Materials: Large sheet of paper (posterboard or larger), variety of drawing utensils
Procedure: Draw a large circle on the paper. Divide the circle so that each member present has a section. Instruct the group to use their section of the circle to draw anything they want. If you need to cross into another person's circle, make sure to get permission.
Processing: How do members approach the task? Do they appear to be comfortable with one another? How do they approach boundary issues? Is the finished product cohesive? If so, in what way? If not, what could make it cohesive?
Rationale: Creates group cohesion, stimulates discussion about similarities and differences, addresses boundary issues
Adaptations: Instead of members drawing anything they want, implement a more specific directive, such as, "Sadness," "Relaxation," "Hope," etc.
Family Kingdom Drawing
Materials: large sheet of drawing paper (mural paper or posterboard size), drawing utensils of choice
Procedure: Ask clients to draw a picture of the (Insert family name here) Kingdom. Emphasize the importance of each person's contribution to the kingdom to ensure that it is a special "place" for everyone. Explain that every family is different and will create a unique kingdom through a unique process. (For example, some families may choose to discuss their plan beforehand, whereas other families may just start right away and plan as needed.)
Observations: How does the family work together? How does this family approach boundary issues? How do they approach disagreements? Does each person seem to be respected and appreciated for his/her contributions? Do opportunities for praise and/or intervention arise?
Processing: Is there conflict in the kingdom? How can the family work together to protect the kingdom from destruction? What was it like working together to create the kingdom? What are other things in real life that you approach as a team?
Procedure: Ask clients to draw a picture of the (Insert family name here) Kingdom. Emphasize the importance of each person's contribution to the kingdom to ensure that it is a special "place" for everyone. Explain that every family is different and will create a unique kingdom through a unique process. (For example, some families may choose to discuss their plan beforehand, whereas other families may just start right away and plan as needed.)
Observations: How does the family work together? How does this family approach boundary issues? How do they approach disagreements? Does each person seem to be respected and appreciated for his/her contributions? Do opportunities for praise and/or intervention arise?
Processing: Is there conflict in the kingdom? How can the family work together to protect the kingdom from destruction? What was it like working together to create the kingdom? What are other things in real life that you approach as a team?
Feelings quilt
My classmate, Becky Miller, made up this quick and simple intervention for a presentation on depression.
Materials: index cards, crayons, markers, hole-punch, yarn
Procedure: On one side of the card, using one color only, scribble sadness/depression. On the other side, using one color only, scribble happiness. When everyone is finished, lay cards side by side in a quilt-like pattern. Each persons chooses which side is exposed and where to place his/her piece. Tie together.
Processing questions: Which side did you decide to expose? What made you make that decision? Was there a reason why you chose to place the piece where you did? Describe your sad side. Describe your happy side. How are you feeling today? Notice which side is scribbled with more emotion. What colors were chosen?
Rationale: Everyone experiences depression, just as everyone experiences happiness. Some experiences look similar to others. Some look much different than others. Creates the opportunity to discuss emotion through metaphor.
Materials: index cards, crayons, markers, hole-punch, yarn
Procedure: On one side of the card, using one color only, scribble sadness/depression. On the other side, using one color only, scribble happiness. When everyone is finished, lay cards side by side in a quilt-like pattern. Each persons chooses which side is exposed and where to place his/her piece. Tie together.
Processing questions: Which side did you decide to expose? What made you make that decision? Was there a reason why you chose to place the piece where you did? Describe your sad side. Describe your happy side. How are you feeling today? Notice which side is scribbled with more emotion. What colors were chosen?
Rationale: Everyone experiences depression, just as everyone experiences happiness. Some experiences look similar to others. Some look much different than others. Creates the opportunity to discuss emotion through metaphor.
3-D ideas (attachment and adjustment): Kim Dunn
1. Create a safety net, using construction paper or popsicle sticks. What physical and emotional needs would be required? Make a creature, something to eat, something to keep the creature company, something to keep creature safe out of model magic.
2. Create a 3D Bird's Nest using popsicle sticks and model magic.
3. Make a Found-item sculpture to encourage dialogue about feeling lost and found.
4. Make a place that's special to you out of popsicle sticks, model magic, cardboard, etc.
2. Create a 3D Bird's Nest using popsicle sticks and model magic.
3. Make a Found-item sculpture to encourage dialogue about feeling lost and found.
4. Make a place that's special to you out of popsicle sticks, model magic, cardboard, etc.
Drama therapy activity: Transformation
Transformation- taken from www.recreationtherapy.com
Size of Group: 4 to 12
Equipment: a large piece of cloth, a toilet bowl cleaner, a piece of theraband, and other items that might provoke creative use of the item
Focus Area: creative thinking and coping
Quick Description: Participants are given an item such as a large piece of cloth and prompted to transform the object into an everyday object.
Complete Description:
1) Begin discussion on the relationship of creative thinking, problem-solving and coping (e.g., creative thinkers may find healthier means to cope with their problems rather than being overwhelmed by a problem).
2) After discussion, bring out one item and show it to the group. Announce the game of Transformation... "take this object and transform it into an everyday object... be creative and think of different ways you might transform this object."
3) Give the group an example if needed. For example, you might transform the toilet bowl brush into a fly swatter, a microscope, or a golf club.
4) Instruct the group that the person transforming the object must SHOW us the transformation (by acting it out) and not tell us. The rest of the group then must guess what the transformed object is. Be sure to tell the group that wait till the person is completely done before shouting out their guesses.
5) Continue around the circle giving each person several chances at transforming the object. After 2 or 3 passes, encourage the group to add more movement and action to their transformation. For example, instead of just showing a flyswatter, run around the room trying to chase an imaginary fly with the flyswatter.
Process: How can you relate the creative thinking you did here to creative thinking you might have to do with difficult problems?
Size of Group: 4 to 12
Equipment: a large piece of cloth, a toilet bowl cleaner, a piece of theraband, and other items that might provoke creative use of the item
Focus Area: creative thinking and coping
Quick Description: Participants are given an item such as a large piece of cloth and prompted to transform the object into an everyday object.
Complete Description:
1) Begin discussion on the relationship of creative thinking, problem-solving and coping (e.g., creative thinkers may find healthier means to cope with their problems rather than being overwhelmed by a problem).
2) After discussion, bring out one item and show it to the group. Announce the game of Transformation... "take this object and transform it into an everyday object... be creative and think of different ways you might transform this object."
3) Give the group an example if needed. For example, you might transform the toilet bowl brush into a fly swatter, a microscope, or a golf club.
4) Instruct the group that the person transforming the object must SHOW us the transformation (by acting it out) and not tell us. The rest of the group then must guess what the transformed object is. Be sure to tell the group that wait till the person is completely done before shouting out their guesses.
5) Continue around the circle giving each person several chances at transforming the object. After 2 or 3 passes, encourage the group to add more movement and action to their transformation. For example, instead of just showing a flyswatter, run around the room trying to chase an imaginary fly with the flyswatter.
Process: How can you relate the creative thinking you did here to creative thinking you might have to do with difficult problems?
Open-ended questions
OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS- taken from www.recreationtherapy.com
What one of your greatest achievements are..
My favorite activities is ...
A place I spent one of my happiest days was ...
I go to be alone ...
My future goal is to ...
What make me happy ...
When I get enough money I will ...
When I have enough time, I want to ...
If this weekend was 3 days long I would ...
I feel most bored when ...
I feel most satisfied when ...
I enjoy being ...
My fondest memory is ...
I can really get excited about ...
A new leisure activity I tried this week ...
How did I feel about this week in participating in activities ...
I feel proud when I ...
I feel best when people ...
I am best at ...
I get angry when ...
I have accomplished
The thing that amuses me is ...
my greatest strength is ...
I have never liked...
like people who...
Someday I am going to ...
Some ways to use open-ended questions: verbal answers given as group check-in/check-out, add hand/body movements to express answer, draw answers, journaling exercises, make a creative book of collages
What one of your greatest achievements are..
My favorite activities is ...
A place I spent one of my happiest days was ...
I go to be alone ...
My future goal is to ...
What make me happy ...
When I get enough money I will ...
When I have enough time, I want to ...
If this weekend was 3 days long I would ...
I feel most bored when ...
I feel most satisfied when ...
I enjoy being ...
My fondest memory is ...
I can really get excited about ...
A new leisure activity I tried this week ...
How did I feel about this week in participating in activities ...
I feel proud when I ...
I feel best when people ...
I am best at ...
I get angry when ...
I have accomplished
The thing that amuses me is ...
my greatest strength is ...
I have never liked...
like people who...
Someday I am going to ...
Some ways to use open-ended questions: verbal answers given as group check-in/check-out, add hand/body movements to express answer, draw answers, journaling exercises, make a creative book of collages
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