Seasonal Therapy Activities

I (and many people I know) begin to prepare for the Fall and Winter seasons as soon as possible! I enjoy the hustle and bustle, food, activities etc that these seasons have to offer. The festivities bring me a different sense of happiness. However, I have learned that the holiday months cause mood changes in many of my clients. These moods range from happiness, guilt, sadness, anger and fear. Many clients state that triggers to their individual moods are affected by smells, decorations, food and finances that are associated with this time of year. Unfortunately, many of our child clients struggle throughout the holiday season due to the reasons mentioned previously. This results in many therapists’ avoidance of holiday activities and discussion with their clients. I feel that therapists should embrace the holidays and adjust their practices according to the child. Therapy can be used to bring joy to our clients while reducing anxiety, depression and negative symptoms. Utilizing seasonal activities will also provide therapists a change of pace, help them not be in the same pattern of activities and bring a positive spin to the mood of the seasons. 

October:

Welcome to the scary time of the year! I’ve learned and noticed that my child clients get so PUMPED about Halloween! Seriously—- almost all of them! Anxious ones, angry ones, happy ones, depressed ones- you name it! So as one would expect! It’s time for me to really incorporate some coping skills and lesson learning into this time. Here are a few activities that I have found which are so fun to utilize in the therapeutic process! 

Activities:

  1. Halloween Fun Spider Activity

    http://msmodify.com/halloween-fun/

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November:

This goes without saying. We have to do something thankful right?

We spend a lot of time focusing on gratitude and family. Also, this time of year highlights “feelings” and the need to enhance all of our relationships.

Many of our clients will react to this season both positively and negatively. These reactions tend to cause additional mental stress to our clients.

Personally, I spend time focusing on the individual, rather than adding to traditional “family, all together, all happy” facade that many people try to have. With all of this in mind how do we incorporate fun and non-traditional enjoyment of this season into therapy? (The activities that focus on family, I turn to focus on just the individual FYI) 

Activities: 

  1. Gratitude turkey (Allow the client to focus on themselves)- 

    https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Fall-Mindfulness-Exercise-and-Thanksgiving-Gratitude-Craft-3479051

3.)Thankful jar (Have them focus on themselves) 

https://www.taketimeforstyle.com/thankful-jar/

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December:

Enough said. No matter where I have worked as a therapist, this month wreaks havoc on my clients’ emotions and lives.

December tends to be the heaviest emotional month, which is understandable, but we have to help our clients get through it.

Many of the child clients that I work with, want to really have something “Holly and Jolly” to distract them from difficulties in their lives. I spend the majority of the month concentrating the focus of the sessions on what they have and all of the good things they plan to have in the future. A lot of positivity training goes into this month as well as assisting to manage emotions that may occur during this period. Here are a few activities that I enjoy doing with my clients. 

Activities:

  1. Dress an Elf

    https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conflict-Resolution-Christmas-Activity-Dress-an-Elf-with-I-Statements-3526142?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_campaign=Dress%20an%20Elf

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I hope that everyone will enjoy this seasonal list of mental health therapy activities! Hopefully the activities will help to make your counseling season go smoother! Remember, holidays can be traumatizing and have the potential to wreak havoc on clients in general!

These activities can help keep your sessions structured! Be sure to have random expressive activities, coping skills and grief activities lined up in case you need them!

Make sure you, the therapist, take good care of yourself during this emotional season!

Good Luck! 

*Use the activities at your discretion... Some of the activities have not been created sole for therapeutic use, however they do teach therapeutic lessons and can be adaptable. Also, I do not promote holidays or religion to any of my clients. Before I begin services I spent time discussing parental preferences at intake appointments. Not all of my clients participate in holiday activities. Remember everything is individualized for each client! 

Kimberly-Ann Baker