“What Would They Say?” This is a family play therapy technique which could also be used for observational assessment. It provides fun environment where interpersonal communication is encouraged, resistance may be lessened, and the family is able to share information and learn about each other in a safe way. Instructions: The therapist sets up an interactive game (preferably a simple one associated with risk, like Jenga) and passes out paper and pen. The therapist should help make the game fun and enticing to encourage participation and fun. The family takes turns with the activity. Each person takes their turn and then reads their question. While that person whose turn it is thinks about their answer, each member of the family writes down what they each think that person is going to say. Then each member of the family shares what they wrote down. Questions might include: The person who can make me My favorite food is… My favorite color laugh most is… is… My favorite subject in school The feeling I would like to have is… less of is… The first couple rounds the therapist might keep it light and fun with just asking basic questions, and then after a round or two guide a discussion about what new information they and why they answered the way they did (if they guessed are learning (“Did you know that?”) correctly or not). This should be done with the assumption that is a and “no answer bad answer” most appropriate when a relationship is established with the therapist. If there is a member of the family who does not want to participate, the therapist can allow them to choose not to, but invite them to stay and watch. Instead, the therapist can engage the family member to participate in a back-door approach by asking, have “What would you said?” and by inviting then to join in the next round once they get to see what it is like or warm up. The therapist may be able to process deeper with the family as they become more comfortable, as the technique is used more, and as responses become more predictable. The therapist can also help members of the family to accept differences between ideas, opinions, personalities, likes, and ways of being. For observational assessment, note ways the family communicates and responds (verbally and nonverbally), family roles, behavior, emotional interaction, and problem solving. This could be utilized for multiple observational assessments. Retrieved from (See also for more information)
“What Would They Say?” This is a family play therapy technique which could also be used for observational assessment. It provides fun environment where interpersonal communication is encouraged, resistance may be lessened, and the family is able to share information and learn about each other in a safe way. Instructions: The therapist sets up an interactive game (preferably a simple one associated with risk, like Jenga) and passes out paper and pen. The therapist should help make the game fun and enticing to encourage participation and fun. The family takes turns with the activity. Each person takes their turn and then reads their question. While that person whose turn it is thinks about their answer, each member of the family writes down what they each think that person is going to say. Then each member of the family shares what they wrote down. Questions might include: My favorite food is… My favorite color is… My favorite subject in school is… The person who can make me laugh most is… The feeling I would like to have less of is… The first couple rounds the therapist might keep it light and fun with just asking basic questions, and then after a round or two guide a discussion about what new information they are learning (“Did you know that?”) and why they answered the way they did (if they guessed correctly or not). This should be done with the assumption that “no answer is a bad answer” and most appropriate when a relationship is established with the therapist. If there is a member of the family who does not want to participate, the therapist can allow them to choose not to, but invite them to stay and watch. Instead, the therapist can engage the family member to participate in a back-door approach by asking, “What would you have said?” and by inviting then to join in the next round once they get to see what it is like or warm up. The therapist may be able to process deeper with the family as they become more comfortable, as the technique is used more, and as responses become more predictable. The therapist can also help members of the family to accept differences between ideas, opinions, personalities, likes, and ways of being. For observational assessment, note ways the family communicates and responds (verbally and nonverbally), family roles, behavior, emotional interaction, and problem solving. This could be utilized for multiple observational assessments. Retrieved from (See also for more information)
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