Group Therapy Activities For Adults (With Examples)

Group therapy: An overview

Group therapy is a great way to connect with clients and help them overcome their mental health challenges. Group therapy can be used for a variety of issues, such as grief, addiction, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and more. They're typically organized in groups of 5 to 15 participants and often involve weekly sessions with activities and discussions to foster connections and shared experiences.

However, choosing and planning counseling therapy activities in a group setting that promote engagement, communication, and fun can sometimes be challenging. But do not fret; we've got you covered! Through this guide, we've curated some of the top group therapy activities that you can incorporate to kickstart your client relations and more substantial clinical outcomes in a group therapy session.

Who is group therapy most suitable for?

While any individual is welcome to attend group therapy sessions, they are helpful for people who may not have access to support groups or are not particularly acclimatized to social settings. Group therapy is a way to bring individuals facing similar mental health issues together to alleviate stress, reduce pain, work through trauma, embark on self-reflection, and increase emotional regulation and stability.

Group therapy works for individuals who are struggling in their lives, like with post-traumatic stress disorder. Group therapy creates a safe space for them to connect with other members and work towards higher mental health outcomes and recovery. 

Additionally, group therapy is great for those who may not have access to mental healthcare, such as those who live in rural areas or have a low income. Many rural areas suffer from understaffed mental health practices and lack of funding, which contributes to minimized access. Group therapy is a great way to overcome these barriers and ensure that all clients can access the right mental health solutions and go through the healing process.

Why group therapy activities work

Group therapy activities work because they offer a supportive environment a mental health professional facilitates. Trauma survivors benefit from sharing experiences, easing emotional distress. Engaging in group activities fosters healthy relationships and personal growth, aiding recovery. Let's delve into each reason more.  

It provides support

Group therapy is an excellent way for trauma survivors to receive support from others facing similar challenges. Many clients benefit from sharing their trauma narrative in a safe, non-judgmental environment. This fosters positive emotions and encourages the exchange of positive affirmations, forming supportive networks to improve mental well-being.

It offers a sounding board

Group therapy activities, particularly for trauma survivors, provide a vital platform for sharing traumatic experiences. Participants can unload negative feelings and insecurities through eye contact and shared narratives. This supportive environment allows individuals to feel heard and understood, fostering healing without necessarily giving advice.

It pushes clients forward

For some, the idea of trauma group activities is incredibly daunting, and they might feel uncomfortable. However, group therapy is sometimes a necessary choice. It can bring clients out of their comfort zone and help them encounter valuable insights that can change their lives during a group session. Group therapy is often the next step for many clients in building support networks and reinstalling hope within their mental health journey.

It improves social skills

Group trauma therapy involves group discussions. It fosters emotional health by nurturing healthy social skills in clients. In the aftermath of a traumatic event, individuals often grapple with low self-esteem, finding solace and growth in group settings. Unlike individual therapy, group sessions offer opportunities to learn from peers, understand social dynamics, and cultivate supportive relationships, propelling clients forward in their healing journey.

It teaches you something about yourself

One of group therapy's most important aspects is promoting self-discovery. Clients can gain insights into their tendencies, anxieties, and emotions on a deeper level through engaging in activities. They learn coping strategies and new skills and connect with others in a fun way, experiencing physical sensations that propel them forward in their healing journey.

Four Group Therapy Activities For Adults (With Examples)

Have you ever incorporated trauma therapy activities only to find that your clients have zero interest? Surprisingly, this is common in group therapy, and we are here to help change that. Incorporating group therapy activities that actively engage and promote client communication can be difficult. Thus, consider the following activities:

1. Sharing fears

Group therapy is about building trust among clients, which can be particularly difficult, especially in a room with strangers. Group therapy prompts participants to be vulnerable and honest about sometimes troubling subjects, so incorporating this activity is a great way to formulate bonds and develop trust. All you need is a bucket or any other object that can be used to collect responses, as well as strips of paper and pens.

Instruct your group to write one thing they are afraid of on their piece of paper. You could change this to something they are anxious about or a secret they haven't told many people. We recommend that even though the session isn't about you per se, you should still contribute to help form greater cohesiveness. Ensure that all responses are anonymous and that group members fold their pieces of paper and put them in the bucket when finished.

Mix the papers around and then redistribute them to group members. Each participant will read their response out loud and, before moving on to the next person, spend some time reflecting on the content of the message. Ask the group how they feel hearing the message, whether anyone can relate, and ask others reflective questions. The important thing is that group members connect and spark interesting discussions. 

2. Goal identification

Goal identification is another excellent activity to incorporate within group therapy sessions. It allows members to keep track of their mental health journey and encourages improvement.

It can also facilitate more optimistic outlooks when envisioning the future. All you need to carry out this activity is pens and paper. Each member should receive three pieces of paper representing their short-term, mid-range, and long-term goals.

Give the participants some time to reflect and work on their goals, and once the time is up, ask each member to share them with the group. When group members share their goals, feel free to start a dialogue about what challenges they may face and what steps can be taken to achieve them. Their answers will vary based on their experiences. Hence, make sure that everyone has a chance to share their goals and receive helpful feedback. 

3. Bond establishment

This group therapy activity is perfect for newly formed groups where members may not have connected yet. Incorporating this activity is a great way to develop support networks and formulate bonds, preventing feelings of isolation. All you need is paper and pens. 

Divide your group into pairs and set a timer for 5 minutes. Inform your group that the aim is to find similarities within the pairings and that each member should talk to their partner to discover what they have in common. Write down at least one of these, and move on to another group member once completed.

Once the timer is complete, gather all your group members and start a discussion concerning the challenges some group members may have faced, what they learned, and how they felt about the activity. The similarities can be as simple as the same hair color or as complex as their reasons for attending group therapy. 

4. Self-compassion pause

This self-compassion activity encourages group members to be supportive, treat people with kindness and empathy, and better understand what others may be facing. This vital group therapy component allows for more meaningful relationships and group discussions. You only need a large piece of paper, a whiteboard, and a pen.

Divide the whiteboard or piece of paper into two sections: "What I say to myself" and "What I would say to a friend." Ask a willing group member to share a recent challenge or struggle they faced. This can be simple or complex, such as an argument with a friend or a plate they broke. Instruct the members to share what they were thinking at the time and with other group members.

On the other side of the coin, ask your group what they would say to a friend going through the same situation. Would their thoughts change? Or, how could they change their thoughts?

This activity involves each member sharing a stressful situation and learning to reconstruct thought patterns, feelings, and statements into more compassionate ones. Spend some time reflecting on the differences between the two categories, and your group may recognize the patterns of negative self-talk and how harshly people tend to treat themselves compared to others.

Conclusion

Group therapy can be challenging to initiate successfully. Various factors go into engagement and communication, and it can sometimes be hard to encourage members to form bonds with others with whom they have no connection outside of the session!

However, we hope that this guide has suggested some exciting activities for you to foster strong connections within your group and in ways that encourage lasting support networks that can withstand different social settings. Group activities can be fun and produce exciting insights that can elevate mental health outcomes for every one of your clients. Give these activities a go and enhance the quality of your sessions.