapy can address, entering treatment, the environment of the therapist's office and equipment, and the process of play therapy.

Information technology's intended for children around the ages of four to vii, and can act as an excellent precursor to entering therapy for the first time.

Find the book on Amazon.

4. Do You Have a Secret? (Permit's Talk Almost It!) – Jennifer Moore-Mallinos & Marta Fabrega

Do You Have a Undercover? (Let'due south Talk About Information technology!) is another splendid resource for helping children to learn virtually secrets and determine which secrets are okay (a surprise political party or a birthday gift) and which are not (secrets that make them feel bad, like bullying or being touched inappropriately).

The fun illustrations will guide children from the ages of about six to 9 through the differences between these secrets, and what to do with the second kind.

Find the volume on Amazon.

five. My Day Is Ruined! A Story Instruction Flexible Thinking (Executive Function) – Bryan Smith & Lisa Griffin

The volume My Day is Ruined! A Story Educational activity Flexible Thinking is not focused exclusively on therapy or problems that crave therapy, but it can be a helpful and humorous lesson for children who struggle with emotion regulation.

Find the book on Amazon.

6. Healing Days (A Guide for Kids Who Take Experienced Trauma) – Susan Farber Straus

Finally, the book Healing Days: A Guide for Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma provides children with a resource to help them through the coping process.

This beautifully illustrated volume tells the story of iv children who learn how to cope with the trauma they have experienced, teaching children about tools they can use to cope with their own trauma.

It'due south appropriate for children ages 9 through 12 (or grades iv through 7).

Find the book on Amazon.

If yous're more interested in books about child therapy that can help parents, teachers and educational staff, and counselors in training learn the ins and outs of child therapy, these three books may be exactly what you're looking for. You can observe more general therapy books here.

3 Books Virtually Child Therapy (For Adults)

ane. Creative Interventions for Troubled Children & Youth – Liana Lowenstein & MSW

Creative Interventions for Troubled Children & Youth by Liana Lowenstein (the same author of the book on child therapy techniques mentioned earlier) is a great introduction to child therapy.

It includes techniques and exercises on everything from diagnosis and handling planning to saying goodbye to clients.

The techniques information technology describes are appropriate for a broad range of ages, from 4 years all the manner to 16 years.

This book tin can be a valuable resource for students and new therapists and counselors in particular.

Detect the volume on Amazon.

2. Kid-Centered Play Therapy – Rise VanFleet, Andrea Eastward. Sywulak, Cynthia Caparosa Sniscak, & Louise F. Guerney

The book Kid-Centered Play Therapy also offers some splendid insight into implementing play therapy.

This book is a great resource for students and new therapists as well, but it tin also requite parents of children in therapy and other curious individuals a comprehensive overview of what play therapy is, how information technology works, and the outcomes that tin can be expected.

Find the book on Amazon.

3. Working with Children to Heal Interpersonal Trauma: The Power of Play – Eliana Gil & Lenore C. Terr

The book Working with Children to Heal Interpersonal Trauma: The Ability of Play is an in-depth swoop into child therapy.

It includes chapters and example studies from experienced clinicians in the field, and details how to encourage your child or client through posttraumatic coping and aid them build resilience.

Play therapy, art therapy, and expressive therapy cases are presented, with a focus on building healthy and trusting therapeutic relationships.

Observe the book on Amazon.

A Have-Dwelling Bulletin

Hopefully, yous constitute this resource-packed piece useful and informative, whether you lot are the parent of a child in therapy, a educatee or new kid therapist, or someone curious about kid therapy.

It can be a hard topic to hash out, but equally many of these resources accept shown, it doesn't have to be a wholly negative and trauma-focused activity; information technology can besides focus on the positive, facilitate the evolution of resilience and good for you coping, and bring out a child'southward unique strengths and boost their sense of identity and self-esteem.

What are your thoughts on the techniques and exercises listed here? Have y'all tried any of them with your own clients or children? Are there whatsoever other get-to techniques you like to use? Let us know in the comment section.

Thanks for reading!

Nosotros hope you enjoyed reading this article. For more information, don't forget to download our three Positive CBT Exercises for free.

• American University of Kid & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2017). Psychotherapy for children and adolescents: Different types. AACAP. Retrieved from https://www.aacap.org/aacap/families_and_youth/facts_for_families/FFF-Guide/Psychotherapies-For-Children-And-Adolescents-086.aspx
• Coleman, P. A. (2017). 8 things a parent should never say to their child. Fatherly. Retrieved from https://www.fatherly.com/parenting/bad-kid-discipline-phrases-parents-should-never-say/
• Crouch, Grand. (2014). 10 things you should never say to your kids. Parenting. Retrieved from https://world wide web.parents.com/parenting/amend-parenting/communication/10-things-you-should-never-say-to-your-kids/
• Hall, T. M., Kaduson, H. Yard., & Schaefer, C. East. (2002). 15 effective play therapy techniques. Professional person Psychology: Research and Practice, 33, 515-522.
• KidsMentalHealth. (2009). Behavioral therapy for children with emotional disorders. Kids Mental Wellness Informational Portal. Retrieved from http://www.kidsmentalhealth.org/behavioral-therapy-for-children-with-emotional-disorders/
• Lowenstein, L. (2011). Favorite therapeutic activities for children, adolescents, and families: Practitioners share their most effective interventions. Toronto, CA: Champion Press.
• Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. (2017). Evidence-based therapies. Effective Kid Therapy. Retrieved from http://effectivechildtherapy.org/therapies/
• TherapyTribe. (2018). What is child counseling? TherapyTribe. Retrieved from https://www.therapytribe.com/therapy/child-counseling/
• Thompson, D., Jr. (2010). When children need therapy. Everyday Health. Retrieved from https://world wide web.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/when-children-need-therapy.aspx
• Wells, J., Sueskind, B., & Alcamo, One thousand. (2017). Child and boyish issues. GoodTherapy. Retrieved from https://world wide web.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/child-and-boyish-issues

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Source: https://positivepsychology.com/child-therapy/

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