TeenHelp - A therapy kit

A therapy kit
By Cassie (cynefin)

While therapy can serve as a comforting place for many, it can also bring about uncomfortable or overwhelming feelings pertaining to working through their struggles. If you sometimes feel uncomfortable or anxious, you may benefit from making a therapy bag or kit. Some people do bring objects to therapy but others do not utilize this or do not know that it is an option. This is where a kit may come in handy.

A therapy kit is a bag that is filled with things to help you feel more comfortable in therapy. It may be filled with a blanket or a stuffed animal, for example. When making a therapy kit, you'll need an appropriately sized bag and comfort or fidget items.

If you're struggling to know what you can include, try thinking of items you use to help you feel safer when you're struggling. You could also think of things you commonly yearn for in therapy. For example, when discussing difficult things you may wish to have a blanket wrapped around you or a stuffed animal in your hands.

You could include comfort items such as pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals. You may also benefit from having fidget items if you get anxious. A few examples of fidget items are a fidget cube or spinner, a yo-yo, a rubix cube, or a grounding item like a squishy or gel toy. Distracting items such as a coloring book or a card game can help keep your hands busy and your anxiety at bay when you discuss uncomfortable topics.

What to include in your kit is ultimately up to you and what makes you feel safe or grounded. When making your kit, note that it can be used outside of therapy. You could use it during times that may bring stress such as a family gathering or extended travel.

Know that different things help different people, so keep looking for objects that help you feel safe and comfortable. Your kit can serve as a tool to provide you with coping skills or distractions during an otherwise hard time. It is also a reminder of how working through things, big or small, is possible in time.