Active Interventions for Kids and Teens: Adding Adventures and Fun to Counseling

This engaging guide contains 50 action-oriented activities that can be used time and time again in groups with children, adolescents, and adults. Combining fun with proven adventure therapy strategies, the activities are designed to stimulate learning, promote social and emotional development and insight, cultivate strategic skills, foster change, and encourage teamwork. For quick and easy use, each activity lists age range, game rules, goals and objectives, materials required, modification suggestions, and post-activity processing and discussion questions. Additionally, helpful matrixes organize the activities by type, goals, objectives, and grade levels to help group leaders find the right activity at the right time, whether in school or mental health settings.

The authors also include 'how to' chapters with lots of practical suggestions for leading the activities in ways that are safe, enjoyable, and facilitative of the therapeutic goals; provide a rationale for using games and adventure therapy; discuss developmental considerations in treatment planning with children and teens; and offer their suggestions on how best to process and adapt the activities for maximum results.

In Active Interventions for Kids and Teens, the authors extol the virtues of experiential learning and provide the proverbial 'cookbook' that so many of us crave by tapping into the unlimited learning and fun that is available to those willing to connect with the healing power of play. --Scott Riviere, MS, LPC, RPT-S, Founder and Director of K.I.D.Z., Inc. & Healing KIDZ, Inc.

This book, written by three gifted and dynamic child clinicians, is engaging, fun, and spirited and includes a treasure chest of creative and adventurous activities that children and teens are sure to enjoy. --David A. Crenshaw, PhD, ABPP, RPT-S, Founder of Rhinebeck Child & Family Center, Author of Evocative Strategies in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Engagement of Children and Adolescents

The organization of the straightforward and meaningful activities by objectives and types will be appreciated by counselors in schools or other structured facilities who need to tie interventions to treatment plans. Counselors will find this book a great addition to their therapeutic toolbox! --Dee Ray, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S, Director, Child and Family Resource Clinic Counseling Program University of North Texas

This book, written by three gifted and dynamic child clinicians, is engaging, fun, and spirited and includes a treasure chest of creative and adventurous activities that children and teens are sure to enjoy. --David A. Crenshaw, PhD, ABPP, RPT-S, Founder of Rhinebeck Child & Family Center, Author of Evocative Strategies in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Engagement of Children and Adolescents

The organization of the straightforward and meaningful activities by objectives and types will be appreciated by counselors in schools or other structured facilities who need to tie interventions to treatment plans. Counselors will find this book a great addition to their therapeutic toolbox! --Dee Ray, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S, Director, Child and Family Resource Clinic Counseling Program University of North Texas