Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents, and Families What If Game Source: Donicka Budd Theme: Engagement and Assessment Recommended Age Range: Seven to Sixteen Treatment Modality: Individual, Group Goals • Assess client's awareness of feelings • Increase open communication Materials • What If Game question cards (included) • A wastepaper basket Advance Preparation To make the What If Game question cards, photocopy the questions provided below onto cardstock and cut them into cards. Description Two players take alternate turns throwing crumpled up paper into the wastepaper basket. If a player succeeds in getting the paper into the basket, she/he picks up a What If card and responds to the question on the card. If the player does not succeed in getting the paper into the basket, the other player can ask that person a question. Discussion This activity provides valuable assessment information and facilitates open communication. The activity also helps to build therapeutic rapport. For example, if the practitioner selects the card, "What if your pet could share something about you, what would it say?" The practitioner could respond, "My cat would say I'm the biggest slob in the morning." This response helps the client see the practitioner on a more human level. About The Author Donicka Budd, CYW, is a certified Professional Child and Youth Worker with ten years of experience working with vulnerable children, youth, and families. Donicka works as a Family Support Counselor in a children's mental health agency and has led several workshops in the Toronto area. Her innovative, playful Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children. Adolescents, and Families What If Game Question Cards What if someone was What if your favorite What if your pet could thinking about you right possession could talk, share something about what would it say now, who might that you, what would it say? about you? be? What if your life was all What if your favorite in color, what colors person spent the day with you, what would would it be? she/he say about you? What if you disagreed with something someone did or said, what could this be about? What if you could ask What if someone could do something nice for anyone a question, what might you want to you, what would that be? know? What if someone wanted to know something about you. what would you tell them? What if no one wanted What if you had a What if you could speak magic wand that could to play with you, what your mind about reason might they change three things in anything to anyone, your life, what would have? How might you what would you say? feel? those be? What if someone gave you some helpful advice to help you with something, what might they say? What if you could go back in time, what would be happening right now? What if someone was thinking about how proud they are of you, who might that be? © Donicka Budd Section 1: Engagement and Assessment style is illustrative of her work with her clients. She is the author of Empowering ^Adolescents to Realize Their Potential: Innovative Activities to Engage the flDon't Know, I Don't Care" Responsive Youth through Expressive Arts and |p/ay and creator of her own line of therapeutic games. She currently serves on the iBoard of Directors of the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy. © Donicka Budd 35
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