Hidden Messages

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it would be a perfect project for Valentine's Day!  It is similar to an art therapy project I like to do with my geriatric patients. The original idea was posted here.

Materials:
Scissors
White paper
White crayons
Watercolors

Description:
Cut out various heart shapes using the white paper and scissors.  Then, write a special message to a loved on the heart.  Give the valentine, along with the watercolors to the person.  When they paint over the heart, the message written in white crayon appears.

Adaptations:
This would also be a cool project to do in a rehab setting.  Have each client write down inspiring messages, notes of encouragement, or personal affirmations, each on a piece of white paper.  Then, when they are feeling down or discouraged, they can pull out one of the sheets of paper, color over it with watercolor and remember the message as a "pick me up."

You could also use this idea for a "graduation" from a program.  When a person successfully completes your program, have all the other clients write down positive notes and congrats.  Give the stack of white papers and a set of watercolors as a departing gift.

Creative "Journal A Day" Activity

I've never been a good journal keeper.  But this is another activity I found on Pinterest that I've been dying to try out.  With the New Year just a few days away, I figure now's a good time to share it, so we can all try it out!

I work at an acute facility, so our patients are only there for a few days.  However, for longer term care, this could be a fun project!

Materials:
Large Monthly calendar (I got one at Walmart)
Various Art Supplies (Glue, stickers, memorabilia, markers, etc.)

Description:
At the end of each day (or week--depending on what works at your facility) have the residents think about the most important thing that happened that day.  Help them come up with some creative way to represent that aspect of their day, and put that in the box for that date.  For example, if they went to a movie, they could glue the movie ticket stub onto that square.  If they got a letter from a friend, they could glue the stamp from the envelope.  Have them write a short (one sentence) description of the event.  Then, as time passes, they will have an amazing record of the year.

The original idea was posted here.

Communication Jenga

Here's another fun adaptation for Jenga!

For those that missed the Social Skills Jenga game, the idea is the same.  Basically, I have a Jenga set with a colored dot on one end of each piece.  The dots are red, green, blue or purple.

Play Jenga as normal.  When a player pulls out a Jenga piece, look at the color of the dot.  Based on the dot color, the player has to do a specific thing.  Examples include:

Red = Name one way to communicate positively
Blue = Name one person that you have a positve relationship with
Green = Name one way effective communication can strenghten a relationship
Purple = Give the person to your left a compliment (that hasn't been said already)

It's a fast, fun game that can be adapted to any ability level.  Hope you enjoy!!

Idea submitted by Andrea Call, CTRS, TRS.

"Oh, The Places You'll Go!"

I love using this Dr. Seuss book in my groups.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Today is your day...

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose...

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go....

You'll be on your way up!

You'll be seeing great sights!...

Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.

Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so

but, sadly, it's true

that Bang-ups

and Hang-ups

can happen to you...

And when you're in a lump,

you're not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself

is not easily done....

Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find....

But on you will go...

and face up to your problems

whatever they are...

You'll get mixed up, of course...

So be sure when you step,

and remember that Life's

a Great Balancing Act...

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!!"

Copyright, 1990, published by Random House

Isn't that a great message?  I love to use it in my groups because it talks about how we have the power to act, and not just react to the situations we find ourselves in.  It says very clearly that we will have difficulties and times of fear and loneliness, but we can overcome them and still find success.  I find that no matter what population I work with, this book is always a hit, because everyone can relate to some part of it.

Depending on the topic of the group, you can focus on different aspects of the book as you process it with the patients.  For example, if the theme was coping skills, you might choose to talk about how you could cope when things don't go as planned, or you find yourself in a slump.  If the theme is about making decisions, you could highlight the part in the book about deciding which way to go and how you make that choice.  The possibilities are endless!!  I hope you enjoy it!!

Idea submitted by Andrea Call, CTRS, TRS.

Personal Mottos

Purpose:  Help patients understand who they are, their unique characteristics, and their capacity to overcome difficulties in life

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Materials:
   Colored paper
   Markers, crayons, etc.
   Examples of motivation quotes

Description:
Talk to the group about what a personal motto or mission statement is.  Discuss how to create a personal mission statement.  Have the group share inspirational quotes that help them keep going when facing difficult situations.

Have each person in the group make their own personal motto/motivational poster.  Tell the to put a quote that inspires them on the paper, and decorate it however they wish.

After everyone has created a poster, share them with the group.  Have the patients explain why they chose that particular saying, and how it motivates them to be better and not give up.  Have the patients hang their pictures in their rooms, on a mirror, etc. where they will see it daily as a personal encouragement.

Examples of motivation quotes can be found on this Pinterest board.

Idea submitted by Andrea Call

Come On Six

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This activity is taken from the book "More Activities that Teach" by Tom Jackson, and introduced as an activity at our facility by Brooke Sessions.

Materials:
   1 piece of paper per person
   1 pen/pencil per group of five
   1 dice per person

Description:
Split into groups of five.  It is best if you have each group sitting at a table, although the floor works too.  Each person needs to have a piece of paper and each group gets one pen and one dice.

The first person starts by rolling the dice.  The object is to roll a six.  If person one does not roll a six, the dice is passed to the next player, then the next, etc.  When a person does roll a six, that person takes the pen and starts to number on their piece of paper from 1 to 100.  The rules are that the person must write the numbers one at a time, in consecutive order, and the numbers must be legible.  The person must count out loud as they write the numbers down.  The person continues writing, as fast as possible, while the other players continue rolling the dice.  When someone else rolls a six, that person gets the pen and starts writing numbers on their own paper.  If you roll a six again, you can keep writing numbers from where you left off.  The game ends when a player successfully writes the numbers all the way to 100.  Multiple rounds can be played.

Processing:
Talk about stress and how different players felt stress during this activity.  Consider the following questions:
   -How easy was it to roll a six?
   -How far did you get in writing the numbers?
   -How did the level of excitement or stress change as people got closer to 100?
   -How can we compare this activity to stress in our lives?
   -How anxious do we feel about something that is going to happen a year down the road?
   -Do we sometimes cause ourselves to become stressed when we really don't need to be?  Explain.
   -What are some of the behaviors we exhibit when we feel stress?
   -How does our behavior affect others around us?
   -What are some positive ways to cope with stress in our lives?

Adaptations:
For a lower functioning group of individuals, I have often wrote out the numbers 1 to 100 on a piece of paper and made several copies.  Each player gets a copy, and on their turn they cross out the numbers in sequential order rather than writing them.  You could also play to 50 for a lower functioning group.

Card Bingo

Kristina Martin emailed me this idea, and it looks like lots of fun!  Geriatric units are famous for their bingo loving, and I thought this would be a fun twist.

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Directions:
Take 8 playing cards (2 from each suit) and place on a colored piece of paper.  If possible, laminate the paper so it can be used over and over.  Using another deck of cards, pull out one card at a time.  Whomever has that card covers it up.  Continue until someone gets all their cards covered, and then the game starts over again.

Wildlife Sanctuary Guided Imagery

I love doing guided imagery and relaxation with my patients!  Here is a link to one of my favorite relaxation scripts.  It talks about a wildlife sanctuary, and I have a Nature's Sounds CD that I put on as we go through the exercise.

This is a good activity for discussing coping skills or dealing with anxiety.  After reading through the script with the patients, we talk about how we felt during the activity and how powerful relaxation can be.

Enjoy!!

Wheelchair Kickball

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I first learned about this game when I was doing my very first RT internship.  I thought it was perfect!  Active enough to get people moving, but totally appropriate for their needs.  Enjoy!

Everyone sits in a circle.  This worked really well at that facility, because each resident was in a wheelchair.  We just got chairs for the staff to sit in.  Once a circle is formed, the activity leader throws a big beach ball in the middle.  The patients take turns kicking the ball across the circle.  It's a pretty simple activity, but helps keep their legs a little more active.  Sometimes we even got a patient who kicked it out of the circle!!  That always made him feel so strong!

Idea taken from Jody Slagowski at Orchard Park Care Center.

"Stained Glass" Coloring Project

This is one of my favorite projects to do with the geriatric patients.

Supplies:
Black Markers
Blank Paper
Coloring pencils or crayons

To begin, have patients draw a bunch of random lines on a piece of paper.  It could look something like this:

Afterwards, have the patients fill in the blanks with different colors.  The end result is something like this:

When I do this activity, I usually talk about coping skills or dealing with stress in life.  I usually lead a discussion something on the lines of... The first paper represents all the stress, frustration, and other negative emotions we feel.  Sometimes these emotions create chaos in our lives and don't make any sense to us.

However, if we practice healthy coping skills, we can begin to make sense of the chaos.  Each color I use in the final product represents a different coping skill I discuss.  When we utilize these coping skills in our lives, we can make more sense of the experiences we are having.  In the end, even difficult experiences can become meaningful, just like the picture we just created.

Idea taken from Provo Canyon Behavioral Hospital, Activity Therapy Department.

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!

You Are Special

Read the book “You are Special”by Max Lucado with the group.

Afterwards discuss the book with the patients and talk about what they learned from the book regarding their worth. Then give each Patient a dot and a star, clipart from a google search or even Microsoft word. Go around the group and ask each person what their dot is (something negative someone has said to them/ when someone made them feel bad). Then instruct the patients to let the dot fall to the floor and forget about what those people said because it does not stick if it does not matter to us. Afterwards ask patients what their star is (something someone said that was kind, a compliment, praise, or something that makes them happy). Instruct the patients to keep their stars but to remember that although receiving stars can be good, they do not predicate our worth as human beings.


Another great idea submitted by Heidi Bolster, CTRS!

Talent Extravaganza

This activity was submitted by Jackie West, LMHC, LADAC, CTRS.  She works in an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in a special hospital.  These activities can be done separately as individual sessions, or they can all be part of a combined Talent Show, with one session planning the show and the next session performing.

There are several different purposes that can filled with this activity.  A few examples include:
   -Risk taking/overcoming fears
   -Sober leisure skills
   -Developing and/or sharing talents
   -Building the group (unity)
   -Communication skills
   -Managing emotions
   -Sober holidays, etc.

The idea is that everyone participates in the activity.  Initially, people will probably react with complaining and excuses.  But broken down like this, it is easy to give everyone a specific task.

Specific ideas for various "acts" or roles in the talent show include:

*Top 10 List - This is a group effort to come up with a Top 10 list for the treatment center (or your facility). The Top 10 List can be "Life in Rehab" or "A Day in Rehab" or whatever you brainstorm at the moment.

*MC - This is a group effort where a spokesperson is selected to represent the product of the group.  The acts are identified.  The MC must announce the acts in the Talent Show, using puns, quips, funny associated jokes, etc. in a humorous and entertaining way.

*Rehab Rap - This is a group effort with one or more patients willing to perform the rap.  The rap can be about rehab or early recovery or any topic wanted to meet the thematic design.  This group can include several rappers, or one rapper with the others doing clapping, drumming, or sounds effects.

*Song "They say that in Rehab..." This is an oldies song.  You can find it the internet under "They say in the Army..."  And the group then create the song.   For example, "They say that in Rehab the food is mighty fine, Beans, rice, baloney.  Don't forget to stand in line... Fun, fun..."

*Rhythm Band (Release the Music Inside) - This is a group effort where all of the individuals use only their clapping hands or other natural sounds to create a rhythmic song to perform.  The 'natural' sounds can include such things as a paper bag filled with air that is tapped, whistles, mouth sounds, snapping, tapping on a wall, rubbing paper folders together, etc... whatever makes a sound can become the music!

*Poetry Reading - This is a group effort where the group creates a poem.  Take a large paper (i.e. butcher paper) and come up with a topic that goes along with the theme of the Talent Show.  Each member of the group things of a random poetic line regarding the topic.  This is private and no one is aware of what their peer has written.  Fold the paper into an accordion or start with the large paper.  The first person writes their poetic line, and then folds down the written section.  The next person does the same thing.  When all of the group participants have written their poetic lines, the paper is opened up and all can see the parts.  It is then the group task to rearrange and compile all of the lines to create a product that makes sense and is beautifully creative.  The group then negotiates how it will be presented at the Talent Show.

*Alcatones - This is a Rehab Choir that changes up the words to a children's song or a holiday son or another fun song, so it becomes a parody about addiction and recovery.  Coming up with a group name based in Recovery is half of the fun!!

*Motivational Prayer/Poem/Storytelling - Many have these memorized or can recall them pretty immediately or you can get it off the internet.  Examples include: Third Step Prayer, The Piano Story, The Velveteen Rabbit, etc.

*Acts - Besides all of the ideas above, there will always be individuals that have the courage to do an act, for example sing a song, play a musical instrument, do an expressive dance, make funny faces, wiggle their ears, teach the group a funny dance, tell jokes, do a magic or Yo-yo trick, etc.

*Behind the scenes - You may have a few participants that don't yet have a job or role.  They can help with setting up chairs, getting the room ready, serving refreshments, greeting guests, or even holding up signs to tell the audience when to cheer, gasps, laugh, etc.

Doesn't this sound fun?!?  Thanks again for sharing the idea Jackie!!

Music Moods

Give the patients a large piece of white construction paper. Divide the paper into ten sections. Select ten different songs of varying genres. Allow the students to listen to parts of each song one at a time. After they listen to the song have them draw in one of the squares according to how the song made them feel.

After going through every song, discuss how each song made the group feel.  Then discuss emotions, the importance of recognizing emotions, and skills for managing emotions.

Discuss coping mechanisms and how music can be used to cope and how it can be detrimental.


Ideas submitted by Heidi Bolster, CTRS.

Play-Doh Challenge

Cut the following words into little slips. Let the patients pick a slip and keep their choice a secret. Their goal is to create their selected challenge so that others can guess what it is.

The Geriatric unit loved this!

You can do a few rounds and pick the words according to the season or theme.

Turkey
Football Player
Car Covered in snow
You're Choice!!
Ginger Bread Man/ Ginger bread house
Pilgrim
Family
Elves making Toys
Native American
You’re Choice!!
Boat/Ship
Airplane
Santa Claus
Dolphins
Snow Man
Reindeer
Christmas Tree
Pumpkin Patch


Idea submitted by Heidi Bolster, CTRS.

Making Puzzles

Have patients color pictures (whether pictures from online or pictures they draw themselves).  Next, have the patients glue the colored pictures onto construction paper and then cut the pieces like puzzle pieces.

Let the patients keep the pieces in a bag so they can put it together again later.

You could also make them holiday themed.

Idea submitted by Heidi Bolster, CTRS.

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.

Communication Pictionary

We played this today at work as we talked about communication skills.  It was a blast!

Objective:
To encourage patients to understand and implement effective communication skills.

How to Play:
A patients picks a word out of a container from the AT.  The pt. must get the group to guess the word by explaining what the object is to another patient who must draw the object.  The patient who is drawing will not know the word.  The patient explaining the object can only use shape and size words to explain the object to the drawer.  The drawer may ask questions. 

For example, if the word is house, the person might say: draw a square and on top of the square draw a triangle.

Possible Words include:
  Tree
  Dog
  Cat
  House
  Tree
  Airplane
  Bird
  Car
  Etc.

Idea submitted by Heidi Bolster, CTRS.