Each month we choose a new theme on which to focus with our clients.
Our June theme for the Social Skills Training Program is Supporting Emotions.
Being aware of one’s emotions and being able to regulate or control them is essential for social success. If we are unable to manage our emotional state, we will have minimal success in social situations. When our emotions and behaviors don’t match the social situation, it makes others feel uncomfortable and not want to be around us.
Targeted skills include Coping Skills, Identifying Emotions and Perspective Taking.
Following are some examples of how we work with our clients on each skill.
Toolbox for Calming Strategies: We work together with the child to come up with tools they feel would be effective in calming their emotions. this may include a favorite stuffed animal , pictures of things/people, fidgets to squeeze and visuals to how to take a deep breath, such as the Six Sides of Breathing.
Mood Meter: We ask the child to check in each morning or during the day with a visual scale or meter to indicate how he is feeling. Encourage him to express his mood and explain why he is feeling that way. If he is feeling scared or upset about something, we help him talk about why he is feeling that way and come up with tools or ways to make him feel better (e.g. taking a walk, thinking about something that makes him happy).
Build Emotional Vocabulary: We help the child build his emotional vocabulary and awareness by pointing out the various emotions characters and people experience (look at magazines, books or play a video clip). Such emotions may include disappointed, upset, worried, confused, and many more. We also discuss whether a given emotion was expected or unexpected given the circumstances.
What’s My Perspective? We start by creating some simple thought and emotion cards using index cards and a marker. Think cards might include: That’s nice! That was silly! I like that! I hate that! That’s good! Not Cool. Emotion cards might include happy, sad, scared, mad, OK, frustrated, etc. Match the thinking and the emotions words to the child’s social level.
Our Floortime Program and SSTP will also be working with clients this month for Father’s Day. Helping the child/client make a card letting dad know how much he/she appreciates him and all that dad does. Help him think of things he can do throughout the day that would make dad happy, such as getting them a cup of tea or bringing them breakfast in bed, cleaning their room without being told.
Please feel free to post any comments or questions below.