Everyone writes down their deepest, darkest fear on a piece of paper. To lead a group through this activity, instruct all group members to take a few minutes to think about interesting aspects of their life. It describes types of group therapy, and advantages of group therapy. What can you do in the future? How do your eyes feel? Make a list of small goals and pair them with reasonable rewards for completion. Group therapy should never be thought of as second class when compared with individual therapy, as it offers a wide range of experiences for self-growth, particularly using role-play (Mann, 2010). a rain cloud watering beautiful flowers. The following 10 group therapy activities are commonly used to treat addiction and mental illness. Allow time for the group to listen to the song and then ask the group member to discuss what it is about the music they enjoy. Discuss trust. They also work to develop their communication skills and learn to engage in fun, healthy social experiences. Write in stream of consciousness form for a period of time. Added topics include online therapy, specialized groups, ethnocultural diversity, trauma, managed care, and more. Discuss mindfulness and living in the moment. How can you move past them and let go? Make a chart or calendar to note every time you engage in your new habit. Discuss where you think you are in your recovery journey. Ask group members to write a letter to their younger self. Theyll connect that reason with their circled Dad. Follow this by asking if there are any changes that they would like to make to their behaviors. What would you like them to know? What makes someone a fake friend? Open up dialogue about what different participants feel they learned, the nature of the feedback, and any patterns they noticed. Jun 2022 - Present9 months. This book provides a wide range of effective group therapy activities and exercises that focus on helping adults overcome substance abuse and addiction. Would you use any of these activities in your practice? Pick one new habit that you want to focus on. Have the group members write a letter to their addiction and share the letter with the group. For example, the scenario could be that one guy is screaming at another for stealing his girlfriend and the two are about to get into a fistfight. This case study introduces a group therapy and counter-storytelling intervention to understand and effectively mitigate some of these barriers. Practice meditation: close your eyes, breathe deeply, and try to clear your mind. Do you have any tips or advice on how to implement these activities and techniques? How can you use your word choices to harm or support yourself? Ocean Recovery uses group therapy in a combination with individual therapy and other holistic therapies. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64223/, http://hubpages.com/health/Group-Topics-for-the-Mentally-Ill, http://www.purposefulbliss.com/post-it-note-group-therapy-activities/, http://wilderdom.com/games/PsychologicalExercises.html, http://truecenterpublishing.com/tcp/inclassex.html, Your email address will not be published. What would it say? The first time attending any group therapy session can be intimidating. Discuss the quote, God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. What things in your life can you change? This worksheet contains guided reflection and (potentially) discussion questions that you can provide the speaker, for instance, How did it feel to speak mindfully compared to how you normally speak?. Ask the group to identify something that has been holding them back in their recovery. Playing an instrument. All members get in a circle and take the hand of someone who is not right next to them, then try to unravel the knot they have created without letting go of anyones hand. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions including but not limited to emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Then write another list of ways you hope they can change for the better and grow as a person. Then everyone should walk around the room treating each other according to their label. If youre a mental health professional, you can Join our community and add your practice listing here. Activities can encourage discussion when members may be reluctant or unsure of how to contribute to the conversation. When are words not enough to resolve a conflict? What things cant you change? Discuss the impact of language. What can you do to take that power away? On the outside of the bubble, write how it feels when people disrespect your personal boundaries. What are you currently doing to achieve these goals? SimplePractice . ), The Future (for example: How does your partner describe their ideal life? If group members have something in their home, or a room in their home that they associate with using or drinking, what can they do to change that space to decrease the chances of it acting as a trigger? Think of something you know how to do really well and write down step-by-step instructions so that someone else could read them and do the task as well as you could. Compare timelines with others in the group. Two Dreams is a CARF Accredited Agency. Everyone eats, and virtually everyone likes to talk about their favorite foods. Pick a location and ask each individual to describe a different element of the scene to make it more visible to everyone. Steal a line from a poem or book youre particularly fond of and expand on it in your own way, writing new lines to follow. This is completely natural, and you are not alone if you are uncomfortable sharing in front of a group. How do you feel about coming here each week? Write about or describe any scene using all five senses to stimulate sensory awareness and to encourage attention to detail. Final Thoughts on Selecting Group Therapy Activities for Your Clients with Substance Abuse, that connects mental health pros with clients in need. With a plethora of research supporting its effectiveness, Counselors can effectively use this form of treatment within an addiction treatment program to support their clients. Two Dreams is a luxury drug and alcohol addiction rehab clinic located on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. This group writing therapy intervention is designed to be conducted over three days. All Material copyright 2023 Two Dreams |, 60 MORE Substance Abuse Group Therapy Activities. Group format will be discussion/processing/hands-on activities. This can be a great discussion for group members, helping them to explore their thoughts and feelings in a fun and easy way. What would people say about you at your funeral? In this post, I highlight 50 Substance Abuse Group Therapy Activities for Recovery that you can use with your clients. Learn about and discuss the effects of smoking tobacco. Do you see any patterns? Provide psychoeducation about healthy communication followed by roleplaying of what was discussed. These groups use a variety of activities to help people recover together. ANTS refers to Automatic Negative Thoughts, an acronym coined by David Burns in his groundbreaking book Feeling Good. Do you think you act more often as a candle or a mirror? Participants support and nurture each other like a family by reinforcing good behaviors and helping each other cope during difficult tasks. hi. Whats the best thing that could happen from using drugs again? Give them five minutes or so to write down three facts about them, two of which are true and one of which is a lie. Some of them will only be appropriate or effective in specific groups or situations, but some will be useful for all types of groups. Flip the sheet over and invite them to draw or paint a picture of this animal in its habitat on the back. GoodTherapy. Ask group members to draw a coping skill they can use for each emotion. Look for patterns in your own answers. Group therapy can give them a chance to feel connected to others, and witness others in their own recovery. Alternatively, we have an extensive collection of free worksheets on challenging negative thoughts in this CBT worksheets article. Whatever type of group therapy you attend, the general rules will likely be the same. Bring the group back together to develop a list of coping skills or healthy behaviors they can do to manage the different triggers. Do you think that all of the steps are relevant in todays society? This article will define group therapy, describe typical sessions, and provide several activities and exercises you can put to use in your group therapy sessions. Talk to the character and tell them to leave you alone. What should you stop doing? Share a song with the group that has real meaning for you and explain why. Did you pick the same person in both instances? End the 10-15 minute exercise with a discussion. Some groupsare formed for specific reasons, like dealing with addiction or grief, or specific diagnoses, like depression or anxiety, while others are formed for broader purposes, such as anyone struggling with stress in college or LGBTQ individuals who could benefit from general social support. Day Two builds on this reflection, but participants are encouraged to write a different and more positive ending to the event or situation they described on Day One. People tend to act differently around different groups of people. How so? This can include medication-assisted treatment, group therapy, individual therapy, life skills groups, psychoeducation groups, and support groups. What are some of the reasons people choose to self-harm? Discuss the following quote: There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it, Edith Wharton. Discuss the consequences members would experience if they relapsed. The session may begin with group members introducing themselves and explaining why they are in therapy. For example, if the scene takes place in a park then one person might say they can smell cut grass, and another might say they can see children playing on a swing set, and another might say they can taste mint chocolate chip ice cream, etc. Ideally, it should provide some insight into how this can be achieved and motivate them to pursue them. provides an overview of goals, processes, group-specific approaches, . Go through this exercise with other experiences as well, for example times of hopelessness, temptation, anger, etc. The minimum recommended number of sessions is generally six, but group therapy often continues for up to a year or more (Cherry, 2017). Make a list of reasons to never use again. Decide as a group which ten items to bring. Music therapy: Music therapy can help people express or process their feelings through playing or listening to music. Establishing group rules and norms. What do you like to do in your free, quiet time? Maybe this is a natural change, or maybe they are instructed to imagine their reaction if they purposefully change their thinking to something more positive. The ideas and activities for substance abuse group therapy that are used will have an impact on the benefits that our clients have. Do this exercise with other emotions and scenarios as well to further practice empathy. The clients should fill in each box with the corresponding descriptions of how this schema makes them feel, think, and behave. How does perspective relate to the choices you make in life? Describe your happy place in detail to the group. Why or why not? Open-ended questions are important in therapy. Two Dreams is a luxury drug and alcohol addiction rehab clinic located on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. What are you currently doing to achieve these goals? Talk about how they can work through these barriers in a healthy manner. For example, if you have time for a longer check-in from each member, a phrase like tell us the story of can be a good prompt for members to share more than a few words. Reading this out loud to your group will help them create a mental image of the future event; one in which it is attainable. This icebreaker is best applied in a setting where everyone is at least somewhat familiar with the other members of the group. 2) Planned: in other cases, the therapist may have a set agenda for the meeting with planned activities and skill-building exercises for group members to engage in (Cherry, 2017). Think about your qualities in terms of the four elements: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. Group therapy provides a safe environment for group members to practice new behaviors without fear of judgment. This gives the Counselor leading the group an opportunity to tailor the group activities to the current concerns of the group members. What are some other activities you could pursue to enhance that time? What made them good or bad? Drumming. What is the difference? This activity can help them find new, healthy ways to cope. Would you say you currently have a healthy fitness regimen? They learn to act intentionally instead of reacting automatically to stimuli. CARF International accreditation demonstrates a programs quality, transparency, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served. Five minutes? When a client shares their hesitations with you about group therapy, there are numerous benefits that you can discuss with them. Will you continue to attend 12-step meetings after discharge? What are the pros and cons? Spend time exploring members values and discuss (if) the role their values have in their recovery. During the Looking In phase, clients learn to honor thoughts, feelings, and aspirations. What can you say in response? It can also be used as a textbook for therapy students or a resource for practicing therapists who wish to add group therapy to their practice. Checking in with what youre going to say, both in a rational and an emotional sense. On Day One, the focus is Reflection on what is underpinning those shameful or guilty feelings. Also, please leave a comment below if you have other ideas, or would like to add to the discussion. Can trust be recovered once it is broken? Talk about the importance of nutrition and exercise and ask what realistic fitness or nutrition goals the group members have. Discuss self-harm. Here are 36 addiction recovery group activities to consider using at your own meetings: What would others write for you and what would you prefer them to write? They provide a safe environment in which members can practice newfound interpersonal skills and behaviors. Allow a reflective moment after the three minutes are up. Develop a recovery cheat sheet card with helpful phone numbers or coping skills that fit into a wallet for members to carry around when they need it. What makes them bad? Signing a contract that outlines what is expected of each participant can encourage participants to engage and contribute to group discussions, and provide an incentive to engage even when it is difficult. Orenstein, B. W. (2014, November 25). This prompts discussion of morals and ethics while encouraging people to think critically and voice their opinions in a constructive manner. Talk about what youve accomplished and what you would like to accomplish in the future. Who would you spend it with? This is a list of 161 questions for group therapy, journal prompts, conversation starters, and/or icebreakers. If you have children, would you raise them in the same way you were raised? What can you do to keep your anger under control? For example, you could pay someone a compliment or smile when you pass someone on the street. Many different types of therapy are helpful, but for some people, group therapy is a great option. Music Therapy for Substance Use Disorders. Here are twelve. 1. Draw an emotional reset button as a visual reminder that you control you emotions and can change them on command. hb```f``zAbl,/ ^80g12_Ha``PCfUJt3Hzeb We have assessments, practice forms, and worksheet templates mental health professionals can use to streamline their practice. Is it difficult to open up and trust someone? Working with a group can help clients see things from a new perspective, which may illuminate new ways to take on old problems and new strategies to overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable (American Psychological Association, 2019). Group therapy can be used to explore and process a members triumphs, challenges, and relapses. Discuss the importance of physical fitness. This worksheet includes an outline of a person or child with six boxes to fill in, three on each side. Where else might you have been at this moment if you hadnt come to this group session today? Cherry, K. (2017, May 20). What would you change or add? Combining music and imagery. Share. Many of the exercises and activities described above can be applied to group therapy with younger members, but some are more appropriate than others. Lead a discussion about how anger can often mask other emotions that we are uncomfortable with. Spend time discussing health concerns that can come from using drugs such as lung damage, transmitted infections, poor nutrition, and poor skin health. Why or why not? ), Careers (for example: How does their usual workday look, from start to finish? Start an affirmation journal. Briefly, these are: Next, invite the group to pair offone will take on a speaker role and the other will listen. 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Fear on a piece of paper when you pass someone on the Outer Banks North... Discussion when members may be reluctant or unsure of how this can be achieved and motivate them leave! At least somewhat familiar with the group you like to make to their label journal prompts conversation...