Play Therapy
Personal Fairytale
Miniature World Activity

Play Therapy Personal Fairytale Miniature World

I ask my play therapy clients to build a personal play therapy world based on a fairytale theme of their choice. I use different world techniques in play therapy with my clients. The play therapy client will always get a unique perspective based on the different play therapy worlds they create.

They also have a great time creating these personal worlds. Try it with your client today!

Materials For Play Therapy World Miniature Fairytale:

Paper Plates or Triarama Board

Play Therapy Miniatures

Clip Art or Cutouts

Glue

Scissors

Directions for Play Therapy Miniature World:

1. Ask the client to begin building a personal world using miniatures and cutouts below. Create this world on a paper plate.

2. Once they have invited you to join their world you can ask some of the below questions. However, it is nice to request that you both sit quietly for a few moments in order to soak in the world that has been created. 3. Look for patterns and hot spots in the created world. Make a note of these in your drawing of the world.

Below are some suggestions for prompts from the therapist after the world has been created and the therapist has been invited into the world (These are only suggestions. Go with your gut!):

Tell me about this world that you have created? What was it like for you to create this world?

What was it like to pick up this _______ (miniature or clip art)?

How did it feel for you to create this space for this _________?

How would it feel to change your ________?

What is it like to live here for this _________?

Discuss what the feelings are within for this _________.

What makes it safe for this ________? What makes it unsafe for this ________?

What _________ would make this ________ feel unsafe in this environment (Add a new miniature or clip art to the world)?

If this ________ could talk, what would it say? Project your feelings and words into the miniature and make it talk.

What do you need to do to get rid of things that are unsafe in this world?

Is there something in this miniature collection that can make you feel safe in this world?

How can you make sure the ______ stays in this world with your miniature, or how can you access this animal when you need help?

Do you need to add anything to make this being feel safe? Do you need to take anything away to make this being feel safe?

What if we moved the ________ around in the world?

What would happen if we placed the _______ here, there?

What do you want / need to say to the ________ in this world?

What is it like for you experiencing this world?

What words would describe your experience today?

What did you learn from this world?

What would you like to take with you from this inside world into the outside world?

What needs to change or stay the same?

What protection does this _________ need in order to feel safe?

How can you translate this perspective to real life?

What did you learn from this world? What would you like to take with you from this inside world into the outside world?

Ask if you can take a photo of the world for future references.

Therapist: It is now time to translate your client’s miniatures using the SYMBOLS DICTIONARY. Discuss this translation with your client in the next session.

Play Therapy Personal Fairytale to Play Therapy Miniature Worlds

Personal Fairytale Miniature World to Creative Counseling 101 Home

Disclaimer: This website and its content is intended for trained licensed mental health professionals and school certified mental health professionals to use for their clients / students at their own discretion.

*If you ignore the disclaimer above are using these techniques on yourself and you feel any discomfort or upset it is highly suggested that you seek out a licensed  mental health professional immediately.

"Beyond Art Therapy" is the concept from Dr. Stangline that combines all creative fields in therapy. It is not the traditional "art therapy" but goes beyond to include sand tray therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, meditation, color therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a vast majority of other therapies.

For any other type of mental health emergency call your local 911 / Police Number immediately.

Dr. Stangline does not offer advice / suggestions to anyone who is not a professional mental health provider, or a student who is studying this field and has questions about mental health programs of study.