Communication skills
Statement that assists in enhancing awareness and understanding of feelings.
What is reflection?
Used extensively with older kids and adolescents to track moods, write down thoughts, or process events.
What is journal?
Acknowledging that a client's feelings make sense given their circumstances, which helps reduce shame and encourages vulnerability.
What is validation?
Used to draw, paint, and more to allow young clients to non-verbally express feelings of sadness, anxiety, or traumatic events.
What is art supplies?
Being fully present to understand a young client's verbalizations, emotions, and non-verbal cues. It builds the trust with the client, creates a safe space, and models healthy communication.
What is active listening?
A tool you can play with or squeeze that can help regulate patient's nervous systems, reduce anxiety, help to focus during sessions, and more.
What is stress balls/fidgets?
When a therapist double checks key points to make sure they understand or comprehend the message accurately.
What is clarification?
Usually a paper or app that tracks your emotions and how you are feeling to provide information on progress and what to discuss.
What is mood tracker?
Clearly outlining what can and can't happen that establishes safety, provides therapeutic structure, and acts as a primary teaching tool to help them develop a healthy relationship with the client.
What is establishing boundaries?
Exercises such as the box method and the 4-7-8 that are used to calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and stabilize emotions.
What is breathing exercise?