Thoughts on Trial is a book/game to help children identify self-talk and to challenge false beliefs or negative self-talk statements. This resource was made to help children understand cognitive behavioral skills so they can overcome defeating thought patterns.
The book shows a courtroom in the mind with a bully who is calling the child, Jordan, a name. The lawyer calls in the witnesses: Jordan’s mom, his teacher, and his best friend. Each report that Jordan is smart and that there is no evidence that he is dumb. In the end, the bully is found to be lying and Jordan is free from the accusations.
The biggest bully most people face is their own self-talk statements. Once kids can identify how to prove a bully wrong, they can then use those skills to challenge their self-talk. Cognitive-behavioral counseling is powerful and effective, but the concepts can be challenging for children to understand. This resource helps simplify it and makes it practical, so kids can understand and put the skills to use. The game challenges children to evaluate their own self-talk and practice challenging negative beliefs. The cards include basic CBT skills as well as various scenarios and how to respond to different challenges.
This game/book was created to be used with elementary-aged children, ages 5-12. It could be used in individual, group, or family counseling sessions or could be a great resource for parents to use with their children.The game can be played in individual, group, or family counseling sessions or could be played at home with families. This is a resource that can be used to help educate families and open dialogue about understanding the inherent traits of their children.
You will receive a PDF document with instructions and a link to the Google Slides document that includes both the game and the ebook. The instructions also contain a video tutorial on how to use Google Slides to play games.
Recommended Ages:
This resource is best for children ages 5-11.
A physical copy of this resource is available here.