Creative Activities for Group Therapy 2nd Edition by Nina W Brown ISBN 9781000837919 1000837912

1. Introduction

Organization of the Book

Benefits and Advantages for Group Members

Rationale

Benefits for the Group

A Rationale for Using Creative Activities for Group Dilemmas

Principles of Experiential Learning

Theoretical Perspectives

Creative Activities

Selecting an Activity

Ethical Considerations

Do No Harm

Confidentiality and Its Limits

Professional Responsibility

Process for Resolving Ethical Issues

The Group Leader’s Preparation

The Group Leader’s Development

Some Basic Skills and Attributes

Judicious Use of Creative Activities

Summary

References

2. Procedures and Process for Use of Creative Activities

Introduction

Fundamental Principles

General Guiding Assumptions

Group as a whole focus

Clinical issues

Tried interventions were ineffective

Reasons vary

The leader mirrors and contains

Reflects resistance, confusion, fear or uncertainty

Guiding Assumptions About Group Members

Members’ unique contributions

Members’ histories and personalities differ

Unaware

At a crossroads

Incomplete development

Existential concerns

Varying means of making sense

Dilemmas as defenses

Basic Group Conditions for Use of Creative Activities

General Guidelines for Selecting Activities

General Guidelines for Use of Creative Activities

The Implementation Phase

Example Decision-Making Procedure

Questions for Exploring and Expansion

Materials and Supplies

Generation of a Formal Plan for Implementation

Example Formal Plan

The Process for Implementation Phase

Sample Introduction of Activity Script

Observing Members As They Work

The Reporting Phase

The Expansion and Enhancement Phases

Summary

References

3. Group Leader Facilitation Attributes and Skills

Introduction

Fundamental Attributes

Therapeutic Skills

Transference and Countertransference

Therapeutic Responding or Communication Competencies

Basic Competencies

Advanced Group Level Skills

Group Factors

Group Dynamics

Stages of Group Development

Cultural and Diversity Sensitivity

Culturally Sensitive Group Leader Strategies

Therapeutic Factors

Summary

References

4. Art Activities: Drawing and Collage

Introduction: Drawing Activities

Benefits and Advantages for Drawing Activities

Uncontaminated Expressions

Guidelines for Drawing Activities

Gather Materials

Prepare Expansion and Enhancement Topics

Activity 4.1 Express Feelings

Focusing Awareness

Activity 4.2 Immediate Awareness

Bypass Defenses

Activity 4.3 My Defenses

Activity 4.4 My Concern(s)

Activity 4.5 Tension

Activity 4.6 Organizing Internal Chaos

Guidelines for Group as a Whole Drawing Activities

Examples for Group-Focused Activities

Activity 4.7 Saying Hello

Activity 4.8 My Accomplishments

Activity 4.9 Wishes for the Group

Activity 4.10 Desired Outcomes

Collage

Activity 4.11 My Fave Five

Activity 4.12 Just Play

Activity 4.13 Collage with Shapes

Activity 4.14 Who Am I – My Physical Self?

Activity 4.15 My Emotional Self

Activity 4.16 My Inspirational Self

Activity 4.17 My Creative Self

Additional Collage Activities

Activity 4.18 Inside/Outside

Activity 4.19 Home

References

5. Writing Activities: Essays, Lists, Journals, Poetry, and Cinquains

Introduction

Benefits From Writing Activities

How and Why Writing Can Help

Expressive Writing

Activity 5.1 Group Expressive Writing

Activity 5.2 An Autobiographical Activity – Session 1

Activity 5.3 An Autobiographical Activity – Session 2

Activity 5.4 An Autobiographical Activity – Session 3

Activity 5.5 Life Events

Single Session Writing Activities

Session Writing – Past Reflections

Activity 5.6 Childhood Event

Activity 5.7 A Teen Event or Memory

Activity 5.8 An Adult Personal Event or Memory

Activity 5.9 An Adult Work-Related Event or Memory

Session Writing – Free Associations

Activity 5.10 The Group

Activities 5. 11–5.14

Session Writing – Letters

Activity 5.15 Letter to my Cognitive Self

Activity 5.16 The Interpersonal Self

Activity 5.17 The Emotional Self

Activity 5.18 The Creative Self

Activity 5.19 The Inspirational Self

Activity 5.20 The Physical Self

Session Writing – Dreams

Activity 5.21 A Dream

Session Writing – Lists

Activity 5.22 The Power of Lists

Session Writing – Self-Affirmations

Activity 5.23 Life Enhancers

Activity 5.24 Self-boosters

Activity 5.25 A Letter

Journaling

Activity 5.26 Building Pleasure

Activity 5.27 Home Contents

Other Types of Journals

Visual Journaling

Activity 5.28 A Sample Visual Journal Page Demonstration

References

6. Physical Movement: Dance, Physical Exercise, Performance

Introduction

A Rationale – the Mind-Body Connection

Activity 6.1 Mind and Body

General Guidelines

Movement

Activity 6.2 Speedy Introductions

Dance

Activity 6.3 Free-Form Dancing

Activity 6.4 In Sync

Activity 6.5 Just Walking

Physical Exercise

Activity 6.6 Increase Energy

Activity 6.7 To Relax

Movement: Performance Activities

Role Play

Guidelines for Role Play

Exercise 6.8 A Negative Confrontation

Simulations and Games

An Example Creed

Exercise 6.9 Creation of a Creed

Summary

References

7. Imagery, Mindfulness, and Music

Introduction

Imagery

Guidelines

Imagery

Activity 7.1 A Haven

Reducing Tension and Anxiety

Activity 7.2 Body Tension

Coping With Negative Emotions

Activity 7.3 Cope by Distracting Yourself

Activity 7.4 Visual Distraction

Activity 7.5 An Auditory Distraction

Activity 7.6 A Taste Distraction

Activity 7.7 Positive Touch Sensation

Imagery for Performances

Activity 7.8 A Future Situation

Coping With Difficult Situations or Distress

Activity 7.9 Boundary Fortification

Self-Perception

Activity 7.10 Self-Perceptions

Addressing Group Concerns

Activity 7.11 Image of the Group

Mindfulness and Music: Mindfulness

Activity 7.12 Mindfulness Activity

Activity 7.13 Passing Thoughts

Activity 7.14 Managing Emotions

Music

Activity 7.15 Music and Feelings

Activity 7.16 What Am I Thinking and Feeling?

Summary

References

8. Stories, Memories, Photos, Visual Journals, Flats, and Books

Introduction

Stories and the Unconscious

Forms for Stories

Existential Issues in Fairy Tales

Developmental Issues in Fairy Tales

General Fairy Tale Themes and Symbols

Creative Activities for Stories

Read, Draw, and Write

Activity 8.1 Drawing and a Fairy Tale

Activity 8.2 Writing and a Fairy Tale

Scrapbooks

Activity 8.3 The “Now” of My Life

Activity 8.4 Inventory of My Relationship Attributes

Activity 8.5 Old, New, Different

Activity 8.6 A Card Book

Visual Journaling

Journal Pages

Activity 8.7 A Visual Journal Page – My Day

Flats

Constructing a Flat

Activity 8.8 Connecting

Activity 8.9 Adventures

Summary

References

9. Creative Activities for Some Restrictive and Virtual Settings

Introduction

Single Session Groups

Benefits

Constraints for Single Sessions

Sample Single Session Plan

Multiple Group Sessions

Sample Multiple Session Group Plan

Sample Multiple Sessions Plan Overview

Skills Building

Immediate Feelings

Groups In Restrictive Settings

Introduction

Major Concerns for Creative Activities in Restrictive Settings

Use of Activities in Diverse Settings

Choice of Activity

Evoked Emotions

Major Guidelines for Virtual Settings

Benefits and Challenges

Planning and Organizing Virtual Group Sessions

How to Use Creative Activities in Diverse Settings

Directions for Using Stories, Fairy Tales, Poems, and Cinquains

Directions for Discussion About Stories

Summary

References

10. Creative Activities for Diverse Conditions

Introduction

Guide for Selecting Activities

Commonalities for Members of Diverse Conditions

Basic Guidelines for Selection of Activities

Families and Caretakers

Guides for Activities: Symptoms and Self-Management

Support Groups

Life Transitions

Sample Activity

Activity 10.1 My Mood Trigger(s)

Activity 10.2 My Current Mood

Activity 10.3 Pleasant Sights

Activity 10.4 Skin Distractors

Activity 10.5 Beginning to Be Mindful

Activity 10.6 Handling Intrusive Thoughts

Activity 10.7 My Special Place

Happy Moments

Activity 10.8 My Happy Moments

Activity 10.9 Fantasies

Activity 10.10 How Am I?

Group Factors: Inclusion

Activity 10.11 Meet and Greet

Encourage Emotional Expression

Activity 10.12 Difficult Feelings

Managing Difficult Member Behaviors

Monopolizing

Activity 10.13 Gifts

Story-Telling

Activity 10.14 My Story

Scapegoating

Activity 10.15 My Current Feelings

Summary

References

11. Applications for Fostering Group Dynamics

Introduction

Planning Creative Activities for Children’s Groups

Activity 11.1 Similarities

Planning for Adolescent Groups

Activity 11.2 My Favorite Things

Planning Groups for Adults and Older Adults

Creative Activities for Group Level Concerns

Activity 11.3 Resistance Artist Trading Card (ATC)

Therapeutic Factors

Corrective Emotional Experience

Foster the Emergence of Some Therapeutic Factors

Activity 11.4 Similarities

Activity 11.5 Hopefulness

Activity 11.6 Catharsis

Existential Factors

Activity 11.7 Human Suffering – An Existential Factor

Activity 11.8 Resistance

Activity.11.9 Conflict

Creative Activities for Manualized Groups

Advantages for Manualized Groups

Disadvantages for Manualized Groups

Enhancing Manualized Groups with Creative Activities

Group Dilemmas Cases and Creative Activities

Activity 11.10 Reduce Emotional Intensity

Summary

References

Index