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.
Assertive Communication: Activity Title: How Assertive Am I? Assertiveness/Aggressiveness Scenarios; How to Ask for What I Want: Activity Mode: Psycho-Education (Worksheet); Expressive Arts (Acting); Role Plays
Assertive Communication: Activity Title: How Assertive Am I? Assertiveness/Aggressiveness Scenarios; How to Ask for What I Want: Activity Mode: Psycho-Education (Worksheet); Expressive Arts (Acting); Role Plays
Rationale
Often, our group members have limited social skills that help them get what they want. Many grew up and lived their lives seeing people around them act aggressively much of the time. The idea of assertive communication can be a new concept for many.
The importance of this exercise is that it can help group members recognize a difference between assertiveness and aggression and, hopefully, begin to increase assertiveness and decrease aggression in their lives. ...