This presentation examines the benefits of experiential mental health therapy and shares many examples of ideas to use with teenagers in particular.

1. Summit Preparatory School
Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes:
Effective Experiential Activities

3. Overwhelmed
and/or Unwilling
“Panic Zone”
Disequilibrium
“Optimum Learning Zone”
Status Quo
“Comfort Zone”
No Change
Potential for
Change
No Change

4. Skill Objective
Able to develop an
Skill Objective Independent Identity
Able to
Incorporate
Structure in Life
Skill Objective
Able to Form Stage #4
Meaningful Consolidating
Relationships skills and
forming a
Skill Objective resilient
Able to Self Soothe Stage #3 independent
Identifying with sense of self
meaningful others based on
in beginning to empathy and
Stage #2
define self future goal
Opening up to
new life possibilities setting
Stage #1 through forming
Learning to meaningful
tolerate structure relationships with
without “meltdowns” others
through trust in
others

10. Skill Objective
Able to develop an
Skill Objective Independent Identity
Able to
Incorporate
Structure in Life
Skill Objective
Able to Form Stage #4
Meaningful Consolidating
Relationships skills and
forming a
Skill Objective resilient
Able to Self Soothe Stage #3 independent
Identifying with sense of self
meaningful others based on
in beginning to empathy and
Stage #2
define self future goal
Opening up to
new life possibilities setting
Stage #1 through forming
Learning to meaningful
tolerate structure relationships with
without “meltdowns” others
through trust in
others

17. Skill Objective
Able to develop an
Skill Objective Independent Identity
Able to
Incorporate
Structure in Life
Skill Objective
Able to Form Stage #4
Meaningful Consolidating
Relationships skills and
forming a
Skill Objective resilient
Able to Self Soothe Stage #3 independent
Identifying with sense of self
meaningful others based on
in beginning to empathy and
Stage #2
define self future goal
Opening up to
new life possibilities setting
Stage #1 through forming
Learning to meaningful
tolerate structure relationships with
without “meltdowns” others
through trust in
others

22. Skill Objective
Able to develop an
Skill Objective Independent Identity
Able to
Incorporate
Structure in Life
Skill Objective
Able to Form Stage #4
Meaningful Consolidating
Relationships skills and
forming a
Skill Objective resilient
Able to Self Soothe Stage #3 independent
Identifying with sense of self
meaningful others based on
in beginning to empathy and
Stage #2
define self future goal
Opening up to
new life possibilities setting
Stage #1 through forming
Learning to meaningful
tolerate structure relationships with
without “meltdowns” others
through trust in
others

30. “Man is most nearly himself
when he achieves the
seriousness of a child at play”
-Heraclitus, 492 BCE