Play Therapy Feelings Bottle

by Colby Longoria-Walters
(Waco, TX USA)

I have many clients who struggle with anger and frustration. Once client in particular, is a 7-year-old female who was sexually abused by her older cousin. This client is having a lot of trouble in school and at home with expressing anger and crying. She tells me that she does not think she will ever get better and she will be sad forever. This client is well beyond her years in knowledge, so it is difficult to find stuff that will not be too childish and not to sophisticated to use with her. When I came across the feelings bottles in the creativecounseling101.com’s book, I knew this activity was perfect for her. This bottle is great because it can have various uses and can be personalized for each client.
Prior to making one in session, I made one at home. I followed the directions and made one. The soap turned the bottle a weird orange color and the sequins and small miniatures just did not give me the effect that I wanted. So, I modified the directions just a bit and after a few trial bottles, I got something amazing!
With the final product, I used one empty Smart water bottle, ½ a bottle of glitter glue, one small vial of extra fine glitter, and very warm water. I squirted ½ the bottle of glitter glue into the bottle and filled it about ¾ of the way full with warm water. The warm water helped “melt” the glue so that it would not be so clumpy. I then shook the bottle until the water and glue were mixed. I then added the small vial of glitter and filled the rest of the bottle up with warm water.
My client was in love with the bottle. After explaining to her that feelings be mixed and can come and go, she spent the majority of the session shaking the bottle and watching the glitter settle to the bottom. She explained that when the glitter was twirling around the bottle that is how she feels inside when she feels angry or sad. Her mother stated that when she threw her last tantrum, her mother gave her the feelings bottle and it helped her calm down.