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Group therapy: An overview
Group therapy is a great way to connect with clients, and help them overcome their mental health challenges. Group therapy can be used for a variety of issues such as grief, addiction, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and more. They're typically organized in groups of 5 to 15 participants, and often involve weekly sessions with activities and discussions to foster connections and shared experiences. However, we recognize that it can sometimes be difficult to choose and plan counseling group therapy activities that promote engagement, communication, and fun. But not to fret, we've got you covered! Through this guide, we've curated some of the top group therapy activities that you can incorporate to kickstart your client relations and stronger clinical outcomes.
Who is group therapy most suitable for?
While any individual is welcome to attend group therapy sessions, they are helpful for people who may not have access to support groups, or who are not particularly acclimatized to social settings. Group therapy is a way to bring individuals facing similar mental health issues together, in order to alleviate stress, reduce pain, work through trauma, and increase emotional regulation and stability. Group therapy works for individuals who are struggling in their lives, with group therapy creating a safe space for them to connect with others and work towards higher mental health outcomes and recovery.
Additionally, group therapy is great for those who may not have access to mental healthcare, such as those who live in rural areas or have a low income. Many rural areas suffer from understaffed mental health practices, and lack of funding which contributes to minimized excess. Group therapy is a great way to overcome these barriers, and ensure that all clients have the ability to access the right mental health solutions.
Why group therapy activities work
Provides support
Group therapy is an excellent way to connect clients with others who are going through similar experiences, or who are facing similar mental health challenges. Many clients come from backgrounds that promote internalization, meaning that group therapy provides a safe space for clients to be able to vent their feelings and thoughts without fear of judgment or harsh repercussions. Clients can form support networks, which can encourage and promote positivity within the client to improve their mental well-being.
Offers a sounding board
Therapy also serves as a great sounding board for clients to have their voices heard. Sometimes, clients just want to have someone to listen to their situation, with group therapy allowing each participant to share their burdens, insecurities, and anxieties. Support isn't always in the form of advice, and many clients improve their state of mind simply by listening to others and being listened to.
Pushes clients forward
For some, the idea of group therapy is incredibly daunting. However, group therapy is sometimes a necessary choice to make, which can bring clients out of their comfort zone and help them encounter important revelations that can change their life. Group therapy is often the next step for many clients in building support networks and reinstalling hope within their mental health journey.
Improves social skills
Group therapy is also a great way to improve social skills among clients. Clients can interact within a natural social setting, learn from the behaviors of others, and model habits based on what they experience within their session. Clients can learn the importance of how they are perceived by others, how their actions have consequences for other people, as well as the significance of developing social relationships with like-minded peers.
Teaches you something about yourself
Arguably one of the most important aspects of group therapy, is that sessions can teach clients a lot about themselves. Clients can come away from meetings with a newfound appreciation for aspects of their life, as well as knowing their tendencies, anxieties, thoughts, and feelings, on a much more intricate and intimate level. Not only can clients discover insights about themselves, but they can also learn from others who can relate.
Four group therapy activities for adults (with examples)
Have you ever incorporated group therapy activities, only to find that your clients have zero interest? Surprisingly, this is a very common occurrence within group therapy, and we are here to help change that. Incorporating group therapy activities that actively engage and promote communication among clients can be a very difficult task. As a result, consider some of the following.
Sharing fears
Group therapy is all about building trust amongst clients, which can be particularly difficult to do, especially in a room with strangers. Group therapy prompts participants to be vulnerable and honest about sometimes troubling subjects, so incorporating this activity is a great way to formulate bonds and develop trust. All you need is a bucket or any other object that can be used to collect responses, as well as strips of paper and pens.
Instruct your group to write one thing they are afraid of on their piece of paper. You could also change this to something that anxious about, or a secret they haven't told many people. We recommend that even though the session isn't about you per se, you should still contribute to help form greater cohesiveness. Make sure that all responses are anonymous, and that group members fold their pieces of paper and put them in the bucket when finished.
Mix the papers around, and then redistribute them to group members. Each participant will read their response out loud, and before moving on to the next person, spend some time reflecting on the content of the message. Ask the group how they feel hearing the message, whether anyone can relate, as well as other prompting reflective questions. The important thing is that group members connect with each other, and interesting discussions are sparked.
Goal identification
Goal identification is another great activity to incorporate within group therapy sessions, as it allows members to keep track of their personal mental health journey, and provides encouragement for improvement. It can also work towards facilitating more optimistic outlooks when it comes to envisioning the future. All you need to carry out this activity is pens and paper. Essentially, each member should receive three pieces of paper, which represent their short-term goals, their mid-range goals, and long-term goals. Give some time for the participants to reflect and work on their goals, and once the time is up, ask each member to share them with the group. When group members are sharing their goals, feel free to start a dialogue about it concerning what challenges they may face, and what steps can be taken in order to achieve their goals. Make sure that everyone has a chance to share their goals and receive helpful feedback.
Bond establishment
This group therapy activity is perfect for newly formed groups, where group members may have not connected with each other yet. To prevent feelings of isolation, incorporating this activity is a great way to develop support networks and formulate bonds. All you need is paper and pens.
Divide your group up into pairs, and set a timer for 5 minutes. Inform your group that the aim is to find similarities within the pairings and that each member should talk to their partner to discover the things that they have in common. Write at least one of these down, and move on to another group member once completed. Once the timer is complete, gather all your group members together, and start a discussion concerning the challenges that some group members may have faced, what they learned, as well as how they felt about the activity. The similarities can be as simple as the same color of hair, or as complex as their reasons for attending group therapy.
Self-Compassion Pause
This self-compassion activity encourages group members to be supportive, treat people with kindness and empathy, and have a greater understanding of what others may be facing. This is a vital component of group therapy as it allows for more meaningful relationships and group discussions. All you need is a large piece of paper or whiteboard, and a pen.
Divide the whiteboard or piece of paper into two sections with one side being “What I say to myself”, and the other side being “What I would say to a friend”. Ask a willing group member to share a recent challenge they faced or something they struggled with. This can be simple or complex, such as an argument with a friend, or a plate they broke. Instruct the member to share what they were thinking at the time, as well as other group members.
On the other side of the coin, then ask your group what they would say to a friend who is going through the same situation. Would their thoughts change? Or, how could they change their thoughts? Essentially, this activity involves each member sharing a stressful situation, and learning to reconstruct thought patterns, feelings, and statements, into more compassionate ones. Spend some time reflecting on the differences between the two categories, and your group may recognize the patterns of negative self-talk, as well as how harshly people tend to treat themselves in comparison to others.
Conclusion
Group therapy can be challenging to initiate successfully. There is a variety of factors that go into engagement and communication, and it can sometimes be hard to encourage members to form bonds with others with whom they have no connection outside of the session! However, we hope that this guide has suggested some interesting activities for you to foster strong connections within your group, and in ways that encourage lasting support networks that can withstand different social settings. Group activities can be fun, and produce interesting insight that can elevate mental health outcomes for each and every one of your clients. Give these activities a go, and enhance the quality of your sessions.
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