Getting to Know You

I love meeting a client for the first time. Usually beforehand you have gotten some background information from Mom, Dad, Grandma or other important people in a child’s life. Then you get to meet your client! The first session for a child can be full of many different feelings. They might be nervous, scared, unsure, anxious, sad..the list goes on. So it can be nice to have an activity to ease the tension and get to know the child.

With my older kiddos, I find they often want to jump into it and tell me what is on their mind. Others are not ready to dive right into it in the first 20 minutes…they need a little warm up!

Here are a few activities I like to use to get to know kids and start to build our therapeutic relationship!

The Question Box

This is a box I have on my desk at all times. It contains strips of paper with all different questions on them. Kids can pull a question to answer themselves or ask the therapist to answer. The can “pass” on certain questions if they are not yet comfortable going there. Some kids like to add questions to the box and it becomes an ongoing project! This is a great way to learn about your client and ask follow-up questions to get more information. Kids love it because they are in control of the information they are giving you in the first session and they get to be a bit silly and loosen up!

Example of Questions

• What 3 words describe you best?
• Who is someone you admire and why?
• If you could only eat one thing for a whole year, what would it be?
• If you could be invisible for a day what would you do?
• What has been the happiest day of your life?
• What is your favorite sound?
• What is the best compliment you have ever received?
• What is your super power?
• What is your favorite movie of all time?
• Describe your perfect day
• Do you have a best friend? What are they like?
• If you change one thing about yourself what would it be and why?

Puzzle About Me

This is a worksheet for younger kids, elementary school age, to express themselves and explore who they are. Kids love to make a puzzle about themselves and it gives you insight into who they are!

 Incorporating an art project into the first session can take some pressure of the child. They may come into their first session thinking counseling means they have to sit in a room and talk, this way they can ease into the process with a fun activity!

“A Child’s First Book About Play Therapy”

By Marc A. Neimiroff, PhD & Jane Annunziata, PsyD

For preschool aged children, I like to read this book in our first session. Reading together is a great way to build rapport and bond.

Younger children might be confused about why they are there and what this thing called “therapy” is. This book explains play therapy and helps a child understand what we will be doing together in session!

Find this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Childs-First-Book-About-Therapy/dp/1557980896

Happy counseling :)