Group Activities!

Have an art-therapy session. Art therapists work with people recovering from grief, illness, emotional problems and injuries. Hire an art therapist willing to do a brief, inexpensive presentation, or check around for student interns looking for experience in art therapy.

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. 

Have an art-therapy session. Art therapists work with people recovering from grief, illness, emotional problems and injuries. Hire an art therapist willing to do a brief, inexpensive presentation, or check around for student interns looking for experience in art therapy.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/way_5407011_support-group-activity-ideas.html

Have an art-therapy session. Art therapists work with people recovering from grief, illness, emotional problems and injuries. Hire an art therapist willing to do a brief, inexpensive presentation, or check around for student interns looking for experience in art therapy.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/way_5407011_support-group-activity-ideas.htmHave an art-therapy session. Art therapists work with people recovering from grief, illness, emotional problems and injuries. Hire an art therapist willing to do a brief, inexpensive presentation, or check around for student interns looking for experience in art therapyHere is a list of ideas that I have employed at various times in a mental health setting for groups of adults, children, and teens.

Have an art-therapy session. Art therapists work with people recovering from grief, illness, emotional problems and injuries. Hire an art therapist willing to do a brief, inexpensive presentation, or check around for student interns looking for experience in art therapy.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/way_5407011_support-group-activity-ideas.html

1.  Dream Circle:-

Discussion: Imagery and symbols are a language that can help us to explore feelings in a different way.  When we think about about dream images, we can create meaning that is useful to the dreamer. 

Activity: One person from the group shares a dream that they had recently or a dream that has a recurring theme.  The person shares as much detail as possible without making any self-deprecating comments about it or leaving out any embarrassing parts.  (If the dreamer does not feel comfortable sharing a dream in its entirety, they are encouraged to select a different dream.)  One at a time, each person in the group asks refining questions about the dream, such as, "What were you feeling when that happened?" or "Did anything in your dream remind you of something from real life?" or "Who else was with you in the scene?"  After collecting as much information as possible, group members and the facilitator can offer interpretations of the dream, such as "I think your dream is trying to tell you that you are afraid of losing your relationship," or "I think your dream is warning you about what will happen if you relapse."  After everyone has had a chance to share their interpretations, the dreamer is given the final word on what the dream means to her by sharing her interpretation of her own dream.  Repeat for anyone else who has had a dream they would like to share in the group.

2.  The Guest House:-

Read the poem, The Guest House by Rumi.  Draw, color, or paint a Guest House on a piece of paper, inviting six feelings to enter and stay.  Depict words or objects in each room to care for each of the feelings, such as a tissue box in the room for Sadness, a punching bag in the room for Anger, or a cross in the room for Fear. 

3.  Body Talk:-

Cut a large paper roll into long pieces for each person to lay on.  Group members assist each other with tracing the silhouette of each person laying on their paper. Each person draws or paints words or glues magazine images on or around their silhouette that include positive messages or qualities for each of their body parts, such as "Good Listener" next to the ears or "Energetic" next to the feet.  Participants are encouraged to also include messages that the body parts may want to communicate back to the person; for example, the lungs may say, "Stop smoking" or the stomach may communicate words or images about wanting to be more calm and relaxed or confident. 

4.  Dance Prayers:-

Facilitator plays slow, rhythmic music and leads a warm up for participants to move different parts of the body, starting with the head and moving downward to the shoulders, arms, hands, torso, legs and feet.  Going around the circle one at at time, each participant will lead the group in a gesture or movement that expresses a positive affirmation.  Each person will share a unique expression for the same phrase until everyone has had a turn leading.  The group will follow the leader's movement, repeating the gesture several times if it seems appropriate to fully appreciate the feeling in the movement.  Then each person will lead a movement or gesture for the next phrase.  The facilitator can provide the positive affirmations, such as "I believe in myself," "I can handle this," "I am loved," and "Everything will be alright," or group members can create their own phrases to express. 

5.  The Joy of Giving:-

Take three sheets of paper and think about what gifts you would like to give to yourself, to someone you love, and to a stranger. Draw or color your perfect gift for each person on one of the sheets of paper.  When you are finished coloring the gifts with as much detail as possible, fold up the papers and draw wrapping paper, ribbons, and a bow on the paper as if it is a wrapped gift.  Open and share with the group.