DAILY CHECK-IN:
- POSITIVE: I ask them to share something positive that happened since the last session. It is very important to make the sessions, not just about their problems, but also about the positive times they had.
- PROGRESS GOALS: How did they think they did in terms of achieving their goals since the last session. Some of the questions that can be asked are what hindered the goals to be achieved.
- FEELINGS: With younger kids, I have them draw any strong feelings they had for that week. For older children, I have them share their feeling. or I ask them to talk about an event that brought strong emotions.
- CLIENT’S ISSUES: One thing I have realized is that it is better to ask the client if there is anything they will like to talk about at the beginning of the session, resulting in them feeling heard and also preventing going over the time limit if I wait till the end.
- HOMEWORK: I also try to make sure they write down things they learned in the session, and their homework so they can implement them outside of the session.
SAFETY PLAN:
Every session, I also do a check-in about their suicidal and homicidal ideation. Clearly, if they are suicidal in the session, an assessment and appropriate safety measures will have to be made. If they shared their suicidal thoughts since the last session, then they can discuss triggers, coping skills used, safety plan, and support system. They can also take this home with them.
