Overcoming Trauma Through Play: How a Boy Conquered His Fears with the Board Game "My Inner Team"

Traumatized children need tools to understand and manage their emotions. The therapeutic board game "My Inner Team" offers just that – a playful way to foster psychological stability and inner strength. In this case study, we demonstrate how a boy with a severe history of abuse and violence developed self-confidence and gained control over his fears through the game.

A Boy, Many Fractures: When Adults Fail

In his short life, this boy had already endured multiple changes of residence, including various foster families. He was considered a "ticking time bomb" and developed perpetrator tendencies – a pattern often observed in severely traumatized children. His life was marked by abuse, psychological and physical violence, and repeated relationship breakdowns. Yet, within a year, he showed impressive progress. Working with "My Inner Team" clearly highlighted how many adults – including professionals – had failed him in his life.

The Inner Team: Playfully Towards Psychological Strength

With the board game "My Inner Team", the boy was tasked with choosing his personal "starting lineup" team from 40 different qualities. Surprisingly, he initially chose 13 players, which he later reduced to 8 core players. His final strengths were:

• • Patience
  • Intelligence
  • Self-confidence
  • Creativity
  • Craftsmanship
  • Perseverance
  • Athleticism
  • Self-defense
    

The Fight Against Fear: Opponent Analysis

The next crucial task was to choose a team captain – the most important competence to lead his team. He chose self-defense. Why? Because his opposing team consisted of the following qualities:

• • Fear of failure
  • Fear of loss
  • Fear
  • Dependency

Particularly noteworthy: his opposing team had only four players – a visual realization that showed him his inner strengths were already in the majority.

Strategies for Overcoming Fears

Together, we analyzed which of his players could confront the negative opponents:

• Against fear of failure: Self-confidence and perseverance. He realized that he could trust himself more because he had already mastered many challenges.

• Against dependency: Self-defense. He learned to set boundaries – even with professionals who often treated him with little trauma sensitivity or even overstepped.

• Against fear of loss: This opponent received a transfer offer! After reflection, we concluded that a healthy degree of fear of loss can be a strength because it protects against new injuries. The rule: If this player adheres to the rules of the game, they can stay – otherwise, they go to the bench or are replaced.
  
  

Conclusion: From Victim to Self-Determined Player

This case study impressively demonstrates how "My Inner Team" helps to stabilize traumatized children and restore their agency. The boy recognized his strengths and was able to consciously position himself against his fears. In the next session, he will create his Future Wish Team – a vision for a strong, self-determined life.

For professionals, this game is an invaluable tool to help children sort their emotions and develop a new perspective on their lives. Because every child deserves a chance at inner security and strength.

➡️ Would you like to learn more about "My Inner Team"? Click here for the game: Therapy Tool - Board Game "My Inner Team"