Therapeutic Activities for Youth (and Adults Too) - Ideas from a Denver Youth Therapist

By Jordan Kurtz, MA, LPCC, teen Therapist in Denver, CO

One of my favorite parts about working at CZ Therapy Group is the opportunity to be a therapist for youth. For those who are parents or work often with youth, my subsequent revelation will likely not be of shock: young people are often more insightful, aware, and mature than their circumstances or support systems dictate.

The following activities are things I have done in session with younger folks that have illuminated exploration of coping mechanisms, self-talk and core values that talk therapy sometimes cannot touch as deeply.

Whether you work alongside children as a guardian, family member, babysitter, provider or you want to try these activities yourself, lean back and allow imagination to be the principal driving force.

Inspiration Toolbox

A few weeks ago a client of mine named that he had “no motivation” to complete an impending project at school.

I asked, “Where does motivation come from?” and we spent the rest of the session surprising ourselves with the sources of inspiration accessible to him once he brought awareness to it. As we discussed the sources, we wrote them down as a bulleted list he could print and keep in his pocket.

Whether you maintain that format or include visuals on a vision board, consider the following (who/what) for your own inspiration toolkit and remember to also explore why :

• Family members

• Friends

• Animals

• Fashion 

• Celebrities or famous figures

• TV/Movie characters

• Coaches, mentors, teachers

• Book/comic book characters

• My religion

• A specific culture/community (i.e. clubs at school, queer culture, etc)

Coping Kit 

Often times we struggle with knowing what coping mechanisms serve us best in certain contexts. Remembering our choices and determining which is appropriate under high stress, high emotions, or a time crunch can result in behaviors that don’t reflect our best selves.

Therefore, it may serve us to consider stress regulation options available to us when we have the most resources at hand: safety, time, support, and present mindedness.

As I completed this activity with a client, we wrote coping tools on slips of paper they kept within an envelope. Another popular option is to decorate popsicle sticks with the tools and keep them in an accessible location, like a desk or a locker.

Remember, coping is holistic! The body, mind, and heart should be kept in reference when building a toolkit.

Examples of coping mechanisms for kids and teens include:

Physical

• Stretching

• Taking ten deep breaths

• Going for a walk

• Squeezing ice

• Using a fidget spinner

• Sleeping before making a big decision

Emotional/Mental

• Take a 15-60 minute break to read, watch a movie, or read a book

• Call a trusted loved one or friend

• Consider, Will this stressor matter in 2 days? 1 week? 1 month? A year?

• Journal

• Remind yourself of past successes 

Create an Ally 

This is a meditation I use with clients of all ages that I am grateful my EMDR training taught as a resource! (Consult with me further if you are interested in learning more about using EMDR as a trauma healing tool). It is easiest to perform when someone reads the script and guides another through it, though it can be done individually as well. 

1. Find a quiet space with minimal or no distractions. Dim lights, incorporate noise machines, invite your pet to join, or include whatever other sources will bolster your sense of comfort. 

2. Settle into a position that you can maintain without tension or distress for several minutes. Initiate several rounds of deep breathing or box breaths until you feel outside concerns are muted.

3. With eyes open or closed, consider a figure that you associate with support, calm, strength or nurturance. It can be a person, animal, or fictional character from a movie or book. It can be a real person, though many find it best to pick a figure that is imaginary as we often have mixed feelings about real people in our lives and this figure should represent 100% positivity. Continue breathing, and take a few moments to notice who or what comes to mind.

4. Invite greater awareness of your ally. What size are they? What colors do you notice? What textures? What do you hear? Are there any smells? How is the ally positioned near you?

5. Allow yourself to feel the support of your ally, and as their presence increases, notice what body sensations and emotions are associated with them.

• Optional: To increase connectedness with your ally or deepen positive emotional states or sensations, try gently swaying back and forth, tapping on your shoulders or knees, or whatever motion feels right to you.

6. Listen to see if your ally has any message of support to offer you, or if you have anything that you would like to ask of from your ally (i.e. increased sense of acceptance, kindness, good luck, etc).

7. Engage with your ally for as long as you would like or need. When you are ready to come back to the present, thank your ally for their support and remember that you can call upon them at any time to offer support.

Note: It can be helpful to record a reading of this meditation aloud so you can refer back to it when needed versus reading the script!

Get Started with Teen Therapy and Youth Counseling in CO

1. Reach out to schedule a free 20-minute consult call.

2. Connect with the CZTG therapist of your choice via a phone consult.

3. Begin your process of exploration, healing, and growth.

Other CZTG Offerings

EMDR FOR TRAUMA COUPLES THERAPY ANXIETY THERAPY Trauma THERAPY LGBTQ+ THERAPY

Meet the Writer

Jordan Kurtz (she/her) is a trauma and relationship therapist at CZTG who focuses on therapy for grief, trauma, adolescence, and couples. Jordan is authentic, warm, and affirming of her clients’ identities and experiences.

If you’d like to connect with Jordan to learn more about what it would be like to work together, feel free to reach out for a free consultation.