Experiential therapy is an evidence-based therapy that emerged in the 1970s to 1980s. During its development, it was influenced by humanistic psychology and gestalt therapy. In experiential therapy, activities and experiences are used in addition to talk therapy. Sessions may focus on role playing, creative arts, guided imagery, or other activities that encourage emotional expression. Keep reading to learn 8 Experiential Therapy Activities to do with your clients in counseling.
Experiential therapy can be used to treat a range of mental health disorders, including substance use disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and trauma-related conditions like PTSD. Additionally, this approach can be used to help individuals who are struggling with unresolved emotions and conflicts within their relationships.
You can incorporate experiential therapy in both inpatient and outpatient settings, allowing it to be used on a short-term or long-term basis depending on your clients’ needs. One of the key characteristics that sets experiential therapy apart from others is the use of activities to access emotions. Other therapies that rely on talk therapy may be challenging for some clients to fully participate in if they have a hard time finding words to describe their experiences and emotions. Experiential therapy focuses on their current experiences and allows them to confront emotions that they may otherwise avoid. This approach can also promote teamwork and collaboration with others through shared experiences in group settings.
How Experiential Therapy Activities Can Help Your Clients
Experiential therapy activities can be used to create a safe and structured environment that allows your clients to process emotions and experiences they find challenging or overwhelming. Roleplaying and music activities are examples of things you can use to help clients access emotions they have been avoiding.
This can be an effective approach for clients who are struggling with PTSD or other trauma-related conditions. Trauma can be stored in the body, and this approach can be used as a nonverbal pathway to healing. Additionally, with a focus on their current experiences, clients often improve their self-awareness. This can include observing their reactions in real time and developing a deeper understanding of triggering thoughts and behaviors.
Experiential therapy activities can help clients explore new coping skills in a safe environment. This can help reduce avoidance behaviors and promote overall emotional well-being. Group activities can be used to improve communication patterns and promote collaboration with others. Your clients may find themselves feeling empowered as they begin to notice small changes in their day-to-day lives. This can help them see that they have control over their emotions, behaviors, and life choices.
Experiential therapy activity worksheets can be used to help facilitate activities in group and individual therapy sessions. TherapyByPro is a reputable provider of therapeutic resources, including worksheets for various therapies and mental health concerns. Try considering worksheets like:
Experiential Therapy Activities for Your Clients
Experiential therapy activities can be used with clients of varying ages and presenting concerns. You can tailor popular activities to meet the needs of your client, ensuring that they receive comprehensive care. Read below to explore activities that can be incorporated into experiential therapy sessions:
- Role-playing is a common experiential therapy activity that can be used with children, teens, and adults. It can be used with clients who are struggling with anger, effective communication, unresolved trauma, and interpersonal relationships. With this activity, you will ask your client to talk about a previous or current conflict that they’re experiencing. You can help them act out various responses and outcomes for the situation so they can see how they could handle the situation healthily.
- The empty chair technique can be used to present concerns like grief, guilt, self-esteem concerns, inner conflict, and unresolved conversations. For this activity, you will place an empty chair in front of your client so they can easily switch chairs. You can encourage your client to speak to the chair as they would if the other person in the situation were there. They can then alternate between the two chairs to find different perspectives as they act out both sides.
- Guided imagery is an activity that can be helpful for clients who struggle with anxiety, phobias, fear, and PTSD. For this activity, you will lead your client in a visualization. This can be scripted or direct them to imagine a safe place, a specific memory, or envision their future self. This activity can be used as a calming tool that may also help them see new perspectives on distressing experiences.
- Mask-making is a creative activity where you can have your client decorate a mask representing how others see them, and a second mask for their hidden self. This can be helpful for children and those struggling with their identity, social anxiety, depression, and low worth. You can spend time exploring the differences between the two and whether they would like to make changes to either mask.
- Collage making uses magazines, paper, or other forms of media to create a representation of their feelings. Once they’re finished with their project, you can explore the choices that they made and process their experience. This may be a helpful activity for clients who struggle with depression, emotional awareness, and identifying their emotions.
- Equine therapy may be offered in residential treatment programs for substance use disorders and trauma-related concerns. Outpatient programs may offer these services to help those with trust issues and emotional regulation. Equine therapy is facilitated by a trained individual who directs clients to interact with the horse. This can include grooming, feeding, or leading the horse. These activities often mirror relational patterns and allow clients to practice patience, control, and trust.
- Writing a letter you’ll never send can be used to help clients who are struggling with grief, unresolved resentment, substance abuse, and family conflict. This activity can help your client express suppressed emotions as they write an honest letter to someone that they’re unable to do in person. Once you have processed this activity, your client can choose how to dispose of their letter.
- Sand tray work can be helpful when treating attachment concerns, repressed memories, and childhood trauma. You can encourage your client to arrange objects in the sand to create a scene that represents relationships, trauma, or their inner life. This provides clients with a physical outlet for expression, which can help therapists develop a deeper understanding of their clients’ worldview.
Final Thoughts On Choosing The Right Experiential Therapy Activities for your Clients
Choosing the right experiential therapy activity for your client depends on their presenting symptoms, goals, and comfort level. You may have some clients who benefit greatly from creative outlets like music and art while others respond more to physical or recreational experiences. Personalizing experiential therapy activities can help clients feel engaged, understood, and safe to move through their emotions at their own pace.
As a therapist, we can be flexible with our clients and adjust activities as needed. This may be needed due to changes in their treatment plan or how they are responding that day. Using experiential therapy activities can help your client increase their confidence, self-awareness, and insight.
If you would like to learn more about experiential therapy and how to apply it to your clinical work, you can speak with your supervisor about available training and continuing education opportunities.
Resources:
- Lebow, J. L. (Ed.). (2008). Twenty-first century psychotherapies: Contemporary approaches to theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
