Introduction
Thinking outside the box
Ever just wish you had a magical book where you can just open up and find a group that would work with any population? That’s what this section is intended for. Thinking outside the box is currently a book being written by Ilene Glance and will be Published soon by PESI. Until then you can still get some fun and interactive groups by signing up for our list serv where you will receive a group you can try on your own monthly.
Some of the groups over the next few months will include:
Skittles Therapy
The Petal
Hope in a Bag
Emotional Charades
Lets show our Limits
Get to know you Game
This group will also allow for you to contact me with any questions you might have or any issues you had with the group that you were running, so that maybe I can help you with some complications that come up.
Groups and Workshops
SKITTLES THERAPY
What is skittles therapy you might ask? Well let me tell you it is torture for most people, but it helps to show many things, including working on an issue, and showing self-control. The greatest part of skittles therapy is you can change it up and it NEVER gets old. This group takes little preparation, but it is a whole lot of fun for everyone. I know that some of the techs I have worked with have asked to join many times, and some even ask how to do it for their 12 step meetings, or to take and play with their families. So here is the idea.
SELF ESTEEM/TRAUMA PETAL
People tend to forget positive things about themselves while they are not feeling well, are using drugs, or in jail. With this activity we helped to build group rapport and self-esteem. The directions are bellow and you can use this clip are or another one if you like, but the most important aspect of this group is that each person who receives their flower back, reads it out loud and processes their feelings about seeing what good other’s see in them.
MY GREATEST FEAR/MY BIGGEST HOPE
We all tend to forget that our fears and our hopes while in treatment are probably shared by others. With the following group activity, you can help to get a great discussion and show that people aren’t necessarily looking for things they have in common in treatment or in a group setting which is why at times they cannot connect.
EMOTIONAL CHARADES
Sometimes we have those clients who just have a rough time understanding not only their own emotions, but understanding the emotions of others, and have difficulties with expressing their own emotions. With emotional charades it is a fun way to have the group act out different emotions, and learn from one another while you are able to use this as a teaching tool and a learning tool by seeing where your client’s perception of emotions might be. I have a bag of emotions I use with Kimochis® Mixed Bag of Feelings but you can make your own bag by cutting out paper or using different shapes and words depending on your clients either way works well and can be fun.