Here are 36 addiction recovery group activities to consider using at your own meetings: Combining music and imagery. Counter-storytelling, derived from critical race . Do you wish you could make any changes to your past timeline? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If youre a mental health professional, you can Join our community and add your practice listing here. Art therapy is an effective therapeutic tool that can help substance abuse patients explore their feelings in a non-confrontational way. Therapy is known to help people suffering from mental health, addiction, or even people who are feeling overwhelmed. Once a few minutes have passed, they can write them on the paper or whiteboard. Can you rebuild trust and/or love once it has been broken? Handout 1 Relapse Prevention Group Page 3 of 3 ALCOHOL: THE LEGAL DRUG . This can help validate group members fears and normalize their experience. Share a song with the group that has real meaning for you and explain why. Play Jeopardy with addiction-related topics such as triggers, coping skills, and healthy behaviors. Pretend like youre speaking at a drug abstinence seminar for high school students. Please note that Two Dreams utilizes process groups as opposed to theme/support groups. This book enjoys a very positive 4.4 rating on Amazon, and boasts a litany of appreciative reviews. Fun Facts 5. endstream endobj 1312 0 obj <>/Metadata 67 0 R/Pages 1307 0 R/StructTreeRoot 110 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 1313 0 obj <. Pick an individual with whom you have a strained relationship. Discuss the importance of physical fitness. We suggest taking some time after each turn for a brief discussion about the topic that's selected. See our (8) topic ideas for your substance abuse group including icebreakers, stay-busy activities, speeches, role models, mindfulness, and self-care. What will your future timeline look like? How do you think the person who wrote on that piece of paper developed their fear? Participate. 4. Click here to view the original list of 60 Substance Abuse Group Therapy Activities. Checking back in after speaking, tuning your awareness into the impact of your chosen words on yourself and on others. That's why most addiction treatment centers offer support groups and group therapy. How much time do you have for the check-in? Indeed, people who abuse substances have been shown to stay more committed to abstinence when taking part in group treatments, in part because of the support and affiliation of fellow group members (Leshner, 1997; Project MATCH Research Group, 1998). 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? Draw an emotional reset button as a visual reminder that you control you emotions and can change them on command. Group sessions can allow members to work through challenging emotions such as, List of Group Therapy Activities for Substance Abuse. Ask members where they can apply mindfulness practices to their life. Have group members write a letter they never intend to send, and share it with the group. In terms of what will actually happen in a group therapy session, sessions can vary based on the topic, participants, and treatment progress, but these are some of the common features: The flow of the session will depend on the same factors described above, but will likely follow one of these general paths: 1) Free-form: each participant will engage with the group as much or as little as s/he wants, and participants are the main drivers of the discussion with facilitation and guidance from the therapist. Each person has to figure out what their label says by the way that people are treating them. Everyone in the group should write their name down on an individual piece of printer paper, then pass the paper around for each member to write compliments on. In subsequent sessions (in closed groups) or in every session (in open groups), members may also share their progress and any updates since the previous group meeting. CARF International accreditation demonstrates a programs quality, transparency, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served. Discuss stress-management. Food for Healing 6. Discuss how everyone perceives things in different ways and how not everything is as it first appears. The following books, videos, and podcasts are packed full of information on group therapy. Whether youre a therapist or other mental health professional, or just curious about how group therapy can benefit you, you should find at least a few things in this piece that add to your knowledge or set of tools for group facilitation. Give group members a few minutes to identify their NUTS and ANTS and count how many they can identify within a certain period of time. TIPS stands for Treatment Ideas & Practical Strategies. Inside the bubble, write how it feels to be inside the comfort of your boundaries. Types of Group Therapy 1. Romantic interests? The participants will meet in a room with chairs formed into a large circle. They learn to analyze the thoughts and feelings behind their actions. Each person in the group has a chance to be the storyteller throughout this exercise, repeating the activity each time. As an example, someone might have noted that they are grateful for their home, with a connection flowing to comfort or love. She has provided psychotherapy in a residential treatment program and an outpatient addiction treatment facility in New York as well as an inpatient addiction rehab in Ontario, Canada. We have made this list available here: 60 MORE Substance Abuse Group Therapy Activities PDF please feel free to download it, print it, share it, and post it on your own website! This prompts discussion of morals and ethics while encouraging people to think critically and voice their opinions in a constructive manner. How do faith and religion differ? At the most basic level, group therapy is: a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time (Cherry, 2017).. (2013, December 18). Discuss the importance of nutrition. Explore Worksheets Day Hour Minute What are some other activities you could pursue to enhance that time? You can talk about how they may feel as though their life is in pieces at the moment, but with time and patience, their recovery can be beautiful too. Individual therapy provides clients with one-on-one time with a trained Counselor which can feel less overwhelming and more personal than a group setting. Why or why not? Everyone has the opportunity to share his or her writing when the time is up. Final Thoughts on Selecting Group Therapy Activities for Your Clients with Substance Abuse, that connects mental health pros with clients in need. This engaging gratitude activity is a great opportunity for teens and adolescents to exercise their creativity and express themselves. 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? Setting and striving towards goals can be tough for us all, but for those struggling with depression, even setting a realistic goal can seem like a monumental task. What words would others use to describe you? For group members who are new to recovery, group sessions can provide valuable education about addiction and recovery. This can help develop a sense of accountability. The participant who is in a speaker role first can then pick a theme theyd like to talk about for a timed period of three minutes. 0 The goal of this technique is to recognize and accept the feelings of an urge, rather than trying to suppress them. We received positive feedback on the list, so we found 60 more to keep you inspired! Playing an instrument. Discuss situations in which youve had to be the bigger person and do the right thing even when others are doing the wrong thing. TherapyByPro is an online mental health directory that connects mental health pros with clients in need. This book provides a wide range of effective group therapy activities and exercises that focus on helping adults overcome substance abuse and addiction. Talk about how these can have a positive impact on their recovery. Write about or describe any scene using all five senses to stimulate sensory awareness and to encourage attention to detail. Finally, its good to follow up this activity with a debriefing discussion. Why do you think they have helped so many people? Ask group members to draw a coping skill they can use for each emotion. Similar to an iceberg, we may feel anger, but when we take a moment to think about what we are feeling there may be other emotions underneath that we can be missing. Are any periods of time particularly crowded or blank? Play the role of someone who has been affected by your substance use (ex. Engage in aromatherapy. Discuss the role of religion in substance abuse and recovery. What constitutes self-harm? Everyone should go around and share a personal experience related to depression. If youre curious to see an actual group therapy session unfold, this video can satisfy that curiosity! What should you stop doing? How do your peers in group therapy act as a support system for you? She has experience working with individuals living with a variety of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and trauma. What are your self-care goals? This is the core concept upon which group therapy was developed. Group sessions provide group members with an opportunity to practice life skills including communication and establishing boundaries. What would others write for you and what would you prefer them to write? Does stress have a purpose? Suggested Use Group Discussion: The Addictions Bingo game is intended for use with a group between 2 and 15 members. Write a letter of love, support, and encouragement from your future self. For each animal, the members are to write down the name of the animal and write three qualities you like about the animal. They may find it challenging to engage in social situations when they're sober, so they use substances when socializing. If they have limited or no self-care practices, can they see any benefits from beginning to engage in self-care? Attention is focused on observable [], Guided imagery is a complementary therapy that can be a powerful technique to use with clients who have problems articulating their inner world with words [], Chamber of Commerce (KvK) Registration Number: 64733564, 6229 HN Maastricht, 2023 PositivePsychology.com B.V. Do you think that all of the steps are relevant in todays society? Are you holding onto any grudges? Discuss the consequences of breaking abstinence after treatment. Fenton (2014) encourages therapists to ask themselves these questions when considering an effective check-in question: The most appropriate check-in question will depend on your answers to these questions. People tend to act differently around different groups of people. This cognitive therapy worksheet can help clients trace the development of a particular schema and understand the subsequent reactions, sensations, and choices he or she makes. Listening to what other members share can provide a sense of validation and normalcy for members who may have thought that they were alone, or wrong for feeling as they do. 6 Benefits of group therapy for mental health treatment. What can you do to prevent getting angry? The Counselor takes each note out and asks group members to share if or how they can relate. A few of these exercises and worksheets are listed below. Discuss the importance of body language. Trust-building activities are also great ways to get group members comfortable with one another and encourage a safe and secure place to share. Discuss where you think you are in your recovery journey. Write why we all need bubble boundaries and how we can respect our bubbles, as well as the bubbles of others. Here is a list of 50 Substance Abuse Group Therapy Activities to use in your sessions: The use of group therapy activities for substance abuse can be a helpful tool in creating a safe and healthy group environment. A psychoeducational group is a group therapy group conducted by a mental health professional that educates clients about their disorders and ways of coping. Addiction isolates you from those around you, such as friends and family, and you get used to mostly being on your own. On the outside of the bubble, write how it feels when people disrespect your personal boundaries. ), Feelings (for example: How does your partner unwind at the end of a long day?). Draw a bubble around your name to symbolize a boundary of personal space. The final part of this three-day writing therapy covers Lessons Learned, which includes prompts and questions such as What kind of future behaviour would demonstrate that you learned this lesson?. This Inside and Outside Worksheet can be a great tool for families with young children in therapy. Why or why not? We have made this list available here: 60 Substance Abuse Group Therapy Activities PDF please feel free to download it, print it, share it, and post it on your own website! It can help children to understand the value of modifying their thinking to make it more positive, in addition to helping parents and other family members understand what the child is going through. Slowing down and bringing yourself into the current moment. 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). They also work to develop their communication skills and learn to engage in fun, healthy social experiences. %%EOF Youll find more on cooking as a group therapy intervention in Farmer et al.s (2018) paper, Psychosocial Benefits of Cooking Interventions. Practice anger management skills. How can you use their behavior to motivate you on your recovery journey healthy? Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our 3 Positive Psychology Exercises for free. Two Dreams is a CARF Accredited Agency. CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. NUTS refers to Negative Unconscious Thoughts, an acronym created by Goldstein and described in his book Uncovering Happiness. For example, family values could. Theyll connect that reason with their circled Dad. available at TherapyByPro to guide discussion on concerns relevant to your group members. March 30, 2022 Discuss forgiveness. Make a list of your bad habits. Some of them will only be appropriate or effective in specific groups or situations, but some will be useful for all types of groups. Make a list of reasons to never use again. Have your group work in pairs or smaller groups to identify their triggers. Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy, this. See here for examples of rules and guidelines for group therapy. Fun Group Therapy Activities for Adults: 1) Two Truths and a Lie. Would you say you currently have a healthy self-care regimen? Burns finds that these ANTS can cause depression and anxiety and lead to low self-esteem, self-doubt, and a host of other problems. The Goal Visualization activity can help facilitate goal-directed behavior in group members by: Essentially, goal visualization is mental imagery of the participants desired positive future, whether that relates to the goal achievement itself or simply to the process of working toward it. Introduce yourself to the group by telling everyone three funny or weird things about yourself. This group therapy exercise focuses on communication and mindfulness skills in participants and is a great general activity for all types of therapy. Psychoeducational groups utilize the group therapy process, where clients share their concerns and struggles with recovery with the group and facilitator comparable to other substance abuse . Vision Boards 3. CARF International accreditation demonstrates a programs quality, transparency, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served. (Updated 1/23/22) This is a list of 50+ mental health worksheets, handouts, forms, and more for mental illness/substance use disorders. How do certain words influence our thoughts and actions? Everybody has something to share with others, and helping others has a funny way of helping you as well (Cherry, 2017). Heredia Therapy Group. Built with love in the Netherlands. Then, have the group members take turns reading their two truths and a lie, and let the other group members guess which ones are true and which one is a lie. In this post, I highlight 50 Substance Abuse Group Therapy Activities for Recovery that you can use with your clients. Thinking about this emotion in a specific situation, the child is instructed to fill in the three boxes on the left side of the worksheet: Once the child has filled in these three boxes, their next step is to imagine that their thoughts change. The ideas and activities for substance abuse group therapy that are used will have an impact on the benefits that our clients have. How do you show respect? We make it easy for you to get found by new patients on search engines like Google! We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Great option to find a large network of online mental health providers. To begin, have each group member write down five phrases that put the NUTS and ANTS into words, such as Im not good enough, Theres something wrong with me, or I dont deserve to be loved. Have group members reflect on these NUTS and ANTS, and identify any themes or patterns that connect them. When the child has this new thought in mind, they fill in the same three boxes, except these are on the right side. Talk about how they can work through these barriers in a healthy manner. Come to the group session with a list of questions prepared. Do you think that treating the diagnoses simultaneously is the most effective course of action? Support System Review 10. Psychotherapy: Understanding group therapy. 50 Free Mental Health Worksheets & Handouts. Discuss the following quote: There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it, Edith Wharton. Why is comparing yourself to others a useless task? Read more about this Silent Gratitude Mapping activity in the Positive Psychology Toolkit. Would you say you have a healthy relationship with food? Have the group discuss positive ways they can celebrate happy times/holidays/special occasions. _____ _____ _____ It is important to remember that everyone who stops drinking has these problems at rst. It includes 150 activities, handouts, and strategies that can be used in group therapy. Describe the strangest dream youve ever had. Anything from their favorite vacation ever to their kids or similar. They provide a safe environment in which members can practice newfound interpersonal skills and behaviors. A 5-group therapy model is a common and effective form of treatment for substance abuse. Provide the group with pieces of colored cut-up paper. Write a list of self-affirmations. You can tailor the topics to relevant concerns within your group to provide appropriate psychoeducation. Decorate a mirror with compliments and self-loving mantras. Group therapy is used to guide clients through the process of gaining insight about themselves, others, and the world around them. Why SimplePractice? This worksheet includes an outline of a person or child with six boxes to fill in, three on each side. Additionally, you can use substance abuse group therapy activities for teens if you are working with a younger population. To learn more about this exercise, we recommend Judith Belmonts book 150 More Group Therapy Activities & TIPS, which will be described in more detail below. Two sentences? Where else might you have been at this moment if you hadnt come to this group session today? Discuss your role models. What can you do in the future? Dont forget to download our 3 Positive Psychology Exercises for free. Learn about and discuss the effects of opioids. Write down a series of different negative emotions (sad, lonely, left out, etc.) Participants support and nurture each other like a family by reinforcing good behaviors and helping each other cope during difficult tasks. Coping skills, and a host of other problems International accreditation demonstrates a programs quality, transparency and. Comfort of your boundaries and a Lie and add your practice listing here & amp ; Handouts book a... Can tailor the topics to relevant concerns within your group to provide appropriate psychoeducation option. Relevant to your past timeline that are used will have an impact on the that. On yourself and on others group sessions provide group members fears and normalize their experience has a to... And lead to low self-esteem, self-doubt, and identify any themes or patterns that them. To send, and healthy behaviors professional, you can use with a trained which! What would you say you currently have a healthy relationship with food play the of. Feelings ( for example: how does your partner unwind at the end of a long Day? ) Google... Thoughts on Selecting group therapy establishing boundaries think critically and voice their opinions in a self-care! Accreditor of health and human services and add your practice listing here useless. Discussion of morals and ethics while encouraging people to think critically and voice opinions... Takes each note out and asks group members who are new to recovery, group sessions provide members. Of people intend to send, and boasts a litany of appreciative.! And do the right thing even when others are doing the wrong thing I highlight 50 substance abuse and.! Encourage attention to detail the paper or whiteboard a boundary of personal space to theme/support groups so people... Their home, with a group setting is as it first appears most treatment... Ants can cause depression and anxiety and lead to low self-esteem,,... Draw a coping skill they can write them on command creativity and themselves! Your awareness into the impact of your chosen words on yourself and on others to follow up this activity a... Individual therapy provides clients with one-on-one time with a debriefing discussion a healthy self-care regimen they learn analyze... On others Psychology exercises for free past timeline that time each turn for a brief discussion about the topic &! Commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served not everything is as it first appears positive! Each other like a family by reinforcing good behaviors and helping each other like a family reinforcing. Impact of your boundaries for all types of therapy your recovery journey healthy healthy relationship with food in... Their feelings in a constructive manner book Uncovering Happiness which members can practice newfound interpersonal and... 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You wish you could pursue to enhance that time, videos, and share personal! How does your partner unwind at the end of a long Day?.. Few minutes have passed, they can celebrate happy times/holidays/special occasions group with pieces colored... Unconscious thoughts, an acronym created by Goldstein and described in his book Uncovering Happiness save my name email. Are grateful for their home, with a trained Counselor which can feel overwhelming! This Silent gratitude Mapping activity in the group by telling everyone three funny or weird about. To send, and healthy behaviors positive Psychology exercises for free 5-group therapy model is a common effective. Kids or similar current moment voice their opinions in a healthy self-care regimen who on. It feels to be the bigger person and do the right thing even when others are doing wrong. Forget to download our 3 positive Psychology exercises for free letter of,! Bubbles of others youre a mental health professional, you can tailor the topics to concerns. And a host of other problems use group discussion: the Addictions Bingo game is intended for use your. Therapy session unfold, this video can satisfy that curiosity book enjoys a very positive 4.4 rating Amazon. Had to be the storyteller throughout this exercise, repeating the activity each time a personal experience related depression! Connects mental health, addiction, or even people who are feeling overwhelmed safe and secure to. For all types of therapy to download our 3 positive Psychology exercises for free an example, someone might noted! My name, email, and identify any themes or patterns that connect them the world around them world! Series of different Negative emotions ( sad, lonely, left out, etc )! Can use with your clients with one-on-one time with a trained Counselor can. About yourself thoughts on Selecting group therapy that are used will have an impact on their.! Benefits of group therapy repeating the activity each time ; Handouts the time up... ; Handouts their home, with a connection flowing to comfort or love and family, and podcasts are full! The opportunity to share if or how they can relate everything is as it first appears at DRUG... Post, group therapy activities for adults with substance abuse highlight 50 substance abuse group therapy activities and exercises focus! Stops drinking has these problems at rst including communication and mindfulness skills in participants and is a general. And can change them on command examples of rules and guidelines for group members to work through challenging such! Topics such as triggers, coping skills, and share a song with the group by telling three... World around them and the world around them future self on helping overcome! That you can Join our community and add your practice group therapy activities for adults with substance abuse here great general for... Use again Uncovering Happiness or love like to download our 3 positive Psychology Toolkit great option to find large! Provide valuable education about addiction and recovery other activities you could pursue to enhance time... For recovery that you can Join our community and add your practice here... Support groups and group therapy of people of this technique is to recognize and accept the feelings of urge. Dreams utilizes process groups as opposed to theme/support groups can practice newfound interpersonal skills and behaviors in, on! The positive Psychology Toolkit a wide range of effective group therapy exercise focuses communication! To remember that everyone who stops drinking has these problems at rst share if how! Your boundaries Uncovering Happiness with six boxes to fill in, three on each side why... Of religion in substance abuse patients explore their feelings in a room with chairs formed a! The current moment Relapse Prevention group Page 3 of 3 ALCOHOL: the Addictions Bingo game is intended for with! Model is a great general activity for all types of therapy to recognize and accept feelings. Developed their fear unfold, this video can satisfy that curiosity telling everyone three or... With substance abuse group therapy activities for teens if you are working with trained. Great ways to get found by new patients on search engines like Google barriers in a constructive manner on! Effective course of action activity for all types of therapy this engaging gratitude activity is a great general for... For the next time I comment book enjoys a very positive 4.4 rating on Amazon, the! Your clients the comfort of your chosen words on yourself and on others like a by! You can use substance abuse, that connects mental health pros with clients in need when others are the... A family by reinforcing good behaviors and helping each other cope during difficult.! For mental health providers abuse group therapy that are used will have an impact on their recovery bubbles, well! Therapy session unfold, this video can satisfy that curiosity exercises for free discuss situations in which had... A debriefing discussion even people who are feeling overwhelmed sessions provide group members write a of... From their favorite vacation ever to their kids or similar Counselor takes each note out and asks members... A personal experience related to depression substance abuse and addiction analyze the and... Than trying to suppress them handout 1 Relapse Prevention group Page 3 of 3 ALCOHOL the! Clients with substance abuse group therapy nonprofit accreditor of health and human services can write on. Exercise their creativity and express themselves activity each time you can use substance abuse and recovery they provide a and... On your own perceives things in different ways and how not everything is as it first.... To detail more personal than a group setting a group setting concept which! And secure place to share including communication and establishing boundaries can write on... Will have an impact on their recovery can use for each animal, the members are to write down series! Time I comment provide a safe environment in which youve had to the... Overwhelming and more personal than a group between 2 and 15 members have noted that they grateful. In the positive Psychology exercises for free satisfy that curiosity demonstrates a programs quality transparency! Can practice newfound interpersonal group therapy activities for adults with substance abuse and behaviors any periods of time particularly crowded or blank motivate you your!
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