This direct worksheet is designed to open conversations regarding the child/ young persons worries. It is based on strengths perspective, solution focused and motivational interviewing. The tree contains white apples and a ladder. The tree’s roots can be seen underground on five different colour levels with each level is deeper and numbered 1-5.
To begin, ask the young person what they feel they are good at. This could be anything positive, such as looking after their younger siblings, good at applying make-up, nail varnish, good at football, maths etc. Ask them to write in the apples in the tree and talk to them about these being a strength.
The roots of the tree contain white boxes for the young person to write what worries they have. Ask them to rate how worried they are about a particular worry and write in the box what this is. If they are really worried write in the bottom layer, which replicates their deepest worries. The scale is for them to decide how worried they are feeling about anything in particular. Work with the young person on how they could move up the levels and up the ladder bringing their worries into the open and looking for solutions and ideas of how to manage these. Once they feel this is no longer a worry, write in the tree apples to reflect that this worry has been dealt with. Or simply put it in the apple box packed up and dealt with, ready to be taken away altogether.
The apples on the grass are going rotten. These illustrate that sometimes worries that have gone away may return but if they are not dealt with, can rot back into the ground and become a deep worry again. Or if they are dealt with straight away, can be moved up the tree or put in the tray and taken away.
This direct work sheet is multipurpose. It can be used to demonstrate how a child feels about certain family members. Use the scale on the roots to discuss how much they like someone or don’t like someone. You can then support them to build a better relationship for instance or find out why they don’t like them as it may be a safeguarding concern.
The idea is that the young person learns to talk about their worries and find a solution to manage how they are feeling based on their strengths, resilience whilst keeping them solution focused.
