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.

Two Truths and A Lie

I like to use this game after we discuss communication or even as an ice breaker/getting to know you game.

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Materials:
Index Cards
Pens/pencils

Description:
Give each person an index card and a pen.  Instruct them to write down two truths and one lie about themselves on the card.  (Not necessarily in that order!)  I've found that by having the patients write down their three statements, they remember them better and it makes it harder to tell which one is the lie.

After everyone has written down their three statements, select one person to go first.  This person reads his three statements and the group tries to guess which ones are true and which one is false.  After the group guesses, have the person reveal whether or not the group was right.  Then select another player to go, and continue doing so until everyone has had a chance to read their statements.

After everyone has finished, I like to lead a discussion about communication   We talk about non-verbal communication, body language, tone of voice, eye contact, etc. and how that relates to how we communicate with one another.  It also helps us get to know each other and feel more comfortable as a group.

A Rainy Day

This is a fun art project submitted by Heidi Bolster, CTRS.

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Materials:

·         Paper with printout of people with umbrella

·         Painting (canvas) paper

·         Border colored paper (construction paper)

·         Paints (acrylic is best but you can use watercolor too)

·         Brushes

·         Water

·         Paper towels

·         Plates for each patient

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Description:

      1.       Talk with patients about times when they have had a negative (or rainy) day

a.       Ask patients how/if they were able to see the good in all the negative parts of the day

b.      Discuss with patients how one might be able to see the brighter side of life (being positive, etc)

2.       Instruct patients to begin rainy day activity:

a.       Show them an example, have them glue the small cut out of the people standing with the umbrella in the rain to the canvas paper

b.      Instruct patients to choose at least three colors to use to depict the rain in their painting

c.       Show patients how to do small strokes down on their paper in order to create raindrops, and instruct them to paint the rain drops all over the canvas except under the umbrella

d.      *Extra step if patients want: After patients are finished painting, allow them to pic a background color for their border and help them glue the background onto their painting.

3.       After the patients are finished congratulate them on the uniqueness of each of their paintings and discuss how these paintings will help them to remember to see the brighter side to life; even on the darkest and most rainy days.

Anger Management Art Activity

Here is another activity we frequently use at Provo Canyon Behavioral Hospital.  It's great for lower functioning groups!

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Materials:
Anger Management handout (if applicable)
Colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc.
Blank Paper

Description:
Give each patient a blank piece of paper.  Have them draw what anger looks like, feels like, etc. for them personally.  Afterwards, have patients share their drawings with the group.

On the back of the paper, have patients draw or write the answer to the following questions: 1). How have I dealt with anger in the past and 2). How I want to deal with anger in the future.

Discuss the patients responses.  Go over the anger management handout and talk about different coping skills patients can use to deal with anger.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

We often discuss goal setting in my groups, and one of the things I like to stress is the concept of "SMART" goals.  I thought this was a cute handout on the topic!  Originally posted here.

Honor Collages

This is a great activity for dealing with grief and/or loss.  Submitted by Adrianna Markley, CTRS.

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Materials:
Any handouts you want to use about grief and loss (myths and facts, stages of grief, etc.)
Construction or white paper
Colored pencils or crayons
Glue
Scissors (Optional)
Magazines that can be cut up

Description:
Lead a discussion on grief and loss, incorporating the handouts

Have patients make a collage to honor a person/pet they have lost and shared with the group.  Emphasize that the loss does not necessarily mean death, it could be that a friend moved away, a close relationship that isn't close anymore, etc.

Processing questions:
-Why did you pick that person to honor?
-How have you dealt with that loss?
-What coping skills have you used? (Positive and/or negative)
     -Discuss coping skills and strategies
-How does it feel to honor the person you have lost?

Box of Chocolates

This activity was created by Heidi Bolster, CTRS.  It's a lot of fun!

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You Never Know What You’re Gonna get in a Box of Chocolates…

Materials:
-Cut up about 20 small strips of paper
-Something for patients to write with
-Candy (preferably chocolate)

Directions:
Talk about the different elements of communication (tone, verbal, no verbal, etc.).  Discuss why it is important to communicate appropriately and clearly with others Discuss emotions in relation to communication and talk about how difficult it can be to assume someone else’s emotion at times.

Hand out strips of paper and writing utensils to patients and have them write down and discuss different emotions on the strips of paper. Have patients put strips of paper in a bag.

Show the patients the written statement, “You Never Know What You’re Gonna get in a Box of Chocolates…”

Instruct patients to, one at a time, pick an emotion from the bag and act out the emotion while saying, “You Never Know What You’re Gonna get in a Box of Chocolates…”  Allow the other patients to try and guess the emotion; once the emotion is guessed, the person who guessed it correctly goes next This is similar to emotion charades.  After everyone has had a few turns discuss the ease or difficulty with which the patients could act/guess the emotion that was picked from the bag.  Talk about the importance of tone & body language in the absence of words.

Discuss how the difficulty of presenting/guessing the emotions relates to their current situation in treatment.  How can they be more clear and appropriate in communicating their feelings? How can this benefit them in the hospital and how can this benefit them after discharge?  Give the patients chocolate for participating and encourage them to make small goals to help them improve their communication skills.