Magic Key Activity

by Miranda

Sometimes when children have experienced loss, they may not be able to express their feelings. The "Magic Key" can be used to help children become more open about their feelings of loss. This technique can be used to encourage more discussion about the child's feelings of loss. This drawing can help facilitate dialogue to help the healing process. 

References:

http://www.lianalowenstein.com/e-booklet.pdf  source: David A. Crenshaw Published in Assessment & Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents, and Families Vol. 1

Crenshaw, D.A. & J.B. Mordock. (2005). Handbook of Play Therapy with Aggressive Children. New York: Jason Aronson.

Crenshaw, D.A. & J. Garbarino. (2007). “The Hidden Dimensions: Profound Sorrow and Buried Human Potential in Violent Youth.” Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 47, 160-174.

Crenshaw, D.A. & K.V. Hardy. (2005). “Understanding and Treating the Aggression of Traumatized Children in Out-of-Home Care.” In N. Boyd-Webb, ed., Working with Traumatized Youth in Child Welfare, pp. 171-195. New York: Guilford.

Managing Anger- Exploding Balloons

by Amanda Gustafson

     Often times, children and adolescents are not taught the coping skills necessary to manage anger.  It may be common for them to be told their behavior is “unacceptable” in how they react to the situations in which they experience anger.  These children then hold in their feelings and as their anger builds inside, they explode, just like an overfilled balloon, when acceptable coping strategies are not utilized in their anger management.  Through this exercise, these children and adolescents are shown a symbolic example of what happens when anger is kept inward.  Through this example and discussion of alternative coping strategies, counting back from 10, relaxation techniques, thought stopping, etc.; more appropriate  behaviors will be learned and reinforced as the child begins to better manage feelings of anger.

Source: Lauren Snailham Published in Creative Family Therapy Techniques Edited by Lowenstein, 2010  http://www.lianalowenstein.com/e-booklet.pdf

Kendall, P. (Ed.). (2011). Child and adolescent therapy: Cognitive-behavioral procedures. Guilford Press.

Miranda, A., & Jesús Presentación, M. (2000). Efficacy of cognitive‐behavioral therapy in the treatment of children with ADHD, with and without aggressiveness. Psychology in the Schools, 37(2), 169-182.

Zeman, J., Cassano, M., Perry-Parrish, C., & Stegall, S. (2006). Emotion regulation in children and adolescents. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 27(2), 155-168.