Let's Build Together! A LEGO® -Based Intervention

intervention themes assessment, engagement, feelings expression, coping and/or anger management, self esteem, team building estimated time needed for activity approximately 30 minutes recommended age range 10 and up materials needed building communication intervention materials needed equal sets of lego® bricks (other building block systems may be used) lego® mirror worlds intervention materials needed variety of lego® bricks, minifigures, baseplates (other building block systems may be used) preparation building communication intervention create equal sets of bricks for each participant (client, family, group) lego® mirror worlds intervention display, organize lego so that the client may choose from a variety of bricks with ease to create their worlds handout therapeutic goals building communication intervention facilitate cohesion and communication identify various communication styles improve communication between group/family members promote problem solving by gaining a better understanding of family dynamics build empathy and understanding reduce conflict within the family lego® mirror worlds intervention 1\ engage client in a therapeutic activity to allow for the safe expression of thoughts and feelings 2\ assessment of client's resources and support system 3\ facilitate rapport building 4\ facilitate identity exploration description building communication intervention this activity can help us explore the topic of miscommunication within families this exercise can be a fun way to introduce the concept of listening and how we all process information in different ways before the build occurs, it’s important that all individuals agree on a shared language for the bricks once a shared language is established, one individual describes their lego® structure (they should already have it built before proceeding, or therapist may provide an already built structure) while the other individual/s listen/s and builds the structure as described and neither individual may look at the other’s structures lego® mirror worlds intervention if you are familiar with the show stranger things and the client enjoys this show, the therapist can begin by discussing the show's concept of the upside down and the metaphors within the show (the upside down represents depression) if the client and therapist are unaware of the show, the therapist can create a prompt allowing exploration of identity (outside self vs inside self/what we show to the world vs what we hide), before and after (before the divorce vs after the divorce), feelings exploration (when i'm happy vs angry), etc prompt the client to create mirror worlds (opposite worlds that represent opposite feelings or situations) explore and process both sides of client's build use tracking and reflecting and "i notice" statements identify strengths and obstacles/resources, be curious and remember all meaning comes from the client, do not interpret! discussion for any intervention requiring lego®, it is important for the clinician to choose bricks that would meet the needs and building abilities of the client for example, younger/older individuals may have difficulty with smaller bricks due to different dexterity levels, then larger bricks such as lego® duplo® bricks would be the best brick to use in your lego® intervention processing questions building communication intervention once everyone has built their structure, notice similarities and differences facilitate discussion by asking the following process questions if everyone in the family heard the same description of the lego® structure, why is everyone’s so different? can you each think of a time in your family when there was a misunderstanding or conflict because the same information was heard and understood differently by different family members? if each of you hear and process information differently, how can you use this information in your family to help you get along better? what new information did you learn about your family? lego® mirror worlds intervention ask the client to give you a "tour" of their mirror worlds be curious and ask questions about their lego® build use "i notice" statements about the creator, sophia ansari, lpcc, rpt sophia ansari, lpcc, rpt, is a licensed professional clinical counselor, registered play therapist, author, educator, and owner of let’s play therapy institute she provides workshops on play therapy to mental health professionals and educates caregivers and teachers on the importance of play as it relates to development and learning in the school setting she is a passionate research trainer who has bridged her knowledge of neuroscience and creative therapies to provide in depth and highly experiential trainings all over the world sophia co hosts hero nation, a podcast on the geek therapy network, which celebrates diversity in the media and explores how to use geek culture in therapy sophia earned her bachelor of science degree in biology from wright state university and her master of arts in mental health counseling from the university of cincinnati for more information on let’s play therapy institute visit, https //letsplaytherapy org contact sophia\@letsplaytherapy org