Play Therapy Themes
A child utilizes the kitchen to cook and prepare food for the therapist and a baby doll, then encourages the therapist to eat. What theme is this?
What is Nurturing Theme?
A child, feeling peaceful, gently sways a toy figure back and forth.
What is reflecting feeling? ("You look calm/relaxed.")
This intervention allows the child to lead the session and use the room how they need to without guidance.
What is non-directive?
Who is Dibs in Search of Self written by?
What is Virginia M. Axline?
This automatic bodily response, involving increased heart rate and tense muscles, prepares you to fight, flight, or freeze.
What is the stress response?
A child creates a large circle of various animals, all facing towards the middle. The child then chooses two animals at a time to go to the middle, and angrily smashes them together, creating a fight scene. What theme is this?
What is Aggression Theme?
A child stacks blocks in a chaotic pile and then scatters them across the floor.
What is tracking? ("You built that up and then spread it out.")
This intervention is structured play to target specific behaviors or goals.
What is directive?
The tool we use for case presentations that help us conceptualize the client's family system and goals.
What is a genogram?
Just 10 minutes of this form of movement can lower cortisol and boost mood.
What is physical activity?
A child handcuffs the therapist and tells them to get in jail. What theme is this?
What is Power and Control Theme?
A child picks up a stuffed animal and covers it up with a blanket, saying, "It is cold."
What is reflecting content? ("It's trying to get warm under there.")
This intervention allows the child to create and explore their world in a contained manner, helping them process their experience in it.
What is sand-tray?
Types of documentation submitted in Ensora. (name at least 2).
What is initial assessment, treatment plan, progress notes, contact logs (bonus if you name something other than what is listed here)?
This relaxation technique involves expanding and contracting the diaphragm slowly.
What is deep-breathing?
While the therapist reads a book, the 10-year-old client fills up the baby bottle and sucks on the bottle while the therapist continues to read.
What is Self-Soothing or Regression Theme?
This play therapy skill involves accepting the feelings, desires, and wishes of the child without accepting the behavior.
What is limit setting? ("You want to keep playing, and we're almost out of time. You can choose one more thing to do before we end.")
This intervention can be used when verbal expression is difficult for the child, promoting creative expression.
What is art-based interventions?
The framework that explains how the autonomic nervous system responds to stress and safety through a hierarchy of 3 states.
What is the polyvagal theory?
This type of stress management strategy includes planning ahead, making a to-do list, and organizing tasks by urgency.
What is time management?
A child spends several minutes engaging with the cash register, pressing several buttons, and opening and closing the drawer multiple times. What theme is this?
What is Mastery Theme?
A child draws a person with a big frown and asks, "Do you think they're sad?"
What is returning responsibility? ("In here, you get to decide.")
This intervention can be used to process roles and relational dynamics.
What is attachment/relationship-focused?
The resource that holds all things LCYMH.
What is the shared Google Drive?
This practice focuses on paying attention to the present moment.
What is mindfulness?