A Game Therapy Lesson on Beliefs → Emotions → Reactions
Time: 20–30 minutes
Materials: Video (Game Therapy TV segment), discussion questions, activity sheets (optional)

1. WATCH (Engage & Observe)

Play the Game Therapy TV clip:

“What Was Karen Thinking?”
Students watch three “Karen scenarios,” each ending with the same question:

👉 “What was Karen thinking that caused her to get so upset?”

Scenarios include:

• Mariachi music incident

• Electric car confrontation

• Mail/package misunderstanding

Each scenario shows how rigid beliefs—not the event itself—created Karen’s emotional explosion.

Explain to students:
“Don’t focus on what happened TO Karen. Focus on what was happening IN Karen—her beliefs.”

2. THINK (Guide Discussion & Reflection)

Use the questions below after the video. Encourage simple, honest answers.

A. Understanding the Concept

1. In each clip, what was the difference between what happened and what Karen believed about what happened?

2. Why did Karen get so upset even when she was wrong about the situation?

3. Have you ever believed something so strongly that it made you more upset than the situation itself?

B. Deepening Insight

4. Which belief was the MOST unrealistic? Why?

5. How did Karen’s beliefs turn regular moments into “emergencies” in her mind?

6. What would have happened if Karen changed her belief to something more flexible or kind?

C. Apply to Real Life

7. What’s a healthy belief when…

   • Someone plays music you don’t like?

   • Someone makes a mistake?

   • Someone does something differently than you would?

8. How can changing a belief change your emotional reaction?

3. PLAY (Interactive Game: “What Was I Thinking?”)

This game helps students understand how their own beliefs influence their emotions.

How to Play:

1. Break students into pairs or groups of three.

2. Each student gets one scenario card:

Scenario Examples:

• Someone bumps into you in the hallway.

• Your friend doesn’t text back.

• A classmate gets a bigger role, prize, or reward than you.

• A sibling takes your stuff without asking.

• Someone plays loud music on the bus.

• A teacher corrects your work.

3. Students must fill in two possible beliefs and the reactions that follow:

Example Template (students fill out):

Scenario: __________________________________________
Belief A (rigid/unrealistic):

Emotion that comes from Belief A:

Possible reaction:

Belief B (flexible/healthy):

Emotion that comes from Belief B:

Possible reaction:

4. Students share their answers with the class.

4. TEACHING TAKEAWAY (1-minute wrap-up)

Say this clearly and simply:

“It’s not the thing that happened—it’s the belief about the thing.
If you change the belief, you change the feeling, and you change what you do.”

This is emotional resilience.

5. OPTIONAL EXTENSION (5 minutes)

Students create their own “Karen Scenario” comic strip:

• Frame 1: What happened

• Frame 2: Rigid belief

• Frame 3: Epic overreaction

• Frame 4: Healthier belief