- What kind of tone do you want to create through the check-in? Playful? Serious? Connecting?
- Is this a group that is familiar with check-ins and has been meeting together regularly?
For example, if you have time for a longer check-in from each member, a phrase like “tell us the story of…” can be a good prompt for members to share more than a few words. If you’re short on time and just want a quick update, using “say a few words on…” may be the better option.
For more tips on facilitating check-in and the role of personal interactions between group members, have a look at the videos we’ve linked to below.
Many of the exercises and activities described above can be applied to group therapy with younger members, but some are more appropriate than others.
Icebreakers and Trust-Building
This section includes over two dozen different ideas of icebreakers that are appropriate for both teens and adults in group therapy.
Categories
In this icebreaker, participants are asked to organize themselves into smaller groups based on a category, such as favorite color, favorite food, number of siblings, etc. It will help teens to get more comfortable interacting with each other and learn something new about the other members.
Human Knot
This activity requires group members to physically interact with each other, so it may not be appropriate for all groups. All members get in a circle and take the hand of someone who is not right next to them, then try to unravel the knot they have created without letting go of anyone’s hand.Continue reading