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Play Therapy scavenger hunts: Free download

5/20/2020

14 Comments

 
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Scavenger hunts are so much fun! It’s the excitement and anticipation of the what you might find, using creativity to find something that fits in the category, and the challenge of completing or finding all the items on the list. 

Now of course, scavenger hunts are not just something to kill time, they need to be grounded in theory and tied to the goals you are working on with the client.  Essentially – the golden thread!

However, what is so great about scavenger hunts is that they lend themselves to working on SO MANY goals and skills young people may be working on and most can be flexible enough to fit into a wide range of theories! AND the most important of those might be that when children are having FUN they are able to stay in their prefrontal cortex, in their window of tolerance, and this is where learning and growing happens! Wooo Hoo! And this is so important because the fun and joy we bring to our sessions allows us to connect with our clients and develop relationships, and research shows HERE that of the factors we have control over as therapists, the relationship is the number one factor for client change. Sit with that for a minute. 

Let’s talk about goals – depending on what and how you are hunting you may be working on mindfulness, self esteem, self talk or self statements, regulation skills, impulse control, rule following, or rapport building – just to name a few!  

There are so many interesting and unique ways to do a scavenger hunt.  I have found that sometimes the first prompt takes us to the end of the session even when the client has found all the items in under a couple of minutes! The processing about the items is so rich and because the client is in their own environment you get another window into their lives that you might not with other activities.

Now, what about the prompts? I’ve include a FREE download HERE of 5 different therapeutic scavenger hunts!  It includes scavenger hunt items and prompting and processing questions as well as a therapist guide.  Scavenger hunt topics include mindfulness and grounding, gratitude, nature, emotions, and self esteem.  However, this is the absolutely tip of the ice burg of scavenger hunts of what you can create for or collaboratively with your client! Below are some pro tips and extra layers of challenges you can add in to make things interesting! 
 
Pro Tips:
  • A timer can help a client focus (who maybe would tend to wander) – kids LOVE to beat timers!
  • If you are worried about a client’s ability to gather items you can assign it as homework (with parent assistance) to gather outside of session and do the processing during session OR have the parent as a “coach” to help gather during the session.
  • Consider whether it is best for the client to “take you along” on a device or leave you stationary.  Considerations may be internet connectivity, a client who may need extra prompting during the search, or the portability of the device. 
  • Connect with parents about any rules about what objects may or may not be taken – like maybe don’t take your teenage siblings phone for this challenge!
  • Connect with parents about the boundaries – are some rooms off limits? Can the client go outside?
​
Extra Challenges:
  • Have clients describe the objects to you out of the site of the camera, and the therapist guesses the object.
  • Set a time to beat for gathering all items.
  • Set a goal for number of rooms to gather from (being mindful of the number of available rooms in the house).
  • A rule that objects must all be the same color.
  • A rule that the object’s main color must all be different.
 
Drop a comment to let me know if you have used scavenger hunts in your work (in office and in Tele-Play) with clients! How did it go and what are your best pro tips? 
Download the worksheet bundle HERE!
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14 Comments
Sabra
5/20/2020 08:30:25 pm

This is wonderful!!!!

Thanks

Reply
Ann Meehan
5/21/2020 04:36:49 am

Thanks Sabra!!

Reply
Malinda
5/21/2020 07:52:54 am

I cannot seem to find where to click to download on the link this page posted. When I go there's no box to put my email and nowhere to click to download. Please help!

Reply
Ann Meehan
5/22/2020 12:56:32 pm

Hi Malinda - when I troubleshoot it it pops up for me. Email me at meehanmentalhealth@gmail.com and I can shoot you the download!

Reply
Selena
5/22/2020 04:19:40 am

I would not like to join email. I tried to down load bundle but not accepting my email.com

Reply
Ann Meehan
5/22/2020 12:57:41 pm

Hi Selena! It will prompt you to put in your email and then you can save from Google Docs to your computer. You will get a "welcome email" of sorts and then just click "unsubscribe" at the bottom if you don't want to get any other emails! If you have any issues email me at meehanmentalhealth@gmail.com!

Reply
Jessica
10/27/2020 11:25:57 am

Could you please send the download for the therapeutic scavenger hunts?

Reply
Nicky Salter link
11/9/2020 02:11:36 am

This is brilliant! I have been looking and looking for virtual sand tray ideas to cope with Covid. Of course, there are some but the cost and techno bits you need with it put me off! Thank you so much. x

Reply
Crystal Johnson
11/15/2020 05:24:38 pm

In times like this, any and all resources are welcomed and I appreciate your reminder - golden thread.

Reply
Mandy Jerger
12/16/2020 09:59:52 am

Hello! I was wondering how I could get the free downloads for the therapeutic scavenger hunt. Thank you!

Reply
Ann Meehan
12/17/2020 04:34:44 am

Hi Mandy! Use the link below to get the scavenger hunt! It should re-direct you to the document immediately! Let me know if you have any problems - ann@meehanmentalhealth.com


https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5fb089672367c7853e283d5b

Reply
Pav
12/16/2020 10:50:31 pm

Please send link tor download as this one isn’t working . Thank you.

Reply
Ann Meehan
12/17/2020 04:36:14 am

Hello Pav! I just tested all my links (in chrome) using several accounts and they worked for me. The link below should automatically redirect you to the document. If you have any problems you can email me at ann@meehanmentalhealth.com and I can shoot you over the PDF!

Thanks!


https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5fb089672367c7853e283d5b

Reply
Cliona Vaughan link
2/8/2021 05:22:53 am

This is such an amazing resource.
Thank you for sharing it, I am sooo grateful as I know it will be fun but will also help many.
I have subscribed to you emails.

Reply



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    Hi, there!

    I'm Ann Meehan, an LPCC,
    ​RPT-S
    ™, and EMDR Consultant. I help therapists that work with kids and teens go from a place of stress and survival to inspired and thriving.  I give child therapists the resources, tools, and skills they need to be effective and confident in their practice!

    I am organization obsessed, coffee loving, playful therapist who is showing up for life in the north woods of Minnesota. 

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  • Home
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