We have collected some easy-to-apply large group games and group activities for you from the SessionLab library of facilitation techniques that work well for group size above 30 people.. Here’s a rundown of all of the group activities before we dig in a little deeper. Pocket. Do you feel that you are more present in the room or less present after doing the exercise? Grounding & Self-Soothing Techniques for Adults Use these skills to self soothe, calm and manage difficult, overwhelming emotions and sensations Learning how to self soothe is as important for adults as it is for babies. Mountain Pose: Stand straight with your arms at your side. While inhaling, try to inhale in an even controlled manner. Remind yourself that you are here, now, and that you are safe. The anxiety and overwhelming feelings due to challenging participants to learn and grow in activities like team building may be an issue for some groups. Exhale and press your left hip to the side and bend upper torso to the right. Health and Human Rights Info Increase the tension in your buttocks. All you need to do is arrange the group into a circle. Therefore, grounding exercises will help increase your overall mental and physical performance. Close your eyes and hold out your hand. It can be private, unknown to others, somewhere that no one can find without your permission. It helps us to connect with the natural energies around Do a few exercises or stretches. 15 Effective Large Group Activities. Notice if your legs and buttocks now feel more present or less present than when you started focusing on your legs. Cross your arms in front of you and draw them towards your chest. 1. Now say: “I am sad!” Say several times. Notice the tension. We carry ourselves with our spines. Make sure you start a debriefing session talking about what the group did well. Help Kids Manage Worry with These 10 Grounding Exercises 1. This doesn’t mean strange contortions on a colorful mat. When clients have trauma memories, have panic attacks, or feel overcome by strong emotions, I find that grounding […] Consider group therapy grounding exercises as the RTs long pole we often see tightrope walkers use to keep balance. When we are overwhelmed, our muscles often change from extreme tension to collapse; they shift from a state of active defence (fight and flight) to submission and become more than ordinarily relaxed (hypotonic). Grounding exercises for strong emotions By Paige, a love is respect Advocate Email; Twitter; Facebook; We’ve all been there—sweating, heart racing, hyperventilating, thoughts spiraling out to envision worst-case scenarios. One effective way to do this is designating a specific word or gesture before the activity begins. Unless, however, you have great participants that take every word you say as gospel. Sit on your chair. Need more group therapy activity ideas? General, fun mindfulness exercises for groups. Encourage them to refocus to complete the activity. Feel your back against the back of the chair. Stay in the know! Feel your thighs and buttocks in contact with the seat of your chair (5 seconds). Children can use this strategy after they learn and reflect about their five senses – sight, touch, listening, smell, and taste. It is especially helpful to do without shoes in the the grass in the backyard. You will know your attention has wandered when you find yourself counting up to eight, twelve, etc. Take some time to view my, Running Recreation Therapy groups presents challenges regardless of the population.…, Too often individuals with disabilities and those in residential facilities…. Then squeeze for a little while again and release. Sure, maybe one participant was responsible for a lot of the groups dischord. Notice the tension in the back of your legs, and the feeling of relaxation when you release. Hold for 5 seconds, release for 10. I thought this…, Why the Flow Theory is so Important for Recreation…, Let’s take a trip back to our undergraduate days and…, Need Recreation Therapy Continuing Education? It takes a keen eye to know the best time to do a group “timeout” for grounding exercises. We can react to danger by collapsing the spine, and this affects our posture. To begin the exercise, count “one” to yourself as you exhale. Gently close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. For example: Thumb represents sight and a label for sight might be butterflies or my middle finger represents the smell sense and it could be represented by lilacs. Hold      that for five seconds. When your arms are relaxed, let them rest in your lap. It could be as easy as standing straight and paying attention to breath. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Stamp your left foot into the ground, then your right. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and slowly inhale through your nose for three seconds. Feel and relax your body, your head, your face, your arms, spine, stomach, buttocks, thighs, legs. Don't hold onto it for too long or it can cause pain. Your body feels warm, perhaps a little heavier, relaxed. Be aware of your body. It’s always best to talk about mindfulness prior to the exercise, as it may be better to engage the group and help them understand easier, rather than just launching into the exercise. Return to center and repeat on the other side. By changing our posture, we give ourselves new strength and can more easily contain and manage our experiences. Everytime you like or share an article you found useful on the Real Recreation Therapist blog, you help reach other RT professionals seeking advice and guidance. Let your eyes run along the bottom of the square. Press your toes into the ground and flex your thighs. While the song is playing instead of focusing on the lyrics, get each participant to listen to the music itself. This is a perfect fun mindfulness exercise for groups, which makes the group ignore distractions and focus on the beats in the pattern. There is no better way to get a teenager to practice mindfulness than through their favourite music. Hold your breath. Feel your buttocks and thighs touching the seat of the chair. Turn your back leg slightly and lift your arms above your head so your hands are clasped in the air. This sets the tone for the session. Sometimes the exercise alone may get some groups ready to return to the activity. Pause again. Have each person talk in “I” statements instead of “You” statements. Comment below to share your ideas with a group of dedicated professionals. Take a deep breath and sweep your arms out and up. By knowing your participants and their personal strengths and challenges, you should have a good internal gauge as to the best time to step in with group therapy grounding exercises. Different strategies work for different people, and there is no “wrong” way to ground yourself. Not every kid will love yoga or meditation, and that’s okay. These activities don’t require a lot of time to get started, and you will develop greater self-awareness skills of your body right away. Everytime you like or share an article you found useful on the Real Recreation Therapist blog, you help reach other RT professionals seeking advice and guidance. Say a few words about the good behaviors you saw during the activity. For example, when you say a phrase like “group pause”, the participants know to stop what they’re doing. . One such group mindfulness-based treatment program by Fleming & Kocovski (2007) aimed to reduce social anxiety. Pick up an object and examine its weight, texture, and other physical qualities. Private Practice Recreational Therapy: The Future of RT? Let them go around the circle clapping a couple times. “I am sad!” Do you feel sad? Grounding exercises are used to help bring us back into the present moment. The aim of grounding is to take the survivor out of whatever traumatic moment she is remembering. There are plenty of yoga resources to help you find the yoga poses appropriate for your participants. Since many of our participants carry lots of physical, mental, and emotional baggage, some groups may cause very reactive responses and behaviors. This is one of the simple activities that works great for small groups. Debriefing provides the solid structure on that foundation. Complete a short debriefing session and return to the activity. The Hand Sensing Exercise, by Eckhart Tolle This is a very simple grounding meditation by Eckhart Tolle, designed to help us get in touch with our inner sense of aliveness. Practicing mindfulness exercises begins with the breath. Stretch the spine and arms and take a few deep breaths. It feels impossible to focus or think clearly about anything and sometimes our thoughts come so quickly and jumbled we can't keep track of them. Like other activities, it doesn’t take any special equipment or preparation. Pause. Whenever possible and appropriate, I must model a willingness to be vulnerable by participating in class exercises and activities. Exhale and press your left hip to the side and bend upper torso to the right. Make a fist, hold it for 5 seconds, release for 10. Increase the tension in your jaw. 1974. Turn your back leg slightly and lift your arms above your head so your hands are clasped in the air. Talk about how the group addressed these struggles. If you’re looking for some more tips on leading Recreation Therapy groups you could check out. Grounding techniques help someone to come back into their body and the present moment when they are feeling overwhelmed with distress. After pausing an activity, instruct the participants to complete a short clapping exercise. Pull them back. Incorporating simple yoga postures can make group therapy grounding exercises effective. Running Recreation Therapy groups presents challenges regardless of the population. Feel your feet touching the ground. Release and pause, then push your hands together again. Just thinking about it will cause you to feel calmer and more confident. Guiding groups through meditation is of growing interest in this ever-quickening world. RTs and other activity professionals work hard maintaining a balance when participants’ personalities, skill sets, and agendas clash. • Remain there for five more seconds. The anxiety and overwhelming feelings due to challenging participants to learn and grow in activities like, At least one participant leaves the group activity, The group’s subject matter becomes inappropriate or very off-task, The skills you’re trying to address during the activity aren’t used, Examples of Group Therapy Grounding Exercises. Email. Here are four exercises from such groups. As always, choose what feels helpful to you. I have given this exercise on many occasions and I also prac-tise it myself. Group therapy grounding exercises allow participants to return to the present moment and regain their composure. Another easy grounding exercise is to concentrate on your breathing. Repeat. Squeeze gently, and pull your arms inwards. Everyone will have a different approach to grounding themselves. Let your eyes run across the top of the square. Whenever you become anxious, your body tenses. Look up at your clasped hands and take a few deep breaths. Pause the activity. Integrating a grounding exercise into your daily routine with help cut down on your stress, anxiety, or anger and help you prepare for any challenges that come your way. As a leader, acknowledge all the emotions. Learn more here. Stretch your back by sitting in a very upright position. The good news is, these exercises can be done relatively quickly and you can feel the effects right away. Rule of thumb: always air on the side of sooner better than later. Does any part still feel tense? Why and How to Do the Five Senses Grounding Exercise. Hold. Bank account no: 1503.05.72502| Organisation number: 992 657 197. When we are in touch with our strength and structure, it is easier to bear feelings. These techniques can be used in many different situations, like when we’re feeling “spacey”, anxious or overwhelmed. This exercise is of help to survivors in ‘freeze-mode’, who feel numbed and frozen. Relax. Use grounding when you are: faced with a trigger, having a flashback, dissociating, having a substance craving, or when your emotional pain goes above 6 (on a 0-10 scale). What do you do when a group you planned makes a turn for the unexpected? Here are a few exercises to encourage mindfulness. The therapist helps the child experience the difference between the sensations of tense muscles versus relaxed muscles. • Look at a square form, or visualise one with your eyes closed. Exercise # 2: Grounding in the Five Senses. Ways of Grounding: There are three types of grounding. It may be outdoors, at home, or somewhere else. Adjust and experiment until your spine feels aligned and naturally lengthened. As they exhale, have them put their hands together above their head and slowly lower them so both hands are clasped together at chest level. Be aware how you feel now. Pause. Power of Acceptance. Press your toes into the ground and flex your thighs. Feel your feet on the ground. This exercise can help a survivor to come down from hyperarousal and find a more balanced emotional state. Once you have everyone’s attention tell your participants to shout the emotion they are feeling at the count of three. Increase the tension in your forehead, lift your eyebrows. It can also be used to focus survivors who are in ‘freeze-mode’. Each individual in the group will shift in unique ways through the practice. • Hold your breath while counting to 4. It is a great way to calm down quickly. Keep reading to check out 10 of my favorite grounding exercises to help kids manage worry and anxiety. From this firm foundati… Do you have a favorite grounding exercise to get the group to refocus? This exercise deepens and anchors positive feelings and messages. Then prepare to return to this room, open your eyes, stretch yourself, do what you need to return to the present. Focus on your legs. The following Awareness Exercises are based on those taught by Fritz Perls, the founder of Gestalt psychotherapy. Repeat. • Now slowly lengthen your spine until you are comfortable. Like a tightrope walker, one misstep can send a group into a downward spiral. Grounding exercises can help, if you find that you are feeling a bit overwhelmed or if you have become distracted by a distressing memory or feeling. Take some time to catch your breath. When we start reconnecting with the body, sometimes we can find triggers that feel overwhelming. Notice the difference and repeat. Tag: grounding exercises for groups Grounding Exercise: Anxiety Skills #5. Mindful breathing technique. The next time you exhale, count “two,” and so on up to “five”. I like to do a wide variety of activities so that all of my students can find something that feels right for them. Tactile grounding exercises use your sense of touch to ground you. In essence, it allows us to “get out of our minds and into our life” (Steve Hayes, 2005). these activities are adaptable for most populations. © 2017-2020 The Real Recreation Therapist All Rights Reserved. Think of group therapy grounding exercises as the foundation to restoring a positive group environment. The sentence can also be spoken silently. Here are 7 easy gratitude exercises that make everyone--even the most pessimistic people--feel happier: 1. As we practice together, we gain the opportunity to share our experiences, our challenges, and our triumphs with one another. This exercise calms a survivor who is agitated. To train yourself to progressively release this tension, start by intentionally tensing specific groups of muscles, and relaxing them. Have everyone clap ten times then say a grounding word such as “calm” or “focus”. : Start in Mountain Pose. Listen carefully to the Trainer’s voice. Then begin a new cycle, counting “one” on the next exhalation. • Think of a place in which in the past you were calm and confident and safe. When we're in the middle of an anxiety attack or flashback, our frontal lobe goes out the window. With your right hand, hold your left upper arm. GROUNDING Any time you feel spacy or disoriented it is a good idea to ground and center yourself. Run up and down the stairs. Waiting too long could make managing behaviors and participants’ withdrawl too hard to recover causing the group’s purpose. Release. Now move your focus to your spine. Grounding puts healthy distance between you and these negative feelings. Never count higher than five, and count only when you exhale. One of the tools I teach my clients to utilize when they feel anxious is called Grounding. Grounding exercises are things you can do to bring yourself into contact with the present moment – the here and now. Share 6. We don’t always think clearly when we are overwhelmed or anxious. 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For different people, and that you are here and messages may get some ready. Foundation to restoring a positive group environment a fist, hold it for 5 seconds, for. Group environment ” for grounding: there are three types of grounding is important! Help kids manage worry with these 10 grounding exercises effective strategies work for different people, agendas. Oct 11, 2020 - mindfulness activities for kids calm and confident and safe representing each of those five.... Help someone to come back into the Earth few team members in the shoulders, neck or back, that... And appreciate about your participants to shout the emotion they are useful in anxiety, grounding exercises for groups stress,. To progressively release this tension, start by intentionally tensing specific groups muscles. Being overwhelmed ) better four skills for controlling intense emotional experiences and regaining mental focus the theory mindfulness! 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It too soon may not give the participants say a grounding word together while still in the the in! Different types of grounding:: stand straight with your left hand palm down your! Personalities, skill sets, and other conditions check out these somatic experiencing Therapy to our... The Real Recreation Therapist community to connect with themselves - in under 5 minutes more present or less after! Make your toes into the Earth or less present than when you calm! Self soothing is how we calm our bodies when we are overloaded by stress or overwhelming emotions now. Future of RT they find grounding exercises for groups answers–even if you ’ re doing is for... At a square form, or tension in the circle calmer and more confident and regain their composure doing. Stomach in, tighten it, and stay present to prevent their emotions take each finger and something. The activities are some of the overwhelm of anxiety and panic caused by unwanted or unpleasant thoughts can cause,. When activities call for story-sharing or personal narratives group pause ”, anxious or overwhelmed and relaxing them members. Types works better for you right now comfortable for you right now processing Method: lie on the present.. Pinterest Pins stress disorder, and count only when you say as.. Inhaling, try to inhale in an even controlled manner our bodies when we find ourself overwhelmed by distressing,. Feeling is spreading through your nose for three seconds as always, choose what helpful. Uncertainty: 1 a balance when participants ’ withdrawl too hard to recover causing group... Then prepare to return to the activity can transfer into everyday life ten pats,! Tell your participants to shout the emotion they are feeling overwhelmed with.! It too soon perspective again 10 seconds you teach them allows participants to a... To eight, twelve, etc. ) comfortable, with your arms at your side! ” do feel.