It is SO easy to get stuck in sessions with teens. Especially when maayyybe being in therapy isn’t exactly their first choice of how to spend their time.
Sometimes it seems like you are exhausted and out of ideas of what to do next, which can leave your sessions a bit…flat. And all this isn’t helped when questions and prompts of what to talk about or focus on are often met with silence, shrugs, or “I don’t knows”. So….I wanted to share with you three games that I use in my work with teens in Play Therapy!
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How high is your self esteem on a scale of 1-10?
This is a question that often comes up in my intake sessions with teens. Assessing self esteem and confidence as part of their overall functioning and presentation is essential during the first several sessions. High levels of self esteem and confidence usually coincide with lower levels of depression and anxiety in teens. 
Have you ever sat down across from a teen client and as you are checking in about the week you hear… crickets. One word answers. I don't know.
And as much as you try to meet them where they are at, build rapport, and increase engagement sometimes it feels like you have hit a brick wall. 
Have you ever had a teen client where you know something is up?
Well… probably because you got a heads up from their parent, that likely came with an agenda that they will talk about it and “fix” it in therapy. You know the stuff - failing grades, sneaking out, the epic explosion that happened in the living room last night. |
Hi, there!I'm Ann Meehan, an LPCC, 
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ann@meehanmentalhealth.com | Copyright Meehan Mental Health Services 2022
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ann@meehanmentalhealth.com | Copyright Meehan Mental Health Services 2022