Free Download: Play Therapy Activity To Increase Motivation for Teens That Are Stuck

How often do you work with teens that are less than motivated?  

Things in their everyday life seem monotonous and in some ways that’s really true! Same routine, same school day, same homework.  And for teens and tweens it is easy to feel stuck. Like it’s going to be the same thing day after day with no end in sight.  

Why try?

For these teens and tweens, to get some movement you’ll likely need some creativity.  If an inspirational Pinterest board, a parent on their case, or just talking about it was enough - they likely wouldn't be here now.  

So, I wanted to share this prompt I use with teens and tweens for those stuck, stale, hopeless moments to get a little forward movement and progress.  It starts with a single step right?

AND in this step - there is art, play, and a ton of fun!

So when I am working with teens and tweens I will use some form of this guided visualization:

“I want you to imagine that you had the power to wake up anywhere in the world.  Somewhere you have been before, or somewhere completely new. This would be a place where you would feel calm/safe/powerful/free/your best self.  Now, I want you to imagine that you wake up in the morning, do a quick stretch and walk to your window.  You open the curtain and look outside.  What do you see?”

You can do this purely in imagination OR use art supplies or Sand Tray to create the scene. 

If you have a teen that gets stuck and needs a liiiittle bit bigger nudge check out my FREE Download of 24 Dream Location Visualization Cards for Goal Setting. It is an absolutely free resource to get your wheels turning AND you can add any images of your own!

Next, after the image is selected or created you can process with the following questions: 

• What is the best thing about this place 
• How are your needs met here 
• How do you feel here
• What beliefs do you have about yourself that are different from your life now 
• What is the pace of your everyday life 
• What would be true about you if you lived in this place 

Lastly, out of the conversation with these processing questions you can then start to brainstorm how a client can have a teeny tiny taste of that in their everyday life. 

Maybe they selected a picture that brings them peace.  This is an excellent place to process how they might get more peace in their real life.  Maybe it is meditation, going for walks in the woods, or listening to music that brings this same feeling.

The sky is the limit and this therapy activity helps young people get away from black and white all or nothing thinking that either life is perfect or, it isn’t.

With this intervention the small steps to building a more regulated life can become clearer - all with a little fun! 

So - grab your FREE DOWNLOAD of the 24 Dream Location Visualization Cards for Goal Setting HERE! 

AND if you are looking for more support in your work with teens and tweens in the playroom check out my course Growing Out Of The Playroom: Teens and Tweens in Play Therapy!  This course is PACKED with over 25 interventions to use with teens and tweens in the playroom! ​

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