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 We Haven't Said: Activity Title: Letter to Family Member: Activity Mode: Expressive Arts (Writing)
What We Haven't Said: Activity Title: Letter to Family Member: Activity Mode: Expressive Arts (Writing)
Rationale
Most of our clients come to us after years of living in or with active addiction, which resulted in behaviors that hurt families. Often, our clients have lied to, stolen from, and betrayed their loved ones. Thus, clients often have many regrets and a great degree of shame about how they have treated their families and others that have cared about them in their lives. Part of being in recovery is acknowledging this and eventually taking some steps to make amends for these behaviors.
This activity gives group members a chance to identify something they would like ...