Building Flexible Thinking
Child Profile
A school-aged child with ADHD with severe inhibitory control difficulties who became easily overwhelmed whenever faced with frustration, unexpected changes or tasks that felt difficult.
Approach
We transformed problem-solving into a playful symbolic experience. Every challenge became a cloud, while every possible solution became a light bulb hanging from it. Together, we explored ideas, tested them in real situations and chose the strategy that worked best. The child even took their own "cloud" home so the family could use the same language beyond therapy.
Initial Challenge
Once emotionally stuck, it was hard to pause, think of alternatives and regain control.
Progress/Outcome
The child became more aware of moments of frustration, more flexible when things didn't go as expected and increasingly able to generate and implement solutions independently - both during therapy and in everyday life.
Why it Matters
This case is meaningful to me because it reflects one of my core principles: children don't just need solutions—they need tools that help them discover their own. Children learn best when complex thinking becomes something they can see, perform, move through and experience.
Building Flexible Thinking
A school-aged child with ADHD with severe inhibitory control difficulties who became easily overwhelmed whenever faced with frustration, unexpected changes or tasks that felt difficult.
Child Profile
A school-aged child with ADHD with severe inhibitory control difficulties who became easily overwhelmed whenever faced with frustration, unexpected changes or tasks that felt difficult.
Initial Challenge
Once emotionally stuck, it was hard to pause, think of alternatives and regain control.
Approach
We transformed problem-solving into a playful symbolic experience. Every challenge became a cloud, while every possible solution became a light bulb hanging from it. Together, we explored ideas, tested them in real situations and chose the strategy that worked best. The child even took their own “cloud” home so the family could use the same language beyond therapy.
Progress/Outcome
The child became more aware of moments of frustration, more flexible when things didn’t go as expected and increasingly able to generate and implement solutions independently - both during therapy and in everyday life.
Why it Matters
This case is meaningful to me because it reflects one of my core principles: children don’t just need solutions—they need tools that help them discover their own. Children learn best when complex thinking becomes something they can see, perform, move through and experience.