Self-Esteem Journal

/in , , , , , , /by

Positive journaling has been found to help improve feelings of well-being and self-esteem. With this self-esteem worksheet, your clients will be asked to record three daily statements related to their successes, good qualities, and positive experiences. This worksheet is great for clients who have difficulty generating ideas for positive experiences to journal about.”

Assign this as homework for your client for a week, and use the next session to reflect on their observations after journaling about their success and strengths for a week. How did this affect their view of self? Relationships? Mental health symptoms? Explore the Ct’s experience noticing their own strengths.

Read more

Containment in Telehealth

/in , , , , , , , , , , , /by

“Containment is a powerful skill for all of us. Containment allows us to give our nervous systems a break from distress and choose what and when we want to think about certain things.”

Read more

Identifying Cognitive Distortions

/in , , , , , /by

Everyone experiences cognitive distortions at some point; they’re really common! However, these ways of thinking can misinform us about reality and influence our emotions and behaviors in ways we don’t like. Review the list of cognitive distortions, identify cognitive distortions that are common for you, and try to think of ways to adjust the thoughts so that they are more neutral and accurate.

Read more

Holding on and Letting Go

/in , , , /by

This is an activity that helps child understand the basic premise of cognitive coping skills (challenging, refocusing) in order to decide what is important and in their control and what they can let go of in situations. This is a great activity to begin problem solving and autonomous decision making skills.

Read more

My DBT House

/in , , , /by

This is a tool that can be used to gain insight to children’s behaviors, feelings, support networks, and hopes for therapy. This is a great intervention to use for a Diagnostic Interview session with children ages 10 and up.

Read more

Feeling in my Heart

/in , , , /by

Kids are experiencing a variety of confusing emotions right now (as are adults!). Use the worksheet below or have clients draw out their own Feelings Heart on paper. Have the child choose a few emotions, and the therapist choose a few emotions to use in their heart. Ask the child to color in their heart using colors to represent how much of each emotion is in their heart right now. Normalize all of their emotions!

Read more

Functions of Emotions

/in , , , , , , , , /by

Despite what we’re often told, happiness is not the default emotion for humans. The reality is that we need to experience all of our emotions; they each have a purpose. Our emotions provide us information that logic alone cannot give us.

Read more