Build Your Own Bat Signal
Materials Needed
- Paper
- Markers, Pens, Colored Pencils
- Scissors
- Optional: Stickers, Stencils
Instructions
The clinician will start with a psychoeducational explanation of the use of prompts and the benefits of using prompts. He or she will then continue by explaining that prompts need not be post it notes or the like but can be something the client chooses as a symbol to remind him or her to engage in the coping techniques he or she has been using in therapy. Using the art materials provided, the client will design and create their own “bat signal” to be placed where he or she may need reminding to utilize a coping technique or seek support.
Target Population
This is appropriate for clients over the age of 8.
Troubleshooting and Expected Results
It is expected that clients will create a symbol that represents something important to them and be able to identify places in their lives where they may need a prompt. For example, clients struggling with anxiety focused on driving may affix the symbol to their steering wheel so that they will be reminded to do a breathing exercise before turning on the car.
Some problems may arise if clients cannot think of places to use the prompts or cannot come up with an idea for a symbol to use.
Resources
Bargh, J. A. (2014). The historical origins of priming as the preparation of behavioral responses: Unconscious carryover and contextual influences of real-world importance. Social Cognition, 32 , 209-224.
Gomez, P., Perea, M., & Ratcliff, R. (2013). A diffusion model account of masked versus unmasked priming: Are they qualitatively different?. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 39:6 , 1731-1740.
Heise, N. & Ansorge, U. (2014). The roles of scene priming and location priming object-scene consistency effects. Frontiers in Psychology, 5:520 , 1-11.
Molden, D. C. (2014). Understanding priming effects in social psychology: What is “social priming” and how does it occur?. Social Cognition, 32 , 1-11.
Welsh, D. T. & Ordonez, L. D. (2014). Conscience without cognition: The effects of subconscious priming on ethical behavior. Academy of Management Journal, 57:3, 723-742.
Originally posted on the Geek Therapy Wiki, hosted on the now-defunct Wikispaces platform, as part of Dr. Patrick O’Connor’s course Geek Culture in Therapy.