Making Therapy Engaging: Working With Adults

You may already know that I love to make my sessions with kids interesting, bright, interactive and engaging, but what you may not know is that I low-key do the exact same thing with adults, just in different ways. Who says we adults can’t be dynamic and engaging too? Don’t worry, I won’t pull out the puppet (unless you want to see her, in which case I’m happy to introduce you). Here are some of my staple therapy activities with adults:

Personalized “Emotion Mapping Journal” (Arts Journal)

This is a journal I made that walks us through the process of creating a visual representation of different emotional states relating to how your brain and body respond to different levels of stress, threat and safety. We’ll work together to fill in all the details about your different emotional states; what puts you in that state, how it looks on the outside, feels on the inside, how you cope, etc. Then you’ll do some drawing or painting to represent those states. This is a great foundational tool, it has many benefits and sets the groundwork for future sessions and activities, especially when addressing trauma. 

“Core Beliefs Tree” Exercise

This is another visually expressive way of representing complex experiences and emotions. This activity uses the image of a tree to represent a system of behaviors, feelings, memories and beliefs and how they hold and support each other. The purpose of the activity is to uncover deeply held, often subconscious beliefs and conclusions about yourself that you developed through lived experiences and that now drive unwanted behaviors and emotions. 

Cognitive Restructuring Chart

The end game of this activity is to break down hurtful, limiting beliefs and stories that hold you back from reaching your goals and build new beliefs that are in alignment with your values and goals. This is done in a step by step process that we work through together in a categorized format on screen.

“In my Hands” Exercise

The goal of this activity is to release that which doesn’t belong to you and take back power over what is yours to control, change and hold. This is another visually expressive way of organizing and representing experiences and beliefs. You’ll go through the process of deciding what belongs in your hands and what doesn’t and have the opportunity to be challenged by what you know in your head versus what you feel in your heart.

Personalized Goal Progress Monitor

While it is important to me to be process oriented, it is still important to set clear intentions. I use a digital chart that allows us to define what progress would look like for you personally and provides space to plot your current level of progress towards that goal on a graph. It’s great to reflect back on progress that was made and see how the graph changes over time.

Behavior Modification Chart

This is an opportunity to pin-point the habits and actions you want to change and identify strategies and actions that will make success more likely, as well as identify the barriers that may make success difficult to achieve unless they’re appropriately addressed. This is a very practical, behavior-based approach to making changes. 

Assessment and Evaluation

There are many assessment tools to use for a variety of reasons. Some assessments look at things like depression symptoms,  anxiety symptoms, or sleep issues. Some look at things like the thoughts and beliefs you have about yourself and how those beliefs impact your self image and behaviors. Throughout your time in therapy, we’ll use tools like these to check in on progress and gain insight into your experiences,

Systematic Exposure Experiences

Systematic exposure just means facing your fears in a safe, gradual and supported way. This is a great way to practice coping skills and solidify newly formed positive beliefs. The key is that you’re providing your brain and body with successful experiences, teaching it to believe that you’re capable and no longer need to be afraid or avoid the thing you were once avoiding. 

Digital Life Narrative Exercise

This is an opportunity to tell your story in a safe, supportive, and structured process to unpack and contextualize a history of trauma. This exercise is another visually expressive way of organizing information using symbolism and storytelling. Just like with exposure, It is also an opportunity to demonstrate to your brain and body that it is safe, supported and capable.

This list is by no means all-encompassing!

There is an endless variety of possible activities based on your unique needs and interests. Each person brings their own experience, style, strengths, interests and needs to the table which makes these activities new and unique every time I do them.

If you’re interested in learning more about some of the theories I enjoy, check out my post, “I Love Theories”.

Until next time!

Olivia