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.
What Could Be Better? Activity Title: Making Group More Meaningful to Me—Fish Bowl; Group Rules: Activity Mode: Group Discussion
What Could Be Better? Activity Title: Making Group More Meaningful to Me—Fish Bowl; Group Rules: Activity Mode: Group Discussion
Rationale
This activity is particularly helpful in a group that is developmentally “young.” This can happen if there are a number of new people entering the group or a number of the longer-term group members graduate from the group. As the makeup of the group changes in this way, the focus of the group often shifts to early developmental stages, which can include fighting for an identity. This can present as challenging group leaders, challenging other group members, and fighting group process.
The dynamics of each group are very different ...
