Therapeutic Tools

Back-to-school shopping can bring excitement, but it can also bring big emotions, disagreements, and stress—for both parents and kids. These trauma-informed scripts are here to give you simple, practical words to use in those challenging moments so you can stay connected while still holding healthy boundaries.

Script 1: The Clothing Item You Don't Approve Of

Parent: "I can tell you really like this shirt. But I am not comfortable buying this. I know that's disappointing."

Pause and allow emotion.

"Let's keep looking together and see if we can find something that gives you the same style while staying within the boundaries I'm responsible for."

I wanted to share a simple resource for building connection at home. Inspired by themes from The Connected Child, this free handout includes practical, everyday activities to help strengthen trust, emotional connection, resilience, and healing.

These ideas are simple enough to try during your regular routines, and even small moments of connection can make a meaningful difference.

Download the free handout here: https://ab27fd21-1cce-483f-b778-33ea139a5466.usrfiles.com/ugd/ab27fd_1dac0e136fb14d709fabb25c081f1f96.pdf

https://youtu.be/1Nh0n2LcU7I?si=YLhGiTjXIim5rk5J

Sometimes children struggle to put their emotions into words. Feelings like fear, sadness, anger, or even confusion can be hard to express—especially when they feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. That’s where a little creativity can make a big difference!

Making sock puppets is a simple and playful way to help children share what’s going on inside. When a child speaks through a puppet, it creates a sense of safety and distance, allowing them to express thoughts and emotions they might not feel comfortable saying directly.

Why sock puppets work:

• Encourages emotional expression in a non-threatening way

When kids go through hard things, they don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling—

Two books I often use in the counseling room are Something Sad Happened and Something Scary Happened. These are part of the “What to Do When…” series, and they gently help children begin to make sense of big emotions that can feel overwhelming.

One of the reasons I love these books is because they center choice and consent. As we read, children are invited—not forced—to connect with the story. They get to decide:

• “Does this feel like me?”