Ante Up: Is It Appropriate??

I adapted the game "Ante Up" to play when we talked about boundaries.  Here's what I came up with...

Size of Group: Small to Large

Equipment: Jar of pennies (about 25 per person, plus 100 more for the “pot”), scenarios written on index cards

Objective: Increase socialization, practice distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate social skills/boundaries

Description: Pts. sit around a table.  Each has 25 pennies placed in front of him/her.  The “pot” of pennies is placed in the middle.  Each resident takes turns reading a card and following the directions on it.  Each card tells the reader to either give or take a penny.  The resident with the most pennies at the end “wins” but this is also just a fun socializing game and is good for icebreakers too. 

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Questions:

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO HAWAII, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.

IF YOU ARE WEARING EYEGLASSES, GIVE A PENNY TO THE PERSON ON YOUR RIGHT.

IF YOU LIKE ICE CREAM, GIVE A PENNY TO EACH PERSON SITTING AT THE TABLE.

IF YOUR FAVORITE COLOR IS BLUE, GIVE A PENNY TO THE POT.

IF YOU KNOW HOW TO TYPE, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE PERSON ACROSS FROM YOU AT THE TABLE.

IF YOU CAN SAY HELLO IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE, DO SO, THEN TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.

SHAKE HANDS WITH THE PERSON ON YOUR RIGHT, AND GIVE HIM/HER A PENNY.

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN ON A BOAT, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.

TAKE ONE PENNY FROM THE POT FOR EACH COUNTRY YOU HAVE VISITED (USA DOES NOT COUNT!)

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN TAKE ONE PENNY FROM THE POT.  IF YOU HAVE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE PERSON TO YOUR LEFT.

IF YOU WENT DOWN TO BREAKFAST THIS MORNING, TAKE ONE PENNY FROM THE POT.

IF YOU KNOW THE ACTIVITY THERAPIST’S NAME, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.

IF YOU THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO SHAKE HANDS WITH STRANGERS, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.

IF YOU THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO HUG A STRANGER ON THE STREET, GIVE THE PERSON TO YOUR LEFT A PENNY.

IF YOU THINK IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO INVADE SOMEONE’S PERSONAL SPACE WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.

IF YOU THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO YELL ACROSS THE ROOM TO GET SOMEONE’S ATTENTION, GIVE THE PERSON TO YOUR RIGHT A PENNY.

TRUE = TAKE A PENNY; FALSE = PUT A PENNY IN THE POT.  LISTENING IS AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL SKILL TO DEVELOP.

TRUE = TAKE A PENNY; FALSE = PUT A PENNY IN THE POT.  DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS OF PERSONAL SPACE

TRUE = TAKE A PENNY; FALSE = PUT A PENNY IN THE POT.  BOUNDARIES ARE IMPORTANT FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

TRUE = TAKE A PENNY; FALSE = PUT A PENNY IN THE POT.  BOUNDARIES CAN BE PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL.

TRUE = TAKE A PENNY; FALSE = PUT A PENNY IN THE POT.  NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF INTERACTING WITH OTHERS

TRUE = TAKE A PENNY; FALSE = PUT A PENNY IN THE POT.  BOUNDARIES ARE A WAY OF TELLING OTHER PEOPLE WHAT WE ARE AND ARE NOT OKAY WITH IN A RELATIONSHIP

THINK OF ONE BOUNDARY YOU CAN ESTABLISH IN YOUR LIFE.  SHARE WITH THE GROUP, AND TAKE A PENNY FROM EACH PLAYER.

IF THIS IS A HEALTHY BOUNDARY, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.  IF IT IS AN UNHEALTHY BOUNDARY, GIVE THE PERSON TO YOUR LEFT A PENNY:  TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS.

IF THIS IS A HEALTHY BOUNDARY, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.  IF IT IS AN UNHEALTHY BOUNDARY, GIVE THE PERSON TO YOUR RIGHT A PENNY: BEING UNABLE TO SAY NO, EVEN WHEN IT IS THE RIGHT THING.

IF THIS IS A HEALTHY BOUNDARY, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.  IF IT IS AN UNHEALHTY BOUNDARY, GIVE THE PERSON TO YOUR LEFT A PENNY: GOING THROUGH SOMEONE’S STUFF WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION.

IF THIS IS A HEALTHY BOUNDARY, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.  IF IT IS AN UNHEALHTY BOUNDARY, GIVE THE PERSON TO YOUR RIGHT A PENNY: RESPECTFULLY MAKING YOUR NEEDS KNOWN.

IF YOU HAVE A PET, GIVE THE PERSON ACROSS FROM YOU A PENNY.

IF YOU HAD FRUIT TODAY, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE PERSON TO YOUR LEFT.

IF THIS IS A HEALTHY BOUNDARY, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.  IF IT IS AN UNHEALTHY BOUNDARY, GIVE THE PERSON TO YOUR LEFT A PENNY: DISRESPECTING SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT THAN YOU.

IF THIS IS A HEALTHY BOUNDARY, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT.  IF IT IS AN UNHEALTHY BOUNDARY, GIVE THE PERSON ACROSS FROM YOU A PENNY: GOING AGAINST YOUR PERSONAL VALUES AND BELIEFS TO PLEASE SOMEONE ELSE.

TRUE = TAKE A PENNY; FALSE = PUT A PENNY IN THE POT.  BOUNDARIES CAN BE HEALTHY OR UNHEALTHY.

TELL THE GROUP ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HELD AN APPROPRIATE SOCIAL BOUNDARY. TAKE TWO PENNIES FROM THE POT.

Potential Drug Free

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Another idea submitted by Jill Sederberg.

Kick a ball in the goal as many times as you can in 30 seconds.  Do it a second time, but this time blind folded.  Notice the difference in success between the two attempts.

Discussion questions:
How can you relate this activity to addiction?
How does addiction limit your potential?
How can you eliminate the "blindfolds" in your life, or the things that hold you back?

The Rainbow Fish

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Read the book “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister with the patients.  Discuss the moral of the story with the patients.  Why did the fish not want to share his special fins at the beginning?  What helped him change his mind?  What do the shiny fins represent? 

Activity:

Instruct patients to make a multi-colored fish.  You can either print off a template and have the patients color it with markers, or give them construction paper and make a mosaic out of it.  However, there are only as many colors as there are participants.  Each participant gets one color, and must share with the others in order for each person to be successful. 

Process:

Talk about how it is important to work together to accomplish a goal.  What was it like to ask for something you needed?  To help someone?  Why couldn’t you just have one color in your fish?  What does this represent?

What qualities or contributions can you make to this group?  To other groups in your life (ie family, religious groups, friends, coworkers, etc.)?

Have You Ever?

Size: 5+

Equipment: Chairs, or something to mark how many seats there are in the circle (one less than the number of participants).

Objective: Ice Breaker, energy burner, appropriate social interactions, keeping the topic appropriate, overcoming social anxiety/public speaking, communicating personal boundaries

Description:
Procedure: Arrange group into a large circle with one person in the middle. The person in the middle will prompt with the phrase Have you ever ? and then finish the phrase-- Example: Have you ever had a candy bar for breakfast?

Each person in the circle who has done what the person in the middle has said (ever had a candy bar for breakfast) will quickly exchange places with someone else that has also done it. (A person can’t trade places with the person immediately to their left or right). Whoever is left without a seat will finish the phrase the next
time.

The game has no real end so you can play 2 or 20 times, it’s up to you!

Process:
-why are boundaries important?
-how do you decide when something is or is not appropriate to say or do?
-recognize your typical place in a group setting--are you comfortable with that or would you like to change that?
-what can you do to respect others’ personal space?
-why do we set boundaries?
-how can we communicate our boundaries?
-how do you feel safe in a group setting?

Variation: Give each participant a role to play (ie. Passive, argumentative, bring up a taboo topic, talking too loud, talking too soft, demanding, ect.) and have them play a few rounds in these “inappropriate” roles-process what it was like, and then play again, encouraging appropriate social boundaries.

Submitted by Jessica Hohenberger

Colored Candy Go Round - Boundaries

The Colored Candy Go Round is one of my favorite activities.  It works really well for a low or high functioning group, and I've found that people are more likely to come to group if I bring candy! :)

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Materials
Skittles
Plastic Baggies

Description:
Distribute 10-15 candies to each member of the group. Have each member sort their candy by color with instructions NOT to eat them. Ask one member to pick a color and tell how many they have (i.e. two greens). Ask them to give two (or however many they have) responses to the following questions:

Red: state a word to describe yourself

Yellow: tell about a joyful experience in your life

Green: State a goal you want to make regarding boundaries with others

Orange: name a type of boundary

Purple: Give a compliment to someone in the group

After one person has answered a question have them choose the next person to answer the same question based on the number of candies that person has. The activity is complete when each person has answered all the questions. Candies can be eaten after each question is answered.

Processing Questions:

What did you learn?

Did anything surprise you?

How will you work toward making changes/ improvements?

You can also review any handouts you have on the subject at the end, and tie the game into the daily theme/topic.

This game is also easy to adapt to a variety of themes including the domino effect, getting to know you, etc.

Helium Stick

This is an activity I learned from one of my intern supervisors, Jill Comarell.  I've done it several times since then and it's always gone over well!

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Materials:

Light weight pole around 10 feet long (or a hula hoops works really well too!)

Purpose:  To demonstrate the importance of focusing on a common goal when working on a group project and to teach about the importance of communication and teamwork.

Description:
Discuss with patients the importance of teamwork.  Explain that when trying to complete a task as a group everyone must work together.

Divide the group into two teams, each facing each other.  The teams should stand shoulder to shoulder.  Everyone should bend their elbows to a 90 degree angle.  Their index fingers should point out.

Place the "helium stick" on top of the fingers, so that it rests on everyone's collective fingers.  Nobody is allowed to touch the stick with any finger besides their index fingers.

Tell the group their objective is to lower the stick to the ground without anyone's fingers letting go of the stick.  If anyone's fingers is caught not touching the stick, the group will have to start over!

Processing:
The stick will always go up!!  The secret is that the collective upwards pressure tends to be greater than the weight of the stick.  Often the more the group tries, the more it floats.

Discuss the activity with the group.  Consider the following questions:
-What was the initial reaction of the group?
-How well did the group cope with this challenge?
-What skills does it take to be successful in this challenge?
-How well did the group work together?
-How well did the group communicate?
-What creative solutions were proposed and how were they received and/or implemented?
-What would an outsider have observed the strengths and weaknesses of the group to be?
-What role did each person play in the group?
-What did each group member learn about him/herself as an individual?

Variations:
I like to use a hula hoop when I do this at my facility.  I also talk about codependency and relationships when we process.

Setting Personal Boundaries

Jill Sederberg introduced the idea of the golf balls/rice example to our facility.  Over the last year we've adapted it to meet the specific needs of our groups.  I love the visual example it creates.

Materials:

Rice/golf balls
Tupperware container
Boundary worksheet

Description:
Ask patients to fit all of the golf balls and the rice in the Tupperware container. Discuss how the golf balls need to go first in order for it all to fit. Explain how this is like using good boundaries in our lives. The golf balls represent the things that are the most important to us in our lives, our core values, our core goals. The rice represents all the little stuff- the phone calls, emails, junk mail, laundry etc. There is no end to this little stuff. The source of the little stuff is endless too- needy coworkers, family, salesman, neighbors, etc. All of this little stuff will fill our lives if we let it. We must have good boundaries so that we are able to get done all the things that are the most important, and then this little stuff will fill in the rest. If we don’t set good boundaries, we won’t have room or time for the really important things in our lives.

Have patients fill out the boundaries worksheet, which was created by Andrea Call, CTRS. Fill out the first four boxes: I am, I am not, I want, I do not want. Discuss these things as a group. Then, have the patients set two boundaries for when they go home- I will and I will not. Have them share these boundaries and what they will do to make sure they are kept.

Talk about how establishing this boundaries will help patients have a healthier life and better relationships.

Through the Ring

This is one of the first activities I did for a family RT session, which I learned from Karl Jensen, a rec therapist at a residential treatment center for teenage boys.

Purpose:  To help patients learn to work together to accomplish a common goal, to communicate effectively, and to learn to trust each other.  Also to help patients develop creative problem solving skills and gain a deeper understanding of perseverance.

Materials:
Hula hoop
Ropes
Bells

Description:
Hang the hula hoop (from a tree, from a post, etc.) so that it is high enough that patients will have some difficulty getting through it, but not high enough that is impossible.  Attach some bells to the hula hoop so that it is obviously if someone hits it.

Have everyone stand on one side of the ring.  Instruct them that their task is to get everyone on the other side of the ring, but the following conditions are in place.
  1.  Everyone has to go through the ring (not under it, over it, or around it)
  2.  If anyone hits the hula hoop and the bells jingle, everyone has to start over
  3.  If someone goes over to the other side (through the ring), the only way they can get back to the first side  is to go through the ring again.

The task is complete once everyone is on the other side of the ring.

Processing:
Talk about how the activity went.  Consider the following questions:
-What worked and what didn't?
-Did the group have to start over?  How many times?
-What was the most frustrating part of the task?
-Who took on what roles during the activity?
-Did you make a plan to succeed?  What was that plan?
-Is there a "right" way to complete this activity?
-Is it possible to complete this activity by yourself?  Why or why not?
-How do our relationships impact our interactions with others?
-Did you feel that your boundaries or personal space was invaded during this activity?  How?

A - Z Scavenger Hunt

This is a good art therapy project for a variety of groups...

Material:
Magazines
Scissors
Glue
Construction Paper

Description:
Have patients find a picture that starts with each letter of the alphabet.  Glue this picture onto the construction paper.  This may be done individually, with a partner, or in a group.

After the collages are made, share them with the group.  Discuss what pictures each person found and why they chose that particular picture.  Discuss what letters were difficult.  Encourage patients to stick up for themselves and their choices.  Talk about ways to share our opinions in an assertive, respectable manner.

Tag Team Drawings

Don't forget to check out this post to see if you're the winner of the giveaway!!

I found this idea on Pinterest, and it's a great activity to process through because it is different every time you run the activity.  The original idea was found here.

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Materials:
Paper for each person
Art supplies (Markers, crayons, or colored pencils)
Timer

Description:
Each person gets one piece of paper and one writing utensil.  Set the timer for 30 seconds.  Each player gets to start a drawing (i.e. of a tree, a face, a house, etc.).  At the end of the 30 seconds, each player must put their marker down and pass their paper to the person to their left, and rotates the paper 90 degrees to the left.  This person has 30 seconds to continue the drawing the first person started.  After 30 seconds, the paper is again passed to the left and rotated again.  Drawing continues as such until the papers have all been passed around and everyone has the paper they started with.

Processing:
 Discuss the activity with the group.  What happened?  What went well and what didn't work?
Talk about how this activity relates to our lives.  How does our behavior affect those around us?  Do our actions impact what others are capable of doing?  Is this a positive or negative thing?  How come?  Discuss areas where we could positively impact others.  Talk about ways to handle situations when other people's actions negatively affect our own behavior or possible actions.  You could also relate this activity to healthy relationships and the negative effects of codependency.  How does this activity highlight codependent relationships and what can we learn from it?  The possibilities for processing are endless!!  See how and what your group does, and just go with it!!

Human Foosball

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One of my students came up with this idea while I was working at a residential treatment center for teenage boys.  In the spring, I would pick a few students to plan the RT group for the week.  One boy came up with this idea, got all the necessary materials, and led the game.  It was a great experience for the whole group!!

Materials:
PVC pipe
Soccer ball
Soccer field

Description:
This is like a life size version of the game Foosball.  Players split into two teams.  Players on each team are then divided into a front, middle and back row (or a few middle rows depending on how many participants you have).  Each row is given a long PVC that each player must always hold onto.
Players line up so they face the other team, for example:
   Goalie Team A
   Team A Back row
   Team B Front row
   Team A Middle row
   Team B Middle row
   Team A Front row
   Team B Back row
   Goalie Team B
The object of the game is to score goals like in soccer.  However, players may only move left to right along their PVC pipe, never forward or backward.  It takes a a lot of cooperation and communication to succeed in this game, which makes it perfect for a rec therapy group!

Processing:
Be sure to process this activity afterwards!  That's when the real value comes out.  Talk about group dynamics during the game.  Who were the leaders?  Who was more passive?  Does that also happen in other areas of our lives?  What was difficult abut having to stay in line and stay connected with other players?  How does that relate to our current relationships?  Talk about codependency and healthy relationships.  Talk about teamwork.  The possibilities are endless!

If I Only Had A Green Nose

Don't forget to check back later today when to see the winner of the giveaway!!

We just got this book for our facility and I am already in love with it!  This particular activity focuses on the idea of codependency and peer pressure, but there are many other applications of the book as well.

Materials:
Book "If I Only Had A Green Nose" by Max Lucado
Paper
Colored pencils/markers/crayons

Description:
Give patients a blank piece of paper. On one side, have them draw or write about a situation when they gave in to peer pressure and followed the crowd. On the other side of the paper, have them draw or write about a time when they stood up for themselves and didn’t give in to what others wanted them to do.

Ask patients to share their pictures. Discuss the two instances as a group. What emotions accompanied each experience?

Read the book “If I Only Had a Green Nose” by Max Lucado with the patients. Discuss with them the message of the book.

Afterwards, relate the idea to co-dependency.

Co-dependency: of or pertaining to a relationship in which one person is physically or psychologically addicted, as to alcohol or gambling, and the other person is psychologically dependent on the first in an unhealthy way. 

Discuss how fads are a type of co-dependency.

Discuss how the Wemmicks in the book displayed the characteristics of dependency.

Consider the following questions:
-What kind of person is Willy Withit?
-What stood out to you about Punchinello? About Lucia?
-Why do you think Punchinello kept changing?
-Who gave Willy Withit power to decide what is “in”?

Relate the activity to our present lives.
-How does this relate to a situation you currently find yourself in? Explain.
-Have you ever acted as the “Willy Withit” in your group of friends? The Punchinello? The Lucia?

Talk about the importance of standing tall and not giving in to peer pressure or allowing ourselves to be overly dependent on others.

Idea submitted by Andrea Call, CTRS.

Hot Lava

I did this yesterday at work, and it was fantastic.

You'll Need:
   -Paper plate for each participant
   -Blindfolds (optional)
   -Ear plugs (optional)
   -Tape to mark the start and finish lines

Set Up:
Patients should each be given one paper plate and a length of space should be available, for example the hallway on the unit or the gym.  Use the tape to mark a start and finish line.

The Goal:
For all patients to cross over the "hot lava" without touching the floor.

The Rules:
   -Patients cannot touch the floor!  If a patient touches the floor, the entire group goes back and starts over from the beginning.
   -Once a paper plate is put on the ground, a patient has to be touching it at all times.  If the plate is left untouched for five seconds or longer, the plate is melts in the lava and is taken away.

When we play this game at our facility, we usually adapt it to meet the needs of the daily theme (codependency).  To do so, you could have a patient wear a blindfold or ear plugs, or have a patient say "banana" in between each word, or even tie two patients together.  Each of these modifications highlight a symptom of codependency (people pleasing, poor boundaries, caretaking, etc.).

Process the activity with the patients.  Talk about the roles each patient took on during the activity, and how it translates into their lives.  Review the Symptoms of Codependency handout, and talk about how this activity helped them understand some of the different signs of a codependent relationship.

Brinda Green, CTRS, introduced this activity to our facility.  Thanks Brinda!

Fabulous Flags

Idea submitted by Heidi Bolster, CTRS.


Discuss the purpose of flags in the world today. Even give the patients a few examples of how flags
represent different places.

For example, in the American flag, blue is the symbol of vigilance, perseverance and justice. The star was to
represent the heavens, which men were to strive for and the stripes were symbolic of the rays of
the sun.

Instruct the Pts. to create their own flags to represent themselves through pictures, words, colors,
etc. Some ideas for the flag might be:

   What matters most to you in the whole world?
   What are your hobbies?
   What are your talents?
   What are you ambitions?
   Favorite food?
   Favorite place to be?
   Favorite quote?
   Significant events in your life?
   Important people in your life? Etc.

Afterwards have the patients present their flags. Discuss with them why it is important to know
ourselves. Why is it important to stand up for who we are?  What represents who we are?  How does the way we represent ourselves to others impact them and their perceptions of us?

Can be applied to various topics including being kind to yourself, pay it forward, codependence, etc.

Relationships Art Therapy Project

I found this awesome activity from http://www.arttherapyblog.com

Choose the people who matter most to you in life and create unique art for each.

Are you the type of person that feels stretched too thin? Do you try to please and accommodate everyone under the sun? Could you be spending more of your time on the people that matter most in your life? If so, this may be a good art therapy exercise for you.

There’s only so much time in a day, a week, a month, a year, and even a lifetime to do the things we want. There’s just never enough time. We live life one moment to the next and when it comes time to reflect on those moments, we want them to be well-spent, memorable, and hopefully un-regrettable.

Here’s a simple activity that you can do to help prioritize and focus your energy on the people that matter most to you. I’m talking about the people that help you maximize the moments of joy in your life. It’s easy to become misguided and distracted, and to focus on the bad energy that surrounds you. Therefore, sometimes it is helpful to focus on the people that make you smile, treat you right, and really have a positive influence in your life.

So, for this exercise, you can use as many, or as few, materials as you like. This is meant to be as open and unique as you want with regards to the art you will create. This activity may need to be spread out over some time, but it will be well worth it.

Okay, think of 5-15 people in your life that matter most to you. In other words, if you had to choose 5-15 people to go with you to a deserted island, who would they be? Write their names down, and try to limit who you take to 15.

Now, create a unique piece of art for each individual that reflects their relationship with you and why you chose them to go with you to the island. You can draw, paint, photograph, collage, craft, or sculpt anything you like. There are no limitations on the art materials you use or the art you create. It could be a poem or a painting or whatever you think fits best.

When you’re done creating your pieces of artwork, you should have some newfound positive energy in your life that you can then put forth with the people you named. Use that energy and motivation to call them up or do something fun, whatever it is that you want to do, as long as you’re spending time and energy with these people.

Tied Together

Purpose: To help patients understand the destructive nature of codependent relationships and encourage them to be more independent in their actions.

Materials:
   Rope cut into 24" pieces.
   Play-Doh

Tie each of the participant's wrists to another patient.  Everyone should have both wrists tied (to two different people).  Give each person a container of Play-Doh.  Instruct them that they are to use the Play-Doh to make something (i.e. a snowman, a heart, etc.)  Time them to see how long it takes.

After they have completed the task--or given up--untie their wrists.  Ask them to make the same sculpture with the Play-Doh.  Compare the dime difference.

Processing:
   Talk about what was different between the two experiences.  Explain what a codependent relationship is and how that was represented by having their wrists tied together.  Consider the following questions:
   - Which scenario was easier?  Explain.
   - Did you feel frustrated during the activity? How so?  What made it so frustrating?
   - How can having a codependent relationship impair your success?
   - How does this relate to your life, right now?  Explain.

Submitted by Andrea Call

Bead Jar

Purpose: To help patients understand the destructive nature of codependent relationships and encourage them to be more independent in their decision making.

Materials:
   Bead Jar
   Paper and Pencil for each participant

Give each patient a pencil and a piece of paper.  Show them the jar of beads, letting them hold it and look at it if they wish.  Ask each patient to write down how many beads they think are in the jar.  them them they are to do this by themselves--there should be no discussion among the group.

Next, have the patients find a partner.  Give each partnership a few minutes to agree on the number of beads in the jar.  Have them write this agreed upon number underneath the first guess on their sheet of paper.

Have two partnerships join together to form a group of four, and repeat the guessing game.  Continue until all the patients are in the same, and they have one group guess of how many beads are in the jar.

For the last round, have each individual make a final individual guess, based on the discussion and previous guesses.

Processing:
Talk about if/how the guesses changed as more people were included in the group.  Discuss why this might have happened.  Which guess was closest to the actual number of beads in the jar.  Consider the following questions:
   - In which group was it easiest to make your decision?  Explain.
   - How was it decided what the correct guess would be for each group?
   - What would you change about how the decision was made if we were to do this again?
   - Which of your individual guesses was closer to the actual number, the first or the last guess?
   - How can we relate this activity to the idea of codependence?
   - Are group decisions always the best decision for every person in the group?  Explain.
   - What does each person need to do when a group decision is being made?
   - What should you do if you don't agree with the decision the group is making?
   - How does this relate to your life, right now?  Explain.

Adaptations:
   You can also use a jar filled with candy to do this activity, and then give the jar to the closest guesser, or share the treats among the group.

Modified from "M & M Madness" from Tom Jackson's More Activities That Teach.