Therapist’s Overview

THREE WAYS TO CHANGE YOURSELF

GOALS OF THE EXERCISE

1. Elevate self-esteem.
2. Increase awareness of self and ways to change in order to improve self-image.
3. Identify steps that must be taken to produce positive changes in life.
4. Establish rapport with client in the beginning stages of therapy.

ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS FOR WHICH THIS EXERCISE MAY BE MOST

USEFUL
• Anxiety
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Conduct Disorder/Delinquency
• Depression
• Enuresis/Encopresis

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROCESSING THIS EXERCISE WITH THE CLIENT

This activity can often be used as a sequel to the “Three Wishes Game” exercise. Like the “Three
Wishes Game,” it is recommended that this activity be used in the beginning stages of therapy to help
you establish rapport with the client. The “Three Ways to Change Yourself” activity can be used with
children who are exhibiting a variety of behavioral or emotional problems, but it is included in this
section on low self-esteem because of its potential to increase the client’s self-image. In this exercise,
the client is asked to draw three separate pictures between therapy sessions that reflect three changes
that he/she would like to make with himself/herself. The client is instructed to bring the pictures to
the following therapy session for processing. In discussing the drawings, you can assist the client in
identifying ways that he/she can bring about the positive changes in himself/herself. The information
gained from this exercise can also help the client and you establish clearly defined treatment goals.
 EXERCISE XVIII.C

THREE WAYS TO CHANGE YOURSELF

This activity can be a fun-filled way for your therapist to get to know you better. Here, you are
invited to be a creative artist and draw pictures of three changes that you would like to make in
yourself. Try to express what is really important to you, but also remember to have fun when you are
drawing your pictures.
Before you sit down to begin drawing the pictures, spend a few minutes thinking about the
changes that you would most like to see happen in yourself or in your life. You can express your wish
to change in a number of different ways. Some people want to develop a talent, skill, or interest in a
certain area. For example, they may draw a picture of a ballet dancer, singer, or basketball player.
Other people may choose to draw something that has to do with their personality. For instance, some
people would like to see themselves control their anger, smile more, or be more cheerful about life.
Perhaps you would like to change how you get along with other people. Some people may choose to
draw pictures that show that they have more friends or are friendlier and more caring. Finally, some
people may express their wishes to change something about how they look.
There are only a couple of rules for this activity. First, think of three different changes that you
would like to make in yourself. If you cannot think of at least three changes, then talk with someone
you trust to come up with some ideas. Second, don’t use any written words in your drawings. The
reason for this is so your therapist can guess what changes you would like to make after you bring
your drawings to the next therapy session. Your therapist will have three chances to guess what your
desired changes are. If your therapist cannot guess what changes you would like to make in three
tries, then, in baseball terms, your therapist has struck out. At that point, you can tell your therapist
how you would like to change.
After you have given thought to the changes that you would like to make in yourself, please draw
them on separate pieces of paper. Remember to bring the drawings to your next therapy session along
with your answers to the following questions.
List what your three changes are and your reasons for selecting each one of them. Also, think
about how other people will know that you have changed.

1. The first change I would like to make is:

2. Reasons why I would like to make this change are:

3. How will other people know that I have changed? What signs will I show them? How will my
behavior be different?

4. The second change I would like to make is:

5. Reasons why I would like to make this change are:

6. How will other people know that I have made this second change? What signs will I show
them? How will my behavior be different?

7. The third change I would like to make is:

8. Reasons why I would like to make this change are:

9. How will other people know that I have made this third change? What signs will I show them?
How will my behavior be different?

Do not show this list to your therapist until he/she has attempted to guess what your desired changes
are.