In the therapy world - time is money.
Now, most therapists don’t get into this field to clock every minute as a billable unit. You most likely got through your graduate school programming because you genuinely like to help and support humans in their mental wellness journey. You know - help them heal from trauma and give voice and power to some of our most vulnerable populations - kids! And at the same time there is nothing wrong with wanting to be fairly compensated for all the hard work, effort, and energy you put into being the best therapist you can be. Both in and out of session.
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If you are one of those therapists that can spend 15+ minutes on notes - this blog is for you! I want to unpack the top 3 reasons that you might be writing novels for progress notes. Check out more HERE about why you need to think more like a lawyer about your progress notes.
In a world where progress notes are the bane of your existence (you would literally rather watch paint dry) anything that makes notes faster and easier is a win in your book. And as AI has taken over the therapy notes world by storm, this often costly tool doesn’t solve this one tiny notes problem - play therapy notes. As in AI likely won’t translate to how playing “arrest in the schoolyard” is actually therapeutic.
For kids with anxiety, the amount of tools you can use to help support emotional regulation are nearly endless.
I wanted to share about one type of tool I use in play therapy to help kids and teens get through life’s big events. And this tool? It can be used anywhere from shots, surgery, a first practice with a new team, or any other stressful and distressing life event. 
One of the biggest pain points in a caregiver’s life is transitions. You know - out the door in the morning, getting on pajamas, or setting the table for dinner.
AND if these transitions are stressful for parents you bet they are stressful for kids too! And for a child with anxiety the stress can be so much worse. School Breaks, House Transitions, and Travel: An At Home Tip To Ease Anxiety With Big Events10/2/2024 
Anxiety is a diagnosis that can be painful and dysregulating to both kids and families. Parents and caregivers can feel out of control not knowing how to calm the anxiety and dysregulation and oftentimes that leads parents to co-escalate right along with their kids. And if we have learned anything it is that a dysregulated adult can never soothe a dysregulated child. If you are looking for more ways to support dysregulated caregivers in the playroom grab my FREE parent guide for co-regulation HERE! 
Predictability and familiarity can be amazing antidotes for anxiety. Think about it! For most kids who worry the first or second time is the most intense, but at the end of a lacrosse season or course of physical therapy they feel like pros!
I have shared resources HERE and HEREfor some of my best tips and interventions for how to make the unknown known and decrease anxiety. And today? I wanted to share another low cost resources to help make the unknown known and increase predictability and familiarity - all for the cost of a sheet of paper! 
Did you know that our bodies are absolutely terrible at predicting exactly what will happen in a stressful situation? And anxiety is meant to be protecting - I mean, if I can attempt to predict the 342,938 possible outcomes then I MUST be able to protect myself from each one….right?
Well… not exactly. The conversation, test, or game never goes quite how you predict it will and sometimes life throws you an absolute curveball. 
How often does that fear creep in for you that kids are just telling you what you want to hear in the playroom?
This is definitely a real challenge for play therapists, and therapists that work with grownups too! One of the big challenges with kids is comprehension. They might not exactly understand what you are saying, might not want to ask questions, and just agree so you can “move on”. 
Long story short, anxiety is a result of your body deeming something in the environment or future as threatening leading it to kick into a sympathetic nervous system response where the body “revs up” in preparation to fight the dangerous thing or run away.
And in real life situations like having a pop quiz, being on stage at a dance competition, or going into a birthday party with kids a child doesn’t know - there are few times in life that running away or fighting actually solves the problem. |
Hi, there!I'm Ann Meehan, an LPCC, 
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[email protected] | Copyright Meehan Mental Health Services 2022
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[email protected] | Copyright Meehan Mental Health Services 2022