My Move Sentence Completion Worksheet

Introduction to the moving sentence completion Worksheet

Moving is a significant life stressor for anyone, but for children, it represents a monumental shift in their entire world. They leave behind the comfort of familiar friends, schools, and routines, often grappling with complex emotions they lack the vocabulary to express. As a therapist, opening a productive conversation about this transition can be challenging. The moving sentence completion worksheet is a structured, child-friendly tool designed to bridge this communication gap, providing a clear and gentle pathway to explore a child's inner experience related to a recent or upcoming move.

This psychoeducational resource is invaluable for clinicians working with children and families navigating the adjustment period. It transforms an abstract and overwhelming topic into a series of concrete, manageable prompts. By using the moving sentence completion, therapists can quickly gain insight into a child's specific anxieties, points of grief, and areas of hope. This ready-to-use format not only saves precious preparation time but also empowers clinicians to build rapport and provide targeted support from the very first session, making it an essential addition to any therapeutic toolkit for working with youth in transition.

What the moving sentence completion Worksheet Covers

The moving sentence completion worksheet is thoughtfully designed to guide children through the three crucial temporal stages of a move: reflecting on the past, processing the present, and looking toward the future. Its simplicity is its strength, using sentence starters to elicit genuine thoughts and feelings without pressure. This structure allows therapists to systematically explore the multifaceted emotional landscape of a child's relocation experience.

Reflecting on the Past Home

The initial prompts, such as “Something I liked about my old home…” and “I will miss…”, serve a vital therapeutic purpose. They validate the child's connection to their previous life and create a safe space to acknowledge and mourn what has been lost. This section of the moving sentence completion helps normalize feelings of grief and attachment, assuring the child that their memories and relationships were important and are worthy of discussion. Documenting responses here helps track the process of grieving and acceptance.

Processing Present Feelings About the Move

Prompts like “The hardest part about moving is…” and “I feel…” directly target the child's current emotional state. This part of the moving sentence completion is crucial for emotional identification and expression, core goals in child therapy. It allows therapists to pinpoint the primary stressors—be it loneliness, fear of the unknown, or frustration—and begin developing targeted coping strategies. These responses provide rich qualitative data for progress notes, illustrating the child's immediate challenges and emotional awareness.

Looking Toward the New Home

The worksheet concludes with forward-looking prompts, including “At my new home, I’m looking forward to…” and “Something I want to do at my new home is…”. This section intentionally shifts the focus from loss to possibility, helping to cultivate a sense of hope and agency. By exploring potential positives, the moving sentence completion aids in cognitive reframing and behavioral activation. It helps the child begin to build a new narrative for their life, one that includes positive anticipation and new goals, which is a key indicator of successful adjustment.

When to Use the moving sentence completion Worksheet

The clinical utility of the moving sentence completion worksheet is maximized when it is introduced thoughtfully and at the appropriate time in treatment. Its versatile design makes it suitable for various stages, but its effectiveness hinges on client readiness and alignment with therapeutic goals. Understanding the ideal scenarios—and potential contraindications—ensures this tool is used to its fullest potential.

Ideal Client Profile for the moving sentence completion Worksheet

This worksheet is most effective with school-aged children, typically between the ages of 6 and 12, who have recently moved or are anticipating an imminent move. It is particularly helpful for children who are verbally expressive but may struggle to initiate conversations about their feelings. It’s an excellent fit for clients who appear withdrawn, anxious, or irritable following a move, as it provides a non-confrontational way to explore the underlying causes. It can also be beneficial for children who present as “fine” but may be suppressing feelings of loss or anxiety.

Treatment Scenarios

The moving sentence completion worksheet is highly effective when used early in the therapeutic process, often within the first few sessions, as a gentle assessment tool to understand the child's unique experience of the move. It can also be reintroduced later in treatment to track progress and identify shifts in perspective. It serves as an excellent conversation starter in individual therapy or as a structured activity in family sessions to foster empathy and communication between children and parents about the move's impact.

Contraindications

While versatile, this tool may not be appropriate for all situations. It should be used with caution if a child is in an acute state of crisis or is displaying extreme emotional dysregulation where a more stabilizing intervention is needed first. Additionally, for children who are pre-verbal or have significant developmental delays, the written format may be a barrier, requiring significant adaptation. A therapist should first focus on building rapport and safety before introducing any structured worksheet if a child displays intense resistance or distress at the mention of the move.

Introducing the moving sentence completion Worksheet to Clients

The way a tool is introduced can significantly impact a child's willingness to engage. Framing the moving sentence completion worksheet as a collaborative and low-pressure activity is key to fostering buy-in. The goal is to present it as a helpful guide for their story, not a test with right or wrong answers.

Here are a few examples of how to introduce the moving sentence completion to a young client:

• For an individual child session: "Moving is a really big deal, and it comes with lots of different feelings. I have a special activity sheet here called the moving sentence completion that can help us explore all the parts of your move—the things you miss and the things you might be excited about. There are no right or wrong answers; it’s just a way for me to understand your story better. Want to look at it with me?"
• For a family therapy session: "I know the move has been a big change for the whole family. To help everyone understand each other's feelings a little better, I have a worksheet called the moving sentence completion. It has some sentence starters that can help us talk about the move. We could even have each person fill one out, so we can share and see what this experience has been like for everyone."

Always approach the activity with curiosity and warmth. If a child hesitates, you might offer to fill it out together, with you acting as the scribe. This reinforces the collaborative nature of the exercise and reduces any performance anxiety the child might feel.

Clinical Implementation Guide for the moving sentence completion Worksheet

Effectively integrating the moving sentence completion worksheet into sessions involves more than just handing it to a client. A thoughtful approach to its implementation and processing can turn this simple tool into a powerful therapeutic intervention that deepens insight and promotes healing.

In-Session Use

For in-session use, the moving sentence completion worksheet serves as an excellent centerpiece for the session's work. You can sit with the child as they complete it, allowing for immediate processing of their responses. This approach lets you observe their non-verbal cues—hesitation on certain prompts, excitement on others—which provide valuable clinical data. Use their answers as jumping-off points for deeper narrative exploration, asking follow-up questions like, “Tell me more about that memory,” or “What does that nervousness feel like in your body?” This transforms the worksheet from a data-gathering tool into a dynamic, interactive therapeutic experience.

As Homework

Assigning the moving sentence completion as a homework activity can be particularly useful for older children (ages 10-12) or in a family therapy context. It gives the child space to reflect without the pressure of an immediate audience. When assigning it, frame it as an opportunity for them to think about their story. In a family context, it can be assigned for a child and parent to complete together to spark conversation at home, with instructions to bring the completed worksheet to the next session for further discussion.

Processing Responses

When reviewing the completed moving sentence completion, the clinical focus should be on validation and curiosity. Read the child’s answers aloud or have them share, and validate every feeling expressed: “It makes so much sense that you would miss your best friend,” or “That sounds really exciting to have a bigger yard.” Look for themes across the responses. Are feelings of loss more prominent than feelings of anxiety? Is there a balance of positive and negative feelings? Use these themes to inform your treatment plan, focusing on areas where the child needs the most support, whether it's grief processing, anxiety management, or building excitement for the future.

Documenting the moving sentence completion Worksheet in Clinical Notes

Thorough documentation is essential for tracking progress, justifying treatment, and ensuring continuity of care. The moving sentence completion worksheet provides concrete data that can be easily and effectively integrated into clinical notes, connecting the intervention directly to treatment goals.

When documenting, go beyond simply stating that the worksheet was used. Describe the client's responses and your clinical interpretation of them. Connect the insights gained from the moving sentence completion to the client's presenting problems and treatment plan objectives, such as emotion regulation, grief processing, or anxiety reduction.

Here is an example of how to document the use of the moving sentence completion in a DAP note:

(D)ata: Client engaged in and completed the moving sentence completion worksheet to explore feelings related to their family's recent move. The client identified missing their “old friends and bedroom” and expressed nervousness about “having no one to play with at the new school.” They also wrote that they are looking forward to “having a dog” and “decorating their new room.”(A)ssessment: The worksheet facilitated the client's expression of ambivalent feelings, including both grief over relational losses and hope for future opportunities. The client's responses indicate an awareness of their emotions and highlight social anxiety as a primary stressor related to the adjustment process. The ability to identify positive future aspects is a strength and a positive prognostic indicator for adjustment.(P)lan: Continue to process feelings of loss using person-centered and narrative approaches. Introduce a role-playing activity next session to target social anxiety and practice skills for making new friends. Revisit the client's identified hopes from the moving sentence completion to reinforce positive coping and future orientation. Will coordinate with parents to discuss the child’s desire for a dog as a potential transitional object and source of comfort.

Documentation tools like Mentalyc can help therapists efficiently capture worksheet insights in clinical notes, supporting thorough records while staying present with clients.

Adaptations and Special Considerations for the moving sentence completion Worksheet

The moving sentence completion worksheet is a flexible tool that can be adapted to meet the unique needs of diverse clients and therapeutic contexts. A clinician's ability to modify the tool demonstrates client-centered care and enhances its effectiveness.

Developmental Adaptations

For younger children (ages 5-7) who may struggle with writing, the worksheet can be used verbally. The therapist can read the prompts aloud and write down the child's answers, acting as a scribe. You can also incorporate art by having the child draw a picture for each prompt (e.g., “Draw something you’ll miss,” “Draw something you’re excited for”), which can be especially helpful for less verbal children. For older children or pre-teens, you might encourage them to elaborate on each prompt in a journal format, using the sentence starters as writing prompts for deeper reflection.

Family Therapy Application

In family therapy, the moving sentence completion is a powerful tool for fostering empathy and communication. Have each family member, including parents, complete their own worksheet. Then, create a structured sharing time where each person reads one or two of their responses. This exercise often reveals shared feelings and unique perspectives, helping family members understand that they are all navigating the transition together, albeit in different ways. It can be a powerful intervention for validating a child's experience in the presence of their caregivers.

Telehealth Use

This worksheet adapts seamlessly to telehealth. You can send the PDF to the client ahead of the session for them to print, or use a screen-sharing feature with an annotation tool that allows the child to type or draw directly onto the digital document. This maintains the interactive element of the activity and allows you to work through it together in real-time, just as you would in person.

Frequently Asked Questions on the moving sentence completion Worksheet

How can I use the moving sentence completion worksheet with a non-talkative child?

For a reserved child, present the moving sentence completion worksheet as a low-pressure activity where they can just write or draw their feelings without needing to speak immediately. You can offer to fill it out alongside them, sharing your own (hypothetical) answers to model openness and normalize the process. Afterward, you can ask them to show you their favorite or most important answer, which can serve as a gentle entry point into a verbal conversation.

What's the best way to integrate the moving sentence completion worksheet into a family therapy session?

The best approach is to frame it as a team activity to understand how the move has affected everyone. Have each family member complete a worksheet, then use a structured sharing process, like a talking stick, to ensure everyone gets to share a response without interruption. Focus the subsequent discussion on similarities and differences in their experiences to build empathy and a shared family narrative about the move.

How do I document progress using the moving sentence completion worksheet multiple times?

When using the worksheet more than once, document the specific changes in the client's responses over time in your progress notes. Note any shifts from predominantly negative or grief-oriented answers to more balanced or future-oriented ones as a measurable sign of progress. You can directly quote responses from the first and second administrations to highlight this therapeutic movement and demonstrate the effectiveness of your interventions.

What if a child's responses on the moving sentence completion worksheet are all negative?

If all responses are negative, it provides crucial clinical information that the child is likely feeling overwhelmed by grief and anxiety. Validate these feelings intensely, reassuring the child that it is completely okay to feel sad, angry, or scared about the move. Use these responses as a guide to focus your interventions on grief processing and developing foundational coping skills before attempting to shift toward more positive aspects.

Is the moving sentence completion worksheet appropriate for teenagers?

While designed for children, the concept can be adapted for teenagers by making the prompts more sophisticated or using it as a journaling exercise. You might rephrase prompts to be more abstract, such as “The identity I left behind was…” or “A new part of myself I hope to discover is…”. For teens, it's crucial to present it as a tool for self-reflection rather than a childish activity, emphasizing that major life changes affect people of all ages.

Conclusion: Implementing the moving sentence completion Worksheet

The transition of moving presents a significant emotional challenge for children, and the moving sentence completion worksheet offers a beautifully simple yet profound way to support them. This tool is more than just a piece of paper; it is a key that can unlock a child's inner world, providing them with the structure to voice their fears, honor their memories, and build hope for the future. Its clear, intuitive design saves therapists valuable time while offering a client-centered, non-threatening method to address a complex clinical issue.

By integrating the moving sentence completion into your practice, you equip yourself with an effective resource for building rapport, assessing needs, and guiding therapeutic conversations. The insights gained from this single worksheet can inform your treatment plan for weeks, ensuring your work is targeted, relevant, and deeply attuned to the child's experience. We encourage you to download this worksheet and see for yourself how it can transform your sessions with children and families navigating the journey of a move.

As you integrate worksheets like My Move into your practice, tools like Mentalyc support your documentation workflow efficiently.

References

Sabel, C. E., Pedersen, C. B., Antonsen, S., Webb, R., & Horsdal, H. (2024). Changing neighborhood income deprivation over time, moving in childhood, and adult risk of depression. JAMA Psychiatry, 81(9), 919–927.

Simsek, M., Costa, R., & de Valk, H. A. G. (2021). Childhood residential mobility and health outcomes: A meta-analysis. Health & Place, 71, 1–12.