Table Of ContentTHE THERAPIST’S NOTEBOOK FOR CHILDREN
AND ADOLESCENTS
In The Therapist’s Notebook for Children and Adolescents, second edition, you will find the most
powerful tools available for aiding children with their feelings, incorporating play techniques into
therapy, encouraging appropriate parental involvement in family sessions, and providing group
therapy to children. This ready reference is divided into 10 thoughtfully planned sections to make
it easy to find the right activity, handout, or intervention for the problem at hand, whether you
are looking for creative ideas, running a children’s group, putting interventions into practice in
the classroom, or looking for ways to increase parental and familial involvement. Instructions for
the activities are clearly explained and highlighted with case examples and many illustrations.
Chapters are by leading experts, including Eliana Gil, Risë VanFleet, Liana Lowenstein, Howard
Rosenthal, and Volker Thomas, and explore strategies for treating children both individually and
in a family context. With more than 60% new material, this expanded version delves into the lat-
est research and thinking on family play therapy and addresses many pertinent issues of our time,
including bullying, suicidal ideation, ADHD, autism, adolescents and sex, and cultural issues. It is
a must-have arsenal for both novice and experienced professionals in family therapy, play therapy,
psychology, psychiatry, counseling, education, nursing, and related fields.
Catherine Ford Sori, PhD, LMFT, is professor in the division of psychology and counseling at
Governors State University, where she is also leader of the marriage and family track. She has won
numerous faculty excellence awards, and is the mental health consultant for the Early Head Start
Program at the Family Development Center. Dr. Sori is also associate faculty at the Chicago Center
for Family Health, an affiliate of the University of Chicago. She is a clinical fellow and AAMFT-
approved supervisor, and is a member of APT and ACA. This is Dr. Sori’s seventh book, and she has
authored numerous journal articles and book chapters. For many years, Dr. Sori was a professional
musician and music instructor. She lives in Indiana with her husband John, and is training their
dog, Abella, to become a play therapy canine.
Lorna L. Hecker, PhD, is faculty in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in the department
of behavioral sciences at Purdue University–Calumet in Hammond, Indiana. She is a licensed mar-
riage and family therapist, certified in healthcare privacy and security (CHPS) and a clinical fellow
and AAMFT-approved supervisor. She is also the director of the Purdue University Calumet Couple
and Family Therapy Center. She edited Couple and Professional Issues in Couple and Family Therapy
(Routledge), and is co-editor (with J. Wetchler) of An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy, in
addition to four other books of therapeutic activities.
Molli E. Bachenberg, MA, NCC, received her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision
from Governors State University and is assistant professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. Her
areas of research and specialty include addressing sexual issues in training and counseling, and
using playful techniques when working with adolescents and children, especially in sex-related
topics.
THE THERAPIST’S NOTEBOOK FOR
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Homework, Handouts, and Activities
for use in Psychotherapy
SECOND EDITION
Edited by:
Catherine Ford Sori
Lorna L. Hecker
Molli E. Bachenberg
Second edition published 2016
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2FA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2016 Catherine Ford Sori, Lorna Hecker, and Molli E. Bachenberg
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the
authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77
and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. The purchase of this copyright material confers the right on the
purchasing institution to photocopy pages which bear the photocopy icon and copyright
line at the bottom of the page. No other parts of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage
or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Routledge 2003
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The therapist’s notebook for children and adolescents: homework, handouts, and
activities for use in psychotherapy / edited by Catherine Ford Sori, Lorna Hecker,
and Molli E. Bachenberg. — Second edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
I. Sori, Catherine Ford. II. Hecker, Lorna L. III. Bachenberg, Molli E.
RJ504.T475 2015
618.92′8914—dc23
2015003961
ISBN: 978-0-415-71957-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-71958-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-86730-4 (ebk)
Typeset in Stone Sans and Stone Serif
by Swales & Willis Ltd, Exeter, Devon, UK
DEDICATIONS
I dedicate this book to the memory of my father, Marvin L. Ford, who ignited my imagination
and love of books by reading all the Wizard of Oz books to us; who was invaluable in honing my
writing skills and edited everything I ever wrote; and who is now “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
In the words of Dorothy, “There’s no place like home!” And in the words of my Father, “It’s not
goodbye, it’s just so long.”
Dr. Kate
I dedicate this book to Dr. Kate (Catherine) Sori, who worked so hard on this book while I was
busy playing Frisbee. I also dedicate it to my children, Aaron and Noah, with whom I was playing
Frisbee.
L. H.
I dedicate this book to my children, who have taught me how fun, educational, and healing play can
be. To my son who uses his creative mind to ask questions like, “Mom, what if we were all gummy
bears?” and to my daughter, who likes to color inside the lines and dance outside them.
M.B.
CONTENTS
Contributors xii
Foreword by Eliana Gil xv
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xxi
Therapist’s Attitudes about Play xxii
Catherine Ford Sori
SECTION 1 THE ROLE AND USE OF PLAY IN CHILD AND
FAMILY THERAPY 1
CHAPTER 1 Explaining the Use of Play to Parents 3
Linda Wark
CHAPTER 2 Tell Me All About It: Using Objects As Metaphors 9
Paula Franklin
CHAPTER 3 Individual and Family Play Genograms 13
Eliana Gil
CHAPTER 4 Using the Family Puppet Interview in Assessment
and Goal Setting 21
Catherine Ford Sori
CHAPTER 5 Using Puppet Play to Open Communication With
Children and Families 27
Catherine Ford Sori and Nancy Nickell
CHAPTER 6 The Family Video Game 33
Jenifer D. Lucas, Lucas Darragh, Paulette Foster, and Natasa Brozovic
CHAPTER 7 Family Card Game 38
Liana Lowenstein
viii Contents
SECTION 2 WORKING WITH CHILDREN’S EMOTIONS 45
CHAPTER 8 Soaring Above Stress: Using Relaxation, Visualization, and Music
With Children who Display Signs of Anxiety or Hyperactivity 47
Catherine Ford Sori and Nancee Biank
CHAPTER 9 Anger Collage 56
Katherine M. Hertlein and Felisa M. Huene
CHAPTER 10 Deflating Fear 61
Catherine Ford Sori and Nancee Biank
CHAPTER 11 Feeling Faces Prevent Scary Places 69
Nancee Biank and Catherine Ford Sori
CHAPTER 12 Pie Scapes: Exploring Children’s Thoughts and Feelings 74
Catherine Ford Sori and Nancee Biank
SECTION 3 STRENGTHENING ATTACHMENT BONDS 79
CHAPTER 13 Strengthening Parent–Child Attachment With Play:
Filial Therapy 81
Risë VanFleet
CHAPTER 14 Family Sandplay: Strengthening the Parent–Child
Relationship 88
Haley V. Pettigrew, Nikki Raimondi, and Lenore M. McWey
CHAPTER 15 Linked-In: Strengthening Parent–Child Relationships 92
Christopher J. Ciesla, Stephanie E. Popp, and Vicki L. Bunn
SECTION 4 SPECIFIC CHILDHOOD PROBLEMS 97
CHAPTER 16 Overcoming Bullying: Finding Inner Resources Through
the Circle of Strength 99
Jennifer E. Beebe and Patricia A. Robey
CHAPTER 17 One Thing Leads to Another: The Domino Effect for Teens
Expressing Impulsive, Hyperactive, or Oppositional Behaviors 105
Kimanne Foraker-Koons and Catherine Ford Sori
CHAPTER 18 Getting to Know Families and Children Diagnosed
With Autism Spectrum Disorders 111
Mariah M. Brockman
CHAPTER 19 Using Children’s Books in Family Therapy 115
Linda Wark, Julie Szekely, and Lisa Abrahamson
Contents ix
SECTION 5 TRAUMA AND SUICIDAL IDEATION 123
CHAPTER 20 Animal-Assisted Therapy for Sexually Abused Children 125
Elisabeth Reichert, Lindsey Bermel, and Catherine Ford Sori
CHAPTER 21 Children Experiencing Trauma, PTSD, or Anxiety: Using Worry Rocks 131
Sonya Lorelle
CHAPTER 22 Creating a Safe Space for Children who Have Experienced Trauma 137
Candice A. Maier and Volker Thomas
CHAPTER 23 Suicidal Ideation: Rediscovering our Treasures 142
Nicole M. Randick
SECTION 6 ADOLESCENTS, CULTURE, AND SPECIAL TOPICS 149
CHAPTER 24 KidsRap: Using Hip-Hop to Promote and Punctuate Change 151
Catherine Ford Sori
CHAPTER 25 Biracial Storyboards 160
Jakara L. Hubbard
CHAPTER 26 Fatherloss: Three Interventions for Working With African
American Adolescent Males 166
Joshua Morris and Catherine Ford Sori
CHAPTER 27 Transgenerational “Tableros”: An Activity for Working With
Latino American Adolescents and their Families 172
Bridget Sanchez
CHAPTER 28 Family Timeline Mural Drawing With Asian American Families 179
Rieko Miyakuni and Catherine Ford Sori
CHAPTER 29 The Use of the Culture Play Genogram 186
Eliana Gil
CHAPTER 30 Talking About Sex With Adolescents and Parents 194
Molli E. Bachenberg and Shannon B. Dermer
CHAPTER 31 Representative Images of Values/Views on Sex: Talking About
Sex through Images 201
Jennifer A. Boender and Elizabeth S. Thraen
CHAPTER 32 Amplifying the Voice of Youth: The Partners for Change
Outcome Management System 208
Barry L. Duncan and Jacqueline A. Sparks
CHAPTER 33 The Goat Story: The Royal Road From the Waiting Room
to the Counseling Couch 216
Howard Rosenthal
