Showing posts with label coping skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coping skills. Show all posts

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Dream Catcher


I  found this cool activity somewhere on Pinterest.  I plan to post a finished product within the next 2 weeks.  and will provide a PDF template that can be purchased on my TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS account. 

Basically you will have the participant write down negative thoughts and beliefs in the large circle.  Next he or she will write positive thoughts and beliefs on the outside of the dream catcher.  

You can enocourage creativity by providing craft feathers and beads for the hanging materials on the page.  yarn can be used to represent the rope or string used in an actual dream catcher.  If you are unable to get feathers, yarn, and beads, they can be drawn with different color markers.  

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Sense of Peace: 5 Senses Relaxation Activity

I will post a finished product on here before June 1st.
This activity can be used to discuss how to engage the senses when using relaxation techniques.

5 SENSES
SIGHT    TOUCH    SMELL    TASTE   SOUND 


Body Cues: ANGER

Use this activity to determine Body Cues in the child.  
Once the child has identified how their body feels when they are experiencing anger they can then begin to learn to start using their coping skills before it is too late.  

I typically allow my clients to list everything they can think of first. I sometimes then will present video clips of others being angry to help them determine what they may feel inside, and if the client is still unable to come up with body cues I provide examples and ask if they have felt that particular sensation before.

HAVE A HAPPY DAY
AYLA

Square Breathing

This Coping activity is quite simple.  
The child follows along outside edges of the square with their finger; Forcing them to focus on the length of their breaths.  They count to 4 per each side. 

On this particular handout I placed markers for where their finger should be per each count.

This technique can be used anywhere anytime.  When the child is experiencing an unpleasant emotion he or she can do this on their desk, leg, on the floor with their feet, etc. 

PEACEFUL BREATHING
AYLA

What Pushes Your Buttons? Trigger identification

WHAT PUSHES MY BUTTON ACTIVITY SHEET
(The actual activity sheet will be posted to my Teachers Pay Teachers Site for sale by June 1st)


This activity can be used to help the child or participant determine their triggers. 
             I often will have a child do this activity using 1 worksheet per emotion.                   They, then, are able to have a booklet to refer back to. 

Of course allowing the participant to put their own flare into this activity enhances a sense of self,uniqueness, and can make the process more entertaining. 
Allowing he or she to use crayons, markers, etc to fill in the blanks is a great way to encourage CREATIVITY!

HAVE A HAPPY DAY!
AYLA

Friday, July 31, 2015

Conversation Starters -Social Skills

              ~~ !!!!! SCHOOL'S BACK !!!!!~~


70 CONVERSATION STARTERs
Ever felt nervous when you first met someone, because you didn’t quite know what to say?  Here is a list of questions to get a good conversation started with a potential new friend. (Kids and teens may wish to practice on their family, friends, pets, counselors, social workers, or therapist, etc.)
    BE PREPARED to have to answer the questions yourself.
If you wish to be creative print out this list, cute each line into strips, ball them up and place them in a bag or box so that you will not know what question  is coming next
1.    Did you have a nickname? How did you get it?
2.  Do you do when you feel anxious? (I.e. nail biting, hair twirling, leg shaking, pacing, etc.)
3.  Do you have a hobby? What do you do in your free time?
4.  For you, what was the worst thing about being a (insert grade or year in school)?
5.  Have you ever committed a RAK? Random Act of Kindness? Explain…
6.  How often do you check your media outlets vine? Instagram? Pinterest? Kick? E-mail? Facebook? Texts?
7.  How would you describe your “style”?
8.  If one of your 5 senses could have supernatural abilities, which one sense would you choose?
9.  If you could be one age for the rest of your life, how old would you choose to be?
10.       If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be?
11.  If you could choose anyone name 2 people you would take on a road trip.
12.        If you could cure one type of disease, which one would you cure?
13.If you could design the perfect TV channel, what would be on it?
14.        If you could guest star on any Reality TV Show, which one would you choose?
15.        If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what animal would you choose?
16.        If you could have any one super-power, which one would you choose and why?
17.  If you could invent a holiday, what and when would it be?
18.        If you could plan your own birthday part, what would you do?
19.        If you had $10 to spend, how would you spend it? $100? $1000?
20.     If you had a theme song (one that played every time you entered a room), which song would 
    you choose?
21.        If you had a YouTube channel what would you call it?
22.      If you had an unlimited gift card to any store, which store would it be?
23.      If you were stuck on Stranded Island, what are 2 things you would bring with you?
24.      Name 3 tv shows you have recorded on your DVR? Netflix? HULU?
25.      So far who has had the most positive influence on you?
26.     What are 3 qualities you want your friends to have?
27.      What are some positive changes you have seen in your life?
28.      What cartoon character do you most identify with?
29.      What do you plan to do when you graduate?
30.     What do you struggle with the most in life?
31.   What helps you to feel most content or peaceful?
32.      What is one gadget or electronic you’d like to own?
33.      What is one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done?
34.      What is one regret you have from last week? Last Month? Last year? Your lifetime?
35.      What is one statement that you hope people will say about you when you are no longer    
     around?
36.      What is one thing you wish you had more time for in your life?
37.      What is one thing you’ve never done that you would really like to do?
38.      What is some place that you would really like to visit?
39.      What is something you are looking forward to doing within the next six months?
40.     What is something you like about yourself?
41.        What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
42.      What is the most important thing that makes a friendship great?
43.      What is the most recent book you read?
44.      What is the scariest thing you’ve ever seen in real life?
45.      What is your earliest memory?
46.     What is your favorite animal?
47.      What is your favorite ice cream flavor and your favorite topping?
48.      What is your favorite thing to do with friends?
49.      What is your goal in life? Or goals?
50.     What is your least favorite chore to do?
51.         What is your most favorite possessions?
52.      What makes you feel discouraged or insecure?
53.      What one thing would you change about your house if you could?
54.      What songs are on your recently played playlist right now?
55.      What was the worst thing about being in middle school for you?
56.     What would you like for your life to be like 5 years from now? 10 years from now? 50years?
57.      What’s one thing that annoys you about your siblings or cousins?
58.      What’s one thing you like about your Mom?
59.      What’s one trait you admire about your Dad?
60.     What’s the biggest struggle you are facing in life right now?
61.        What’s the furthest place you’ve ever been from your current home?
62.     What’s the most annoying word or phrase your parents or teachers use often?
63.      What’s your dream car?
64.     When is something you must get from the grocery store, no matter what?
65.     When you are surprised with 30 free minutes during the day, how do you spend it?
66.     Where state and city were you born in?
67.      Who do you wish would listen more closely to you?
68.     Who is the most important person in your life?
69.     Who’s someone you admire/respect? Why? (not a family member)
70.     Your first job will be…?

Thursday, July 9, 2015

MEET YOUR EMOTIONS: CREATIVE WAY TO USE THE EMOTIONS FROM DISNEY PIXAR'S "INSIDE OUT" AS AN INTERVENTION.

MEET YOUR EMOTIONS!!

 HI!

    How amazing would it be for us as professionals (and even parents) to be able to have relevant and age appropriate videos that teach about emotions to present to our children or clients??  Well our wishes have been granted! Disney's Pixar has a genius working amongst them who heard our prayers!!   So I have put together a list of the videos from "Inside Out" that allows us to meet each emotion.

What you will find.
  • The movie addresses our core emotions: FEAR, JOY, ANGER, SADNESS & DISGUST
  • Each video names the emotion and provides a snippet of that emotion exhibiting the body language, sounds, and verbal language that coincides with each emotion. 
  • Each video also provides a snippet of what the main character, Riley, is going through to trigger that emotion.

HOW TO USE:
     Show each video (one at a time) to your client/child.  Ask them what they remember from each clip. Then ask them to describe a time they felt that emotion.  BONUS: Have the child/client draw or paint the time they felt that emotion.  For negative emotions you may wish to have them draw a coping skill to help them manage that emotion.  Or have them role play how they would use their coping skills to manage those emotions.

Enjoy!


   LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO FEAR

                                              
 
 
 LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO JOY!

 
 
 
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO ANGER


 
 
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO SADNESS

 
 
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO DISGUST

 
 
 
Live it up,
Ayla
p.s.  **Disclaimer** I do not own the rights to this movie or each clip.  These clips were obtained from www.youtube.com.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

I AM GRATEFUL FOR: Positive Thinking & Self Exploration Art Activity


Excuse the quality of this photo.  This activity allows for the participant to engage in identifying the things they can be grateful and thankful for.  It encourages positive self esteem, self image, gratitude, positive thinking, and humbleness.  (is that a word??)

1st: You can start the activity off for the participant by drawing a circle in the middle of the page and writing "I am grateful/thankful for..."

2nd: You can write down the topics (as identified by the participant) as though you are creating a start or flower petals out of words.  (refer to picture)  If they are unable to come up with enough things they are grateful for you may wish to provide examples.

If you end up providing examples keep in mind what the 
participant identified on their own vs your suggestions. 

**SOCIAL WORKERS/COUNSELORS:: And inability to identify positive things in life or things to be grateful for is something you may want to explore further if you are providing mental health services.
**PARENTS: If you are a parent you may wish to consult your child's PCP or mental health professional.

Topics may include but are not limited to:
STRENGTHS
MIND AND BODY
THIS MOMENT
LIFE
ANIMALS
LOVE AND PASSION
CREATIVITY
FRIENDSHIPS 
MEMORIES