Welcome to the World of EMOTIONanigans!
Therapy activities, games, and tools with a playful twist
Hello.
I'm Kim.
The Beginning
In 2020, when the pandemic forced a sudden shift to telehealth, I opened up my Facebook group as a place for child therapists to gather, share ideas, and access telehealth resources.
It was also the year I turned 50 – which felt kinda monumental.
Around this time, a story my father told me kept replaying in my mind.
It was about his neighbor who viewed his life in distinct eras: the first for learning, the second for earning money and caring for his family, and the third for giving back to his community and the world.
This got me thinking: What are my eras?
And with my 50th birthday looming large, it sparked a pivotal question: What will be the focus of my next era?
The Past
My first era was all about learning.
After earning a degree in special education, I spent five years as an elementary school special education teacher. This experience led me to pursue a counseling degree with a focus on expressive arts therapies from Lesley College and to subsequently become a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor.
My next era was dedicated to helping kids navigate their emotional worlds.
In 2006, I established my private practice in Wilmington, NC, specializing in children and teens dealing with anxiety. By 2015, I had expanded into online services, offering coaching, a course, and a membership for parents.
The Present
I’ve decided my current era is all about creating.
About a year after starting my Facebook group, I launched the EMOTIONanigans shop. It started small, with just two telehealth activities: Stranger Thinks and Unboxing Emotions.
Since then, I’ve closed my parenting membership and, in 2023, retired from private practice.
Today, the EMOTIONanigans shop has grown into an engaging collection of digital and printable games, activities, and tools for use in both telehealth and in-person sessions.
I also guide my fellow therapists in transforming their expertise into marketable digital therapy products so they can impact people beyond their office walls.
What started with making engaging therapeutic activities for my own sessions has evolved into creating resources used by child and teen therapists worldwide.
Together, we’re creating a world where kids grow up loving themselves!
My Journey So Far…
- Elementary school special education teacher
- Earned my Master’s degree in counseling
- Got my first position at an adolescent day treatment center
- Became a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
- School and clinic-based therapist
- Director of 4-county community mental health program
- Director of Intensive In-Home program
- Opened my private practice
- Transitioned off insurance panels to a self-pay only practice
- Added parent coaching services
- Created an online course for parents
- Opened an online membership community for parents (it was great while it lasted!)
- Started the Teletherapy and Counseling Activities for Kids Facebook group
- Opened the EMOTIONanigans shop
- Retired from private practice to focus on bringing EMOTIONanigans to you!
And if you’d like to hear more about me, here are some podcast interviews.
The Sticky Notes on My Computer
If you take a peek at my computer, you’ll spot these sticky notes- little reminders that keep me inspired and focused on what matters most.
🌟 Expansion
(My word for 2024)
🔋 What is your capacity?
(A gentle check-in to honor my energy)
🎯 What are you optimizing for?
(A question that keeps me aligned with my goals)
🌈 My goals are inevitable.
(A little daily pep talk)
💖 EMOTIONanigans throughput =
Happy Customers and Profit
(Delivering value and joy!)
💎 Wealth =
Financial freedom + Time freedom + Decision-making freedom
(An aspiration)
🌻 “The future can’t be predicted, but it can be envisioned and brought lovingly into being.”
– Donella Meadows, Dancing with Systems
(A quote to connect me with my vision)
These sticky notes, along with my mission of creating a world where kids grow up loving themselves, guide everything I do at EMOTIONanigans.
They remind me daily of the impact we can make together.
So, next time you’re using an EMOTIONanigans product, imagine me glancing at these notes and smiling, knowing we’re making that vision a reality, one fun activity at a time!
Let's Connect
Hey there! I’m so glad you’ve made it this far. If you’re enjoying the EMOTIONanigans vibe, I’d love to keep in touch. Here are a couple of ways we can stay connected!
Book a Consultation
You want to create a revenue stream beyond 1:1 sessions and you’re wondering where to get started or what to do next.
Let’s work it out together!
Teletherapy and Counseling Activities for Kids
I’ve got this cozy little Facebook group (okay, not so little – there are over 9,800 of us now!) where we therapists hang out.
We share ideas, ask questions, and support each other. It’s like having a massive team of colleagues right in your pocket.
✨ Sunday Sparks
You know how you sometimes stumble upon a great resource and think, ‘I’ve got to share this with my therapist friends!’?
That’s basically what my newsletter is – me sharing cool stuff I’ve found, along with some special offers. If you’d like to be on that ‘therapist friends’ list, just sign up here.