My Choices
You do not like the activity your therapist picked. What can you do?
Say what you think and choose from the choices your therapist gives you.
A flexible brain says…
“There is only one way.”
“I can try another way.”
“Everybody has to do what I say.”
Answer: “I can try another way.”
Your body feels tight and your heart is beating fast. Name one thing you can do.
Answer: Examples: slow breathing, ask for a break, squeeze something, get water, or tell a trusted grown-up.
Being brave means you never feel scared. True or false?
Answer: False.
What does teamwork mean?
Answer: Working together, listening, taking turns, and solving problems together.
Which is a flexible choice?
“My way only!”
“Can I choose which one we do first?”
“I am not doing anything.”
“Can I choose which one we do first?”
Finish this sentence: “This is not what I wanted, but…”
Answer: Examples: “…I can handle it,” “…I can try,” or “…I can ask for help.”
Can you feel mad AND still make a safe choice?
Answer: Yes!
Name ONE tiny brave school step that might be easier than doing the whole hard thing at once.
Answer: Examples: walk to the door, enter the building, say hi to the teacher, stay for one activity, or ask for help.
In therapy, who should have ideas?
Only the therapist
Only the kid
Both the therapist and the kid
Answer: Both the therapist and the kid.
Your therapist says, “First feelings game, then your game.” What could you say?
Answer: “Okay. Can I pick my game for afterward?”
Challenge! Name one time you handled something that did not go your way.
Answer: Any real example counts.
Someone tells you “no.” What feeling might show up?
Answer: Mad, disappointed, frustrated, sad, worried—or another feeling.
You feel worried at school and want to leave right away. What are two things you could try before leaving?
Answer: Examples: tell the safe adult, use a coping skill, take a short planned break, breathe, or do the next small brave step.
Your idea and your therapist’s idea are different. What could you do?
Answer: Explain your idea, listen to theirs, and find a plan that includes both when possible.
True or false: Having a choice means I always get exactly what I want.
Answer: False.
The rules of a game change a little. What can your flexible brain do?
Answer: Pause, ask what the new rule is, and try it.
Show me with your face or body what “frustrated” looks like. Then show me “calm.”
Answer: Any safe demonstration counts.
School feels hard today. Which is the brave choice?
Avoid everything forever
Take one small school step
Pretend the feeling is not there
Answer: Take one small school step.
Team challenge: Make a plan where YOU choose one thing and your therapist chooses one thing.
Answer: Any safe two-part plan counts.