Support Group Activities!

Support groups provide encouragement and understanding for people dealing with similar issues. Support groups may consist of cancer patients, stroke victims and people with mental health problems, attention deficits or addictions. Whatever issue you're struggling with, the group activities can enhance the healing experience. 

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.

Support groups provide encouragement and understanding for people dealing with similar issues. Support groups may consist of cancer patients, stroke victims and people with mental health problems, attention deficits or addictions. Whatever issue you're struggling with, the group activities can enhance the healing experience.

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

1.  Stuck and Unstuck:-
(adapted from an exercise in The Moving Center by Gay and Kathleen Hendricks)

With selected music in the background, participants stand in a circle and warm up by moving each part of the body in creative movements, starting with the head and moving down through the arms, torso, legs, and feet.  One at a time, participants go to the center of the circle and start by moving freely.  The participant then slows down until he is stuck in one body position, which can represent a way that he feels "stuck," such as stuck in self-doubt, hopelessness, stress, or neediness.  He stays in the stuck position until he can devise a way to "unstick" himself, either by making certain vocal sounds, saying a powerful phrase, shaking free, or breathing deeply into the position until it releases.  Repeat for each person and discuss.

2.  Poetry Grid:-

Each person in the group comes up with five to ten words that everyone writes down on a blank piece of paper.  On lined paper, participants write 5 to 10 sentences using the words that were spoken, adding filler words if needed.  Share the sentences and take the best line from each participant and arrange them on one piece of paper to make a group poem. (This activity often produces astounding creativity and provocative lines of poetry.)

3.  I Feel ___ Like A :-______.

Each person writes "I feel ____ like a ____," filling in the blanks; for example, "I feel grumpy like a turtle that fell into a sewer."  Draw, color, or paint the images associated with the feeling below the sentence, using as much color and detail as possible.

4.  Chariots of Fire Ritual:-

Each person gets four pieces of paper.  On one paper, each person writes their goal for their lives, such as "success," "sobriety," or "happiness."  On the three other pieces of paper, each person writes an obstacle to reaching their goal, such as "Conflicts with my children," "boredom," or "negative thinking."  Create an obstacle course in the room with chairs and tables.  The "obstacle" sheets are placed on the chairs and tables on the obstacle course, and the "goal" sheet is placed at the finish line.  The participant can read aloud what has been written on each sheet as they are being placed.  As participants go through the obstacle course, they can either rip up each of the obstacles on the pieces of paper, push aside the chairs on which they are placed, or crawl around or under the obstacles to reach the finish line.  The group stands behind the finish line shouting encouragement and cheering for each person when they reach the finish.  The process is repeated for each person.  Play "The Chariots of Fire" in the background for a dramatic effect!

5.  Bardic Circle:-

Sitting in a circle, everyone takes turn sharing something with the group, such as performing a song, a dance, a poem, a joke, or an interesting fact,  or teaching a new skill.  Everyone is encouraged to be supportive and attentive when others share. 

6.  Drum Your Family:-

Percussion instruments are placed in the center of the room (which can also include "homemade" instruments like a pen with a plastic cup or rattling keys!)  Each participant describes the people that live in the home with them, such as family members or roommates, and selects an instrument to represent that person.  The participant plays the instrument in a way that represents that family member's qualities, such as loud, soft, fast, slow, easy-going or rigid.  The participant selects someone in the group to play that instrument according to the participant's specifications.  The participant continues to assign instruments to group members to represent each family member in their home.  When all the parts have been assigned, the group members play their instruments together in the way that the participant has demonstrated, and the participant listens until she directs them to stop playing.  Discuss how the family sounded - were some family members more aligned and others more dissonant?  Repeat for each participant.

7.  Personal Mythology:-

Create a story using the following form: "Once upon a time there was a _____ named _____.  It was very _____, _____, and _____.  It lived in _____ with ______.  Every day it would _____.  It's favorite thing about its life was _____.  It's least favorite thing was _____.  More than anything, it wanted _____.  The only problem was that _____.  One day, it was _____, when suddenly _____."  Continue the story to completion and write, "The End."  Discuss if and how the main character solved its problem.  

8.  Yes, No, I Don't Know :
(adapted from an exercise from Gabrielle Roth)

Participants partner in pairs facing each other, and decide which partner will be A or B.  Partner A starts by saying "Yes" and Partner B says "No."  When the facilitator says "Go," each pair will have about 30 seconds to say "Yes" and "No" to each other in a dialogue with varying moods, attitudes and intensity.  Repeat with Partner A saying "No" and Partner B saying "Yes" for thirty seconds.  Notice if it was easier to say "Yes" or "No" in the dialogues.  Next, Partner A will ask five questions to Partner B, to which Partner B can only answer "Yes."  The questions can be silly or serious.  Repeat with Partner B asking Partner A five questions, to which Partner A can only answer "Yes."  What was it like to accept everything someone asks?  Next, Partner A will ask five questions to Partner B, but Partner B can only answer "No."  Repeat with Partner B asking Partner A.  What was it like to reject everything someone asks?  Finally, Partner A will ask five questions to Partner B, but Partner B can only answer "I don't know."  Repeat with Partner B asking Partner A.  What was it like to be in a state of unknowing?

9.  Coloring Meditation:-

Trace objects in the room onto a piece of paper with a pencil, such as tissue boxes, cups, or plastic containers.  Make an interesting design with the overlapping shapes.  Alternatively, make designs by scribbling on a piece of paper in varying shapes and patterns.  Color with markers, colored pencils, or crayons.  Facilitator can play relaxing music in the background as participants are coloring.  Discussion: How did this activity affect your mood? 

10.  Empty the Jug:-

Discussion: If feelings are kept bottled up, they build up and overflow. 

Activity: Draw a large bottle or jug on your paper.  Draw two lines across its center to make three layers in the jug.  In the top layer, write three lines describing feelings you feel right now and the reason, such as "Tired because I didn't sleep well last night," or "Nervous because I'm with people I don't know."  In the middle layer, write three lines describing feelings you had in the past and the reason, such as "Sad when my dog died," or "Mad when my mother kicked me out of the house."  In the bottom layer, imagine you are peering into the depths of your heart without really knowing what is there, so you will try to guess by writing three lines like "Maybe I feel mad because I have no friends" or "Maybe I feel scared because I'm getting old."  Try to surprise yourself and write something you didn't expect.  Participants are not required to share their bottom layer if it will help them to take more risks in their writing.