Summary
Contents
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.
Impact of Addiction on My Family: Activity Title: Before—During—After: Activity Mode: Expressive Arts (Drawing)
Impact of Addiction on My Family: Activity Title: Before—During—After: Activity Mode: Expressive Arts (Drawing)
Rationale
Although most people will acknowledge that substance abuse has impacted their family tremendously, it is difficult to comprehend the breadth of this impact—and the breadth of the impact of recovery on their family. This activity is especially powerful for families that are speaking about this for the first time.
This is an expressive arts activity that can help clients work toward acknowledging the impact their addiction has had on them and their family. It can also create an opportunity to visualize a future for their family that is not organized around substance abuse.
For group members that have family members ...