Mario’s Emotional Knot is a story about a boy who is having a rough day, feeling overwhelmed and out of control. He doesn’t know what he is feeling or why.  He learns that sometimes emotions build up inside, creating an emotional knot. Different emotions are all tied up together and it’s hard to make sense of what he is feeling.  He learns that as he talks through his emotions, it releases the knot, resulting and feeling at peace again.
 
The story introduces the idea of how emotional knots are formed and the process to release pent-up emotion to feel better.  A game is on the back cover of the book to help kids continue to learn concepts, verbally communicate their emotions, and identify how to overcome negative feelings. Cards help children use “I-Statements” to assertively communicate emotion, normalizing healthy communication. This will also help them to develop an emotional vocabulary to better comprehend and communicate how they feel. They also incorporate cognitive-behavioral concepts to replace intrusive, negative self-talk statements.  These would include negative opinions about themselves, assumptions about others, or believing irrational thoughts that popped in their heads.
 
Age Range
This book/game is ideal for elementary-aged children, ages 5-11.
 
Format
This resource could be used for individual, group, or family counseling sessions. It can also be used by parents or teachers to help children learn about emotional expression.  Extra help with understanding CBT concepts can be found in our CBT 101 blog post.
 
You will receive a PDF download with instructions and a link to the Google Slides document with the game and book. Quick links are included for an easy transition within the document.
 
This resource is also available as a hard copy.