Part 3: More CBT token systems – Using Mr. Yuk stickers – Social Skills Activities for Children with Autism

When we are doing CBT with children, we often need to add some game-like element or levity. CBT is hard and serious work, but these are kids after all.

A useful and simple add-on to try sometime is using Mr. Yuk stickers. This is not for every session, but perhaps just once or now and then, to make the point, in an engaging manner, that automatic negative thoughts are like poison, which we should avoid, or use antidote thoughts to be rid of them. Mr. Yuk stickers are available on Amazon – the last time I checked they were $16.99 for 200 of them.

About Mr. Yuk stickers

These are used all over the US, and perhaps elsewhere, to warn children away from poisons. I believe that nearly all children in the US understand the meaning of the Mr. Yuk icon.

Comments about their appropriate use

Obviously, these stickers were not designed and manufactured for counselors, therapists and other professionals to use in therapy. You of course would need to explain carefully to children that this is a special activity with the stickers and that if they see Mr. Yuk stickers anywhere in the home, school or community they should not touch them because it means POISON. Don’t give the stickers out to children to play with randomly.

Using them in CBT work

First, show children this short video which explains the meaning of “Poison Thoughts.”

Introduce the stickers using language something like this:

“Everyone knows you must never touch poison or let it get inside you. Mr. Yuk stickers are to warn us that poison can harm us.

We have been learning about sneaky thoughts called Poison Thoughts. They try to get inside our minds.

Let’s use these Mr. Yuk stickers today by placing them on words and objects that have to do with these automatic negative thoughts we call Poison Thoughts.”

After that, use the Mr. Yuk stickers once or twice, or once in a while, to drive home to kids the essential toxic nature of automatic negative thoughts.

Playful elements in CBT do not imply that CBT is “play.”

Maybe this should go without saying, but I will say it anyway. Anxiety, depression and other debilitating emotional conditions are real in children, and work involving Mr. Yuk stickers is not some kind of “lite” version of therapy. These game-like elements are calculated measures taken to help our young clients persist with their CBT therapy.