Spiritual Healing

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

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.  Balanced Ecosystem:-
Discussion: A balanced system is one in which each part plays a role by contributing and taking something so the system can sustain itself.  The same is true within one person, within a family, or within a society. 
Activity: Draw an ecosystem that is familiar to you, such as a beach, forest, ocean, or jungle.  Depict parts of the ecosystem that give and take from each other, such as the water that nourishes animals, and replenishes itself with the rain.  Animals eat plants and also fertilize soil.  Soil receives nutrients from fallen leaves and generates new plant growth.  How does it feel when a system is in balance?  How can other systems keep their balance?

2.  I Will Survive!:-
Discussion: Read the lyrics to the song, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.  What is a part of your life that you would like to say good-bye to?  In what way are you a Survivor?
Activity: Play the song while participants stand in a circle.  Sing the song aloud together, adding gestures and movements to send those negative aspects of your life "out the door!"

3.  Call Waiting :-
(adapted from theatre game we played at the West Virginia University Theatre Department)
Pick three contrasting people in your lives that bring out different sides of your personality, such as a romantic interest, a parent, a best friend, a sibling, a teacher or supervisor, or an ex-partner.  Pretend you get a phone call from the first person on your list and begin talking with them about imaginary or real subject matter.  Imagine that you get a phone call from the second person on your list that "beeps in" while you are talking, and you place the first person on hold while you answer the second person's call.  Talk with the second person briefly, then end the conversation and return to the call with the first person.  Then imagine the third person "beeps in" and you again talk to them briefly before ending that conversation and returning to the first person.  End the call with the first person and hang up.  Discuss how the person's body language, voice, attitude, and demeanor changed as they spoke with the different people in their lives. 

4.  Group Journey:-
Facilitator plays relaxing music, such as Native American flute or harp music.  Participants sit comfortably in their chairs with their eyes closed or gazing downward at the floor.  Participants are encouraged to imagine a scene that is relaxing, safe, comforting, and beautiful.  After several minutes, one at a time, each person invites the group to their scene by describing it in second person; for example, "You are lying on soft sand under a warm sun with the sound of waves in the background.  A group of dolphins swim by and you can hear sea gulls passing overhead."  When the first person is finished sharing their scene in as much detail as possible, the next person shares their scene; for example, "You are climbing up a mountain at night under the moon.  The sound of leaves crunches under your feet.  Your heart beats with the feeling of excitement and beauty.  A wolf passes by and looks you in the eye before continuing walking across your path."  When everyone has shared, the facilitator invites anyone to share any feelings that have come up before closing the meditation.  The facilitator encourages everyone to slowly come "back into the room," wiggle fingers and toes, and slowly open their eyes.  Discuss favorite images or scenes that peers described in the group.

5.  Mirroring Sequence:-
Sitting in a circle, the group will mirror the exact movements of each person in the group for 60 seconds.  When it is someone's turn, that person can lead various movements, such as facial expressions, clapping, or standing up, or they can simply sit normally, but the group will attempt to mimic exactly the way the person is sitting or moving, including small movements of feet, fingers, or facial expressions.  When everyone has had a turn to lead, the group divides into pairs sitting facing each other, selecting Partner A and Partner B.  Partner A will lead slow movements with the hands and Partner B will mirror the movements as closely as possible.  Next, Partner B will lead and Partner A will follow.  Notice that the leader has to move slowly so that their partner will be able to follow closely.  If there is time, members can try also limit movements to the legs and feet or to the face. (Mimicking funny faces in slow motion is truly hysterical.)  Each person can also rate their partner as a leader and as a follower on a score of one to ten.  Finally, each partnership will perform for the group without telling the group who is leading or following, and the group will try to guess who was leading or following.  Discussion: Is it easier for you to lead or follow?  Why?

6.  Protect Your Treasures:-
On a blank piece of paper, draw a treasure box that is filled with aspects of your being that are precious, including your Love, your Beauty, your Beliefs, your Dignity or Pride, and your Sexuality.  Draw a boundary around your treasures with various characters outside the boundary who can determine who is trustworthy for you to share your treasures with.  Pick protective characters who are strong, wise, and discerning to help ward off anyone who may try to steal your treasures.

7.  The Red Shoes:-
(from the book, Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes)
Copy and read together with the group the story of "The Red Shoes."  (A copy can be found on Dr. Catherine Shafer's blog on Child Development.) Why did the girl become so obsessed with the red shoes?  What was she really longing for?  What could she have done differently at any point in the story to avoid the tragedy at the end?  For example, could she have told the old woman at the start of the story, "Thanks but no thanks, I'm fine on my own!"?   Or could she have made another pair of red shoes for herself that brought you the same joy as the ones she lost in the beginning of the story?  Or could she have run away from the old woman and gone back to the forest?   Depict how you would have avoided the bad ending of the story through artwork and share with the group. 

8.  Labyrinth Meditation:-
Print different labyrinth designs for each person in the group (A google image search will have hundreds of them.)  Each person gets one of the sheets to trace with their finger or the back of a pen or pencil.  Participants are encouraged go as slowly as possible, to sit erect in their chairs, and to breathe deeply in and out, since the labyrinth is a way to practice staying calm and focused through the twists and turns that life brings.  When you reach the center of the labyrinth, trace your path back to the entrance of the labyrinth and repeat until the time is up.  The facilitator can allow five minutes for each labyrinth.  After five minutes, group members can write on a separate piece of paper any thoughts or feelings that came up with that design, including feelings of impatience or relaxation.  Participants pass their papers to the right and repeat the same process with the next design for five minutes, again recording thoughts and feelings between each one.  Finish and discuss.  What was challenging about this activity?  What was enjoyable about it?  Did you prefer the more complex or simple designs? 

9.  Stars in the Night:-
Discuss quote by Stephenie Meyer, "Without the dark, we'd never see the stars."  What are some of the gifts of the dark times in your life?  Paint, color, or draw a night scene with brilliant stars and use words and images in the picture to represent what gifts you have found in the darkness.

10.  Covered and Uncovered:-
Using large pieces of cloth or extra clothing, such as a sweater or jacket, participants are invited to cover parts of their body in a way that increases a feeling of safety, protection, or containment, such as wrapping it around their shoulders, around their waist or hips, or over their heads or face.  Notice how it feels to be hidden or covered from others.  Without bumping into anyone, try walking around the room with your covering, while experimenting with covering different parts of your body.  What felt the most comfortable to you?  What did it feel like?  Next, try uncovering yourself with the cloth in your own timing, such as "flashing" little glimpses of the hidden parts, opening and closing the fabric like wings, or completely discarding the cloth and walking around the room without the covering.  What did it feel like to reveal yourself?  When do you feel safe to reveal yourself to others?  What is the hardest thing for you to reveal to others? 

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