Group activities are oftentimes collaborative and interactive in nature. Coping skills are methods that people use in order to help them deal with stressful situations. As an instructor or leader, it is essential to ensure that you are teaching healthy coping skills to your group so that they can use them in their personal lives once the group is completed. In order to teach new and healthy coping skills, remember to engage the group in fun activities so that they can see firsthand how different coping strategies work and how they can be used in their lives. Show
Engaging Group ActivitiesEngaging your group members in different activities that focus on coping skills is will allow them to think outside the box. This is a form of collaborative learning, where members can teach each other new ideas through interactive exercises. Remember, it is also important to provide the tools and the activity to the group, and then let them come up with fresh ideas on how they can personalize new and healthy coping skills. Let's take a look at some different activities that you can bring to your group. Leisure BrochureHow many times have you read a travel brochure and began to feel excited about the possibility of escaping the hum drum of your life? This group activity will bring excitement to your group, while teaching them positive coping skills. Most of the time, group members have forgotten what activities they used to do in order to cope with stressful situations. Or, perhaps, they want to find new activities that they can participate in that provides them with a peace of mind. In this activity, you can provide your group members with magazines, advertisements, pictures, and them have them create a leisure brochure about activities that they would like to do in their lives. After they have created a brochure that lists the activities that they utilize to cope with stressful situations, they then present it to the group and discuss the benefits. The benefits of this activity is two-fold; they can share with group members coping skill activities that work for them, while opening up a discussion with the group. Remember, it is very important in this activity for all group members to share. As the group leader, be positive, enthusiastic, and ensure you allow group members to tell the group how the leisure activities will work for them. Feelings Ball GameThis activity works well for group members that experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, as it allows them to connect with feelings and discuss them openly with the group. As the instructor or leader, after purchasing a plastic ball, obtain a marker and write feeling words on the ball. For example, you could write feelings that target your specific group topic, such as unhappy, scared, stunned, frightened. If you are working with younger children in a group, you can also draw faces that also demonstrate a feeling. When ready to start the activity, place the group into a circle and gently throw the ball at a random group member. When they catch the ball, the participant can then look at the feeling word that is located nearest to their right thumb, tell the group what the feeling is and how they cope with it. For example, you could catch the ball and have your right thumb be closest to the word 'scared'. Then you can say, 'When I feel scared, I talk to a friend named Jack'. It is important for group members to be very specific. If a group member does not have an answer to how they will handle different feelings, the other participants can then lend a hand and discuss how they cope with these different feelings. According to the New York Daily News, a study performed by Carnegie Mellon University concluded that reported stress levels have increased 30% in the last three decades, with women, adolescents, and low income Americans having the most symptoms. For those who have decided to be proactive in seeking help, group therapy activities offer a great coping mechanism. Groups focus on interpersonal learning and allow others to work together to help each other through communication inside the group while focusing on problems outside of the group. 1. In Thee We TrustTrust is important in groups because members share deeply with one another. Trust building games, such as the one below, allow group participants to begin to trust each other. A traditional example of a trust building activity would be the use of blindfolds and guidance. This activity throws total darkness into the mix so the stakes become higher and more fun. How to PlayTo play this game with any number of people, you'll need the following:
How to PlayThis game is ok for large or small groups, but the larger the group, the larger the room should be:
Why It WorksAs described by NewHealthAdvisor.com, building trust is effective in group therapy because it aids those who have problems building and maintaining relationships. It works because participants will learn to gain trust and possibly start a means that will lead to the establishment of new relationships. 2. Goal IdentificationOften, goal setting is part of group therapy, so games that help with goal identification and setting have therapeutic benefit within the group. This is a game that has the potential to be fun and optimistic, and you can play it with small or large groups in a simple setting. You Will NeedTo play this game, you will need the following:
How to PlayTo play this game in any sized group:
Why It WorksAn activity that prompts and explores goals and mechanisms is effective in group therapy. The identification of goals lays the framework for participants to attain positive experiences in future therapy sessions, and in life, according to Essentials of Group Therapy. Commentary from other participants about accomplishing the goal allows it to work because it provides insight that the participant may not have considered previously and allows for seemingly impossible goals to feel more attainable. 3. Anything You Can DoIn group therapy, participants have the opportunity to help one another and offer support. Knowing that one is not alone helps in dealing with day to day struggles with adversity. You Will NeedTo play this game, you will need materials of achievement like past plaques, awards, newspaper articles, trophies, etc. How to PlayAny sized group will work. To play, have each participant stand on stage and re-enact whatever caused him or her to win that particular accolade. The participant gets to relive times in which they have achieved something great, and others can once again applaud them for the achievement. Reliving the event and allowing others to applaud the effort will allow for self-esteem building and an overall feeling of self-worth. Why It WorksAccording to the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, patients with high self-esteem achieve higher gratification on outcome measures following completion of therapy, and low self-esteem groups show better progress regarding depression symptoms after therapy. Building self-esteem is a way to show compassion and unity. 4. The Self-Compassion PauseCompassion is an essential component of group therapy. However, often participants are able to offer compassion to others but unable to do the same for themselves. This exercise allows individuals to practice self-compassion and mindfulness with the encouragement of their peers. These are often practices given to others but not to oneself during times of stress and depression. You Will NeedTo play this game, you will need the following:
How to PlayAny sized group will work:
Why It WorksPracticing self-compassion delves deep into the psyche to explore why people are so hard on themselves. The Positive Psychology Program offers books and worksheets explaining the concept behind self-compassion. Practicing self-compassion explores feelings of doubt, love, confusion, and suffering. The benefit to this activity in a group session is support and finding others dealing with similar problems and coping together through communication. 5. Dance Your Worries AwayGroups need opportunities to experience unity. Music is the common denominator in unifying souls. It can rock you, soothe you, or bring you to tears. This activity offers group participants a fun and musical way to experience support and unity. You Will NeedFor this game you will need:
How to PlayThis game is great for small and large groups:
Why It WorksTherapy with music can prove benefits regardless of what the underlying problem is. A study published in the Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society stated results that suggested musical therapy is a useful therapeutic method that compliments traditional treatment methods in global healthcare. The study provides a thorough evidence base for the advantageous effects of music therapy on a variety of physiological and psychological conditions. Moving ForwardGroup practices provide understanding, coping, support, and relief to many. Just having a sense of belonging and knowing that one is not alone in the universe enables one to get through each day with the optimism that lives are improving. © 2022 LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved. What are some coping skills for mental illness?Self-Help Techniques for Coping with Mental Illness. Radical Acceptance. ... . Deep Breathing. ... . Opposite-to-Emotion Thinking. ... . The 5 Senses. ... . Mental Reframing. ... . Emotion Awareness.. What are some good activities for mental health?Fun activities to help improve your mood. Soaking in the bathtub.. Planning your career.. Collecting things, such as coins and shells.. Going for a holiday.. Recycling old items.. Relaxing.. Going on a date.. Going to a movie.. How do I run a coping skill group?4 Must-Have Components Of A Successful Coping Skills Group. Give Clear Definitions. This activity is in the first session of my NO PREP coping skills small group. ... . Talk about why Positive Coping Skills Matter. ... . Introduce Different Types Of Coping Skills. ... . Help Students Make a Plan.. What are the 5 positive coping skills?What are some common coping strategies?. Lower your expectations.. Ask others to help or assist you.. Take responsibility for the situation.. Engage in problem solving.. Maintain emotionally supportive relationships.. Maintain emotional composure or, alternatively, expressing distressing emotions.. What are the 5 types of coping strategies?There are many different conceptualizations of coping strategies, but the five general types of coping strategies are problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, social support, religious coping, and meaning making.
Why are group activities good for mental health?Group therapy allows them to explore their emotions and behaviors safely. It also allows them to hear from multiple people who are sharing the same situation with different perspectives. These experiences can help people develop new strategies for living and growing.
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