Videos
Our videos have been thoughtfully created to complement APT (Adolescent and Parent Treatment) by providing clear, accessible explanations that help adolescents, parents, and clinicians alike understand the fundamental principles and core concepts of APT. These videos break down complex ideas into practical, relatable information, making it easier for families to feel informed and engaged throughout the treatment process.
APT Treatment Videos
The videos do so in a fun and enjoyable way that caters for individual learning styles.
How to Use These Videos
These short videos are designed to help adolescents understand their emotional experiences using simple metaphors and visual explanations. They can be used by clinicians and educators to support conversations about emotions, coping styles, and personal strengths.
Many adolescents find it easier to talk about their experiences when they are presented through metaphors rather than direct questions. These videos provide a gentle way to introduce ideas such as coping styles, perfectionism, and flexibility, by helping young people recognise patterns without feeling criticised or judged.
The videos can be used as conversation starters in therapy sessions and psychoeducational tools for clinicians to use with adolescents and their families.
Understanding Coping Styles: The Emotional River
Young people experience emotions in different ways. Some feel overwhelmed by strong emotions, while others try to control emotions tightly and avoid making mistakes. Both responses develop as ways of coping, but when taken to extremes they can make life more difficult.
The Emotional River uses a simple metaphor to help adolescents understand these patterns. On one side is the Land of Over-Control, where the focus is on perfection and managing emotions tightly. On the other side is the Land of Loss-of-Control, where emotions feel overwhelming and difficult to manage.
The video introduces the idea that healthy coping involves learning to navigate emotions more flexibly and with balance.
For Clinicians
After watching the video with your client, you may wish to reflect on:
- Do you tend to move toward over-control or feeling overwhelmed when emotions are strong?
- What situations tend to pull you toward one side of the river?
- What might help you move toward a more balanced way of coping?
Understanding Perfectionism: The Two Sides of Striving
Perfectionism can sometimes appear to be a strength. Wanting to do well and achieve goals can motivate young people to work hard, develop skills, and feel proud of their achievements.
However, perfectionism can also become unhelpful when the focus shifts from enjoying effort and progress to constantly chasing perfect results. Young people may begin to set extremely high standards for themselves and feel that nothing they do is ever good enough.
This video helps adolescents understand the two sides of perfectionism and introduces the idea that striving can remain a strength when it is balanced with flexibility, self-acceptance, and learning from mistakes
For Clinicians
After watching the video with your client, you may wish to reflect on:
- Do you tend to enjoy the process of learning and achieving, or do you mainly focus on the final result?
- How do you usually respond when something does not go perfectly?
- Do you sometimes set standards for yourself that feel impossible to reach?
- What might help you take pride in your effort while still accepting mistakes as part of learning?
The Four Elements Meditation Series
The Four Elements – Earth – Water – Air – Fire are classical concepts that represent the substance of our world and explain the nature and complexity of all matter. Existence of the Four Elements is evident in many ancient cultures such as Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Tibetan, Persian and Indian to name just a few.
Guided Meditation To Accompany The Earth Element
Your body is Earth. You were born from Earth and therefore are one with Earth. Sit or stand in a comfortable position and feel your feet firmly on the ground as you connect with your Mother Earth who gave you life and continually sustains your life. Feel your energy flow down your body through your feet and connect with the Earth’s core where the Earth energy is continuously created. Sense the renewal of your energy as it returns to you. Spread your arms to embrace the Earth and allow your renewed energy to flow up your body and out of the palms of your hands nourishing all that resides in this world remembering that you are connected to all living things. Share your energy with love, compassion, and gratitude for all that supports and sustains you. Give thanks for all your material blessings.
Guided Meditation to Accompany the Air Element
Air is constantly circulated within your body to create the energy your body needs to sustain your life. Air is the giver of life. Sit or stand in a comfortable position with a lowered gaze and concentrate on your breath. With each inhale sense Air enter your nose, fill your lungs, and be carried to every cell of your body. As you breathe in, lengthen your spine and expand your arms to welcome and create space for Air. As you gently exhale bring the palms of your hands to your heart in gratitude for this gift of life. Concentrate on your breath and follow each inhale and exhale and feel the calming power of Air as it continually re-nourishes your internal landscape. Complete your meditation with three long sighs out through your mouth.
Guided Meditation To Accompany The Water Element
Focus your attention on the water element. Connect with its continual movement. Focus on its flexibility and relentless desire to reach its goal and nourish everything on its journey. Nothing can impede its path and determination. Now turn your attention to your body and feel the water element within. Focus on your heart and feel your blood flowing from your heart through your veins providing nourishment to every extremity of your body. Turn your attention to your eyes and as you blink feel the wetness within your eyes. Move your attention to your mouth and allow your saliva to flow. Focus on water’s teachings of flexibility and its ability to adapt by changing form. Make a silent commitment to accept these precious gifts and use them when needed in any circumstance you may find yourself.
Guided Meditation to Accompany the Fire Element
As you focus on the Fire Element image its warmth and energy penetrate your body. Feel the energy of each flame or sun’s ray saturate and invigorate every cell in your body. Allow the flicker of every flame ignite your passion and direct your intention to your chosen goal. Feel fire’s energy strengthen your resolve to overcome all obstacles encountered along your path. Allow the gifts of fearlessness and courage bestowed by this element strengthen your internal energy sustain the burning passion in your soul. You are the controller of your internal FIRE.