Connecting to your
own inner child
How to use therapeutic, play-based
interventions and other resources
with young people
Presented by: Audra Ekeinde-Jimenez, LCSW &
Katherine Tineo-Komatsu, LCSW
Agenda
● Welcome & Introductions
● Learning Objectives
● Inner Child Worksheet
● Inner Child, Countertransference, and Play-Based Interventions
● Activity Stations
● Create a Play-Based Intervention Plan
● Assessing Effectiveness of Play-Based Interventions
● Mindfulness Activity
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
● Define and explain play-based interventions and give three examples
● Apply at least one play-based intervention in their setting with their population
● Examine countertransference as it relates to the inner child
● Create an individual session plan for a young person using a therapeutic game
● Assess the effectiveness of their use of play-based interventions with young people
Inner Child Worksheet
“Deep down within each of us there is a child who is joyful to simply be
alive. A child who is excited for everything that life has to offer. A child
who wants to simply ‘play’ through life. Embrace that inner child. Be
present. Express yourself. Let yourself ‘play.’”
-Jennifer Wardowski
Inner Child & Countertransference
● Inner child is a person's supposed original or true self, especially when regarded as damaged or
concealed by negative childhood experiences.
○ Example: as an adult you may still be acting out the pain suffered by your inner child
● Countertransference is when a client brings up unconscious feelings in us.
○ Example: a student reminds you of your brother or daughter.
○ This brings about the risk that as professionals we will be reactive when conflicts arise and not responsive
or reflective.
■ For example, we may treat and react to the student as if they were our daughter or brother
instead of the unique individual that they are.
● These two concepts are related because at times we experience countertransference directly
connected to our inner child
○ Example: a student describes an experience that triggers an emotional reaction within you because as a
child you experienced this too
○ Example: a student reminds you of your brother and brings up memories of your childhood and how you
related to him
“Your inner child is the echo of the child you once
were. We each have our own history and we have all
been influenced by our environment, events, and the
significant people around us. Our inner child has
stored those memories, and their impact upon us.”
-Maxine Harley
Inner Child Article
Play-Based Interventions
● Play Therapy is a form of counseling or psychotherapy in which play is used as a means of helping
children express or communicate their feelings
● Play-based interventions are practices designed to support a student’s development through guided
interactive play
○ This has become an “umbrella” term that includes not only Play Therapy, but also sandplay therapy,
expressive art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, dance therapy, art therapy, and others
● Play Based Interventions are beneficial for children because they help children:
○ Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
○ Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
○ Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
○ Learn to experience and express emotion.
○ Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
○ Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
○ Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.
Activity Stations
● Mandala Coloring
● Card Games - Mindfulness, What Do You Stand For
● Act It Out & Worksheets
● Games in the Jar
● The Mask I Live In Activity
● Worry Stones and Box
Create Your Own Play-Based
Intervention Plan
Pick a station. Identify all the different ways you can
use the activity at the station to engage students
therapeutically. Think about what the presenting issues
are and what you’re treating with this activity. Then
create a plan. You can use the worksheet. Be prepared
to share out.
Assessing the Effectiveness of
Play-Based Interventions
● When exploring the assessments that reflect the effectiveness of play therapy we
found that there is not a specific tool that is being used.
● It is suggested that you find your own method to measure the positive outcomes of the
interventions that you are implementing.
○ For example: Therapist observations, teacher reporting, child self assessments, monitoring skills
used in session during roleplays and child practice of skills learned both at home and in school.
○ Be mindful and aware that change is a process and that we might need to advocate for our
students within our practice settings.
Mindfulness Activity
We are going to complete a guided visualization
meditation.
Resources
https://search-alexanderstreet-com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%
7C2875236
Epdf.tips_healing-the-inner-city-child-creative-arts-therapi.pdf
https://www.guilford.com/excerpts/drewes.pdf
https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/vistas/article_18.pdf?sfvrsn=10
https://www.guilford.com/excerpts/schaefer.pdf
https://www.amazon.com/School-Based-Play-Therapy-Athena-Drewes/dp/0470371404/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=U
TF8&qid=1526823588&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=school+based+play+therapy&psc=1
