Drug and Alcohol Groups

Hi All -

    I work as an Adventure Based Counseling therapist in a drug and alcohol rehab and was looking for some fresh ideas for some groups that would be appropriate for adult populations -  Anyone know of any good books or groups that have worked well for you in the past?  I need some new ideas!  Any input would be great -

Thanks -

Anna

Hi there. I don't want to oversimplify but in my experience many of the activities that worked for younger folks were very effective with adults. Depending on the model you're using in treatment they get the metaphors pretty easily. This is true for low challenge course activities, portable challenge or games. The high course has a whole other realm of opportunities.

One activity that adults in tx always seemed to enjoy (regardless of their level of recovery) was "flip me the bird". The simple tag game with a rubber chicken as the "safe" spot as in kids tag with a "home base". There are muiltiple ways to process how folks were giving the chicken away to someone else while about to be tagged (enabling and lack of boundaries), what the chicken represents in real life, etc, etc. Pretty straight forward from a 12 step model but also in cognitive behaviroral or whatever. This is a very simple activity but can provide great learning opportunities beyond just playing a game and letting (again depending on your tx approach) their inner child come out to play.

Take care.

 

Russell

-- Russell Chamberlain, LCSW, MAC

LifeSTREAM Therapy ®

Adventure Therapy Training | Consultation | Supervision

www.lifestreamtherapy.com | info@lifestreamtherapy.com

Hi Anna,

 this is a real good question and I am glad you posted it.  I did my master's thesis on using adventure therapy with the 12 Steps.  I have some activities that can be used in connection with the 12 Steps.  I only did Steps 1-4 on my thesis due to length of time but I have other ideas for the other steps.  I would be intersted in sending you a copy of my thesis and talking to you more about this if you want.  you can either reply to this or e-mail me at bremmek@yahoo.com.

 

Kyle Bremmeyr

Hi Anna

I worked in this field for a while...long time ago...  I know that Micheal Gass' books would be useful, if you can find them..  there may be some old posts from the AEE-list if the archive is available??? I dont know what you are doing at the moment but I agree a common standard ref book would be useful. 

Group juggle- sequence order structure:    Basic instructions  'everyone gets the ball, everyone gets the ball once, then it comes back to me'.   The group will fail, repeat instructions... the group will fail... repeat etc until the sequence if functional.  Now add more props  the 'group' names props in reference to sobriety eg ball 1. meetings,  ball 2.  sponsor etc.  keep rubber chicken in back pocket. As each prop moves the individual says what it is: meetings, sponsor, 12 steps, etc.  until you can keep the sequence going with as many props as possible.  When fully functioning as a sequence take out the chicken call it relapse and throw it into the sequence.   processesing the debrief.  how did you feel initially, when the sequnce was structured how did you feel, where did relapse come from (expect a teasing) observe the group you know what to process.   Dont know if this helps... used to have more to hand but have been out of the loop for a while

As to using the full 12 steps we have to be careful here, As a facility we could only use the first 3 steps possibly/rarely the 4th.. The reasoning being that the process is best done with a sponsor, the sponsors time is free, we are professionals not employed by a 12 step org. As the process relies on the sponsor and acceptance of a higher power, can we be both therapist and sponsor and guide to a higher power???... there are boundaries we should not cross and ought not plunder so readily   whoops...

alistair

I think that you got the e-mail addresses mixed up. this is not Anna, I am Kyle and I sent a reply toAnna's message. I am not sure of her address butthank you for the information anyway. I am alwayslooking for activities for substance abuse clients. --- alistair wrote:---------------------------------Hi AnnaI worked in this field for a while...long time ago... I know that Micheal Gass' books would be useful, ifyou can find them.. there may be some old posts fromthe AEE-list if the archive is available??? I dontknow what you are doing at the moment but I agree acommon standard ref book would be useful. Group juggle- sequence order structure: Basicinstructions 'everyone gets the ball, everyone getsthe ball once, then it comes back to me'. The groupwill fail, repeat instructions... the group willfail... repeat etc until the sequence if functional. Now add more props the 'group' names props inreference to sobriety eg ball 1. meetings, ball 2. sponsor etc. keep rubber chicken in back pocket. Aseach prop moves the individual says what it is:meetings, sponsor, 12 steps, etc. until you can keepthe sequence going with as many props as possible. When fully functioning as a sequence take out thechicken call it relapse and throw it into thesequence. processesing the debrief. how did youfeel initially, when the sequnce was structured howdid you feel, where did relapse come from (expect ateasing) observe the group you know what to process. Dont know if this helps... used to have more to handbut have been out of the loop for a whileAs to using the full 12 steps we have to be carefulhere, As a facility we could only use the first 3steps possibly/rarely the 4th.. The reasoning beingthat the process is best done with a sponsor, thesponsors time is free, we are professionals notemployed by a 12 step org. As the process relies onthe sponsor and acceptance of a higher power, can webe both therapist and sponsor and guide to a higherpower???... there are boundaries we should not crossand ought not plunder so readily whoops... alistairTherapeutic Adventure Forum at OutdoorEd.com ____________________________________________________________________________________Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting

 Hi Russel! I've read your article and I appreciate you so much because you have some ideas on how to  motivate a child and also you give us some of your learned activities to us.Keep up the good work Russel!

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Josie Smith

This is a comprehensive addiction portal focusing on topics of alcohol and drug abuse. http://www.alcoholaddiction.org