Incase Your Missed It: Top 10 Blog Posts for 2021

Life can be so busy as a child therapist.  You are trying to be present for your clients, provide the most evidence based and effective treatment modalities, oh...and then there are the “other things” that get shoved between client sessions and in the random client cancellation. 
 
You know, the phone calls, emails, preparing and sending records, and the client crises.  As much as we can strive for wonderful outside of session boundaries - things happen that we need to attend to, like documentation for IEPs or provider coordination calls.  
 
Oh ya - and the documentation, writing notes, updating treatment plans and annual assessments, and all the other assessments and bits of information that need to be in client files. 
 
Wheeew - so in all of that I wanted to catch you up on some of my top blogs visited in 2021 that thousands of therapists have found benefit in. 
 
 In case you missed any of these here are my top 10 visited blogs in 2021: 
 
Telemental Health and Children: 20 Free and Minimal Supply Activities 
This blog will give you 20 free and minimal supply activities you can use both for Telemental Health and in person.  It gets right to the good stuff with all of the resources in one place! 
 
The Color Monster: Free Downloadable Worksheet Set
A completely free downloadable resource to use as a companion with The Color Monster book! Did you know that research shows that adding an activity with a Bibliotherapy makes it more effective?  Well… now you do! 
 
Play Therapy Progress Note Tips 
Okay - most of us struggle with writing effective progress notes.  Now what about as a Play Therapist?  Here are some of my top tips to communicate the therapeutic benefits of activities such as “giant tornado ball crushes city” and “7 rounds of UNO”.  
 
Covert Calming
This blog is FULL of activities to help young people regulate and calm without putting out a flashing beacon that they are working on regulation skills. These are pure gold for young people who struggle with utilizing skills because  they are worried what others will think. 
 
4 Calming Crafts to Make in Your Office  
Get inspired with ideas of low prep/supply crafts to make in your office and for your client’s to take home that will help with calming and regulation.  
 
5 Playful Ways to Teach Deep Breathing 
Recently at a training I asked everyone to raise their hands if they had clients who were excited and fully on board to learn one of the most effective strategies backed by neuroscience for regulating emotions - deep breathing!!! Yay!!
 
Okay - nobody raised their hands and I’m not surprised.  Most young people aren’t so excited about learning this skill, so this blog is full of creative and playful ways to get kids to learn and actually use deep breathing! 
 
Bibliotherapy: Giraffes Can’t Dance
Remember above that bibliotherapy interventions are more effective with a paired directive Play Therapy activity? Well - here’s another one for you complete with a FREE downloadable worksheet!  Giraffes can’t dance has it all - growth mind set, shifting cognitions, and an adorable giraffe Gerald! This is definitely in my top 3 Bibliotherapy books!! 
 
The Portable Playroom: Comprehensive Play Therapy Kit Source List  
One of my most frequently asked questions is around what toys a therapist should buy when working with kids.  Oh - and a lot of therapists I work with for supervision/consultation have a portable practice where they are going in home, to multiple schools, or are in different offices.  
 
These kits were developed inside of the pandemic as a resource I sent to child client’s so we could continue our Play Therapy with a version of my playroom brought right into their living rooms, bedrooms, or wherever they were playing.  
 
So - let me do the heavy lifting for you!  This is a comprehensive guide with all my source links for you to check and out!
 
Sand Tray and Miniature Kit: Source List 
Sand Tray is one of my favorite modalities to work with children.  This blog holds a source list of sand tray miniatures, where to get sand tray containers that are portable, and my favorite sand.  It also includes a list of free or found objects that are a great addition to any Sand Tray practice! 
 
Free Download: 15 Calming Affirmations for Kids 
If you are working on shifting thinking patterns with young people this is an excellent and FREE resource to help young people identify that adaptive and intentional thoughts that they would like to occupy their minds.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is all about shifting cognitions to adaptive to help people feel better and act in the ways that work for both them and the world around them.  Help young people get intentional with these free (and oh so pretty) downloadable cards! 
 
There you have it!  The top 10 visited blogs from The Playful Therapist Blog in 2021.  Blogs come out each week on Wednesday and cover a variety of topics from Play Therapy interventions, free downloads, tips and strategies for documentation, and practice elevating resources.  

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