Healing Mind Live in Group Activities!

Here is a list of ideas that I have employed at various times in a mental health setting for groups of adults, children, and teens.

1. Lighthouse:-

Visualization: You are lost at sea on a stormy night.  You see a glimmer of light leading you to land.  If you row hard, you can make it.  Someone waits for you with a warm meal, dry clothes, and a place to rest. 

Draw, color, or paint an image of a lighthouse as a source of guidance in your life.  Depict yourself somewhere in the image, either in a boat on the water, in the lighthouse, etc.  Add words to represent your sources of guidance in life, i.e. faith, family, hope. 

2.  Joyful Memory:-

Everyone shares the most joyful memory that comes to mind.  Each person directs the scene, casting group members in the various roles, including him or herself.  Participant watches the scene and comments on the feelings and memories that come up.

3.  Good and Evil:-
 (This one seems complex at first but once everyone gets it, it's a very fun and powerful activity.)

Clients take six strips of paper each.  Write three Negative Messages or beliefs on three of the paper strips; i.e. You're dumb, you're ugly, etc.  Write three Powerful, Positive Responses to the messages on the other three paper strips; i.e. I have confidence in my abilities.  I'm proud of the way I look. 

Form two rows of three standing opposite each other.  Let participants choose if they want to be in the "Good" row or the "Evil" row.  A participant gives one of his Negative Messages to each person in the "Evil" row.  He gives the corresponding Powerful, Positive Response paper to the person in the "Good" row that is facing the "Evil" side.  The participant stands between the first pair as they read the messages on the sheets and try to influence the participant using ad lib sentences.  The "Evil" person extends her arm out to block the participant from passing. 

e.g. Evil: "You're really dumb.  You are always so slow.  Why don't you ever understand anything?"  Good: "I'm proud of my abilities.  I may not be perfect, but I'm exactly who I need to be."  Participant listens to the two sides and finally chooses the "Good" side by repeating the Powerful Positive Response and pushing past the "Evil" person's arm block.  Participant repeats process with next pair until finished with all three pairs.  Repeat for each person. 

4. Friendship Mural:-

Big banner: "A true friend is someone who..."

Clients fill the mural with images and words that complete this sentence. 

5.  Resilience:-

Draw, color, or paint an image of a being in nature that survives in a harsh environment: a flower in a sidewalk; a fish at the bottom of the ocean; a creature in the desert. 

6.  Violence:-

Discuss quote from Elie Wiesel: "Violence is a form of communication for a person who fails to find words"  

 Participants complete the following sentences for a journal activity:

Violence happens because...

Someone who is violent toward others is trying to...

Someone who is violent toward himself is trying to...

Someone I have trouble communicating with is...

What I really need is....

What I wish people would understand about me is...

7.  Powerful Ally:-

Think of a person or character, real or imaginary, who is powerful, strong, or wise.  Remember a time you felt alone, scared, out of control, or helpless.  Imagine that the Powerful Person is there with you during the experience, either offering help or just being with you.  Participants enact the memories with the Powerful Person present in the scene.  Each participant casts the needed players in the scene and instruct the players how to enact the various characters' actions.  Client plays herself in the scene.  

8.  Inner Child:-

Draw yourself as a child on your paper.  Add images and words to give this child everything that it needs, including a supportive nurturing parent. 

9.  Purpose in Life;- 
   (adapted from an activity used in the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium)

Fold paper into three sections.  In the first section, list your gifts, strengths, talents, including abilities and personal qualities.  In the third section, list problems in the world that are concerning to you, such as child abuse, animal abuse, unemployment, etc.  In the middle section, use creativity to devise at least three ways to use your gifts in the first section to solve problems in the third section.  Draw and color an image of one of these ideas as if it has already happened and succeeded in solving the problem.   

10.  My Relationship with:-

Select a magazine image for yourself and another person with whom you have conflict or difficulty.  Glue each image on opposite sides of the paper.  Draw arrows from the other person to yourself and write words above each arrow to indicate the disagreeable actions of the other person.  Draw a protective wall between you and that person using bricks, laser shields, or any kind of imaginary protective device that believably prevents the disagreeable actions from harming you.  Now safe from harm, add images, words, and colors around the picture of the other person to depict your wish for their healing, growth, and peace.  Write your prayers or hopes that they will receive what they need to be happy.  Add images, words, and colors around the picture of yourself to describe what goals and values you will pursue once you are healed from the negative impacts of this relationship.