Ask clients to recall the guidelines (instead of you telling them). Anticipating challenges is the first step to effectively preventing and managing them. Ideas include going bowling, having a potluck, Starbucks run, game group, escape room, nature walk, etc. If an experiential or interactive exercise isn’t feasible, provide coffee or snacks; sitting for 45 minutes is difficult for some, and 90 minutes can be unbearable. It can be easy to fall into a rut, especially if you’re burnout or working with a particularly challenging group. The following three PDF downloads are lists of ideas/questions for groups.

Find Addiction Treatment Today

This Strengths Spotting group activity aims to help participants identify and recognize psychological or character strengths in both themselves and others. One powerful benefit of conducting this typically individual exercise in a group context is that it enables each participant to get feedback on their own strengths from those around them. Using these questions as a guide, couples can work through the activity together as a bonding activity. They can discover more about one another, reflect on past positive events, and share their hopes for a shared future. This set of principles makes it clear that there are many advantages to working with a group rather than individually. While some of these principles may apply to individual therapy, most of them require a group setting.

• A to-do list of kind deeds with blank spaces to write in your own ideas for spreading kindness.
• From there, therapists can request participants breathe deeply, scan their bodies, repeat a mantra, or focus on positive emotions.
• Aaron was also a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Caron Treatment Centers.Aaron joined Alina Lodge as the Director of Marketing and Business Development in August of 2020.
• Understanding the far-reaching effects of substance abuse is essential for individuals in recovery and their loved ones.
• Alternatively, we have an extensive collection of free worksheets on challenging negative thoughts in this CBT worksheets article.

Mental Health Worksheets

• A printable deck of cards with 128 coping skills for managing stress, anxiety, and other difficult emotions.
• Challenging the efficacy of treatment (or you as a clinician) is a defense mechanism.
• In these positions, she was responsible for creating national visibility, substantial revenue growth, a positive shift in payer mix, and establishing a sales force.
• A 1-page worksheet for identifying things that promote addiction and ways to get rid of or avoid these things.
• Reading this out loud to your group will help them create a mental image of the future event; one in which it is attainable.
• In mothers that are addicted to narcotics, facts show that there is a higher rate of SIDS.

Your family, loved ones, friends, colleagues, and even acquaintances, are all important parts of your safety net in recovery. Easing your way back into your family and work obligations can make for a smoother transition…. Guide the group to take a few deep, slow, grounding breaths before beginning this exercise. Ask them to be aware of the sensations in their foot, ankle, legs, and entire body as they attempt to remain balanced. Ask them to notice any trembling or shaking and to pay attention to the thoughts or possibly fears that come up. After a few minutes, end the exercise and allow everyone to share their experience.

Best CBT Group Activities Essential For SUD Treatment

Another option for your substance abuse group activities, have the clients discuss being alone. Explore what balance they need in being alone and not feeling isolated. Ask each group member to share what they do to care for themselves. substance abuse group activities for adults Have the group share how they can improve their self-care or list them out as part of your substance abuse group activities. This activity is based on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), behavioral activation, and goal setting.

When they are done, they can share their counts and their NUTS and ANTS with the group, if they are comfortable doing so. ANTS refers to Automatic Negative Thoughts, an acronym coined by David Burns in his groundbreaking book Feeling Good. Burns finds that these ANTS can cause depression and anxiety and lead to low self-esteem, self-doubt, and a host of other problems.

Why are substance abuse groups effective?

Check-In Questions