Group Activities for Families in Recovery offers therapists a wealth of activities designed to help families struggling with addiction address problem areas of functioning, and ultimately shift from dysfunctional patterns to healthy living. Written by expert practitioners in family-oriented substance abuse treatment programs, this text focuses on group therapy as a key component to treatment.

Beginning with a brief overview of the issues involved in working from a systemic family therapy perspective of addiction, the text discusses practical guidelines for working with families in groups and how to best utilize the exercise in the book. The collection of 30 group activities are suitable for a variety of family-oriented substance abuse treatment groups. They are divided into seven sections covering the key issues of:

1. Family Structure; 2. Family Identity; 3. Sober Fun; 4. Toward Health; 5. Anger Management; 6. Healthy Communication; 7. Parenting

The activities are varied and include topics presented through expressive arts (drawing, writing, acting), game-playing, problem solving, enactments, worksheets, and roleplaying. The activities can be used individually, incorporated into another program, or stand alone as a 16-week (or longer) program. They can also be adapted for use in groups where children or present, or for adult-family groups.

Families in Recovery II: Activity Title: Family Timeline: Activity Mode: Expressive Arts (Drawing)

Families in Recovery II: Activity Title: Family Timeline: Activity Mode: Expressive Arts (Drawing)

Families in recovery Ii: Activity title: Family timeline: Activity mode: Expressive arts (drawing)

Rationale

Many families come to our groups after many years of struggling with a family member's addiction. They are often at the verge of or even well into hopelessness. One of the main purposes of this activity is to encourage hope in a future that is more positive than the present they have been living.

This activity is an expressive arts activity that helps families think about and express the timeline of their lives, including impactful experiences, both positive and negative. It also helps them develop a vision of a future that is not dictated by addiction.

Although it can be a powerful ...

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