Brady Sumner and Sheila Anderson Counselor’s Connectionn Workshop October 1, 2011

Group Counseling Activities Activity/Experiential/Hands-On Based Counseling “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” -Chinese Proverb

Activity/Experiential/Hands-On Based Counseling  Experiential activities are designed to be active, physically and mentally  Include stages of:  Experiencing  Reflecting  Generalizing  Applying

Inhuman Knot  Activity Set up:  Create 4’ long strips of duct tape  Place tape on the floor in a star-shape ( * )  Each strip = two people, so for a group of  10 you’ll need 5 strips  Activity Rules:  Each student is asked to take one end of the tape and hold onto it.  Without letting go of their end of the strip, the group is to tie a knot  Tell them to make the largest, meanest knot they can in 1 min.  After groups have made their knot, have them exchange knots with another group- this time they attempt to untie the knot a

Robo-Writer  Activity Set-Up:  Use the same lengths (4’ strands) of duct tape  that were used for “inhuman knots”  Tape one end of all the strip onto a marker  Place a piece of paper under the marker  Activity Rules:  Using only the materials given the team must attempt to write a series of words, draw shapes, follow a maze, etc. on paper  Each student must take one end of the tape, and may only hold onto that end.  Group members may not move the paper, or touch the pen

River/Bank Materials: NONE Goals: Use Active Listening Exercise Self-Discipline and Self-Control Recognize Feelings about Honesty

Cup Pyramid  Small Group Activity  Use yarn attached to rubber bands to “move” Styrofoam cups  Goals:  Working successfully in a group  Cooperative learning

Come on Six  Goal: Dealing with Stress  Materials: 1 piece of paper per person, 1 pencil per group, 1 dice per group  Divide students into groups of about 5 at a table. Each person needs a paper but the group only needs one pencil and dice. The object is to roll a six. Each person gets one roll, if he/she does not get a six, the dice is passed on. Keep doing so until someone gets a six. When someone gets a six, the person takes the pencil and starts writing numbers on their paper from 1 to 100. Numbers must be written one at a time, must be readable and in consecutive order. They must also count aloud. This person keeps writing until someone else gets a six. Then, that person begins writing numbers and so on.

Come on Six  The goal is to reach 100 first.

ASCA Standards  Personal/Social Development  ASCA National Standards for personal/social development guide school counseling  programs to provide the foundation for personal and social growth as students  progress through school and into adulthood.

ASCA Standards  Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal  skills to help them understand and respect self and others.  PS:A1 Acquire Self-knowledge  PS:A1.1 Develop positive attitudes toward self as a unique and worthy  person  PS:A1.2 Identify values, attitudes and beliefs  PS:A1.3 Learn the goal-setting process  PS:A1.4 Understand change is a part of growth  PS:A1.5 Identify and express feelings  PS:A1.6 Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior  PS:A1.7 Recognize personal boundaries, rights and privacy needs  PS:A1.8 Understand the need for self-control and how to practice it  PS:A1.9 Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups  PS:A1.10 Identify personal strengths and assets  PS:A1.11 Identify and discuss changing personal and social roles  PS:A1.12 Identify and recognize changing family roles

ASCA Standards  PS:A2 Acquire Interpersonal Skills  PS:A2.1 Recognize that everyone has rights and responsibilities  PS:A2.2 Respect alternative points of view  PS:A2.3 Recognize, accept, respect and appreciate individual  differences  PS:A2.4 Recognize, accept and appreciate ethnic and cultural  diversity  PS:A2.5 Recognize and respect differences in various family  configurations  PS:A2.6 Use effective communications skills  PS:A2.7 Know that communication involves speaking, listening and  nonverbal behavior  PS:A2.8 Learn how to make and keep friends

ASCA Standards  Standard B: Students will make decisions, set goals and take necessary  action to achieve goals.  PS:B1 Self-knowledge Application  PS:B1.1 Use a decision-making and problem-solving model  PS:B1.2 Understand consequences of decisions and choices  PS:B1.3 Identify alternative solutions to a problem  PS:B1.4 Develop effective coping skills for dealing with problems  PS:B1.5 Demonstrate when, where and how to seek help for solving  problems and making decisions  PS:B1.6 Know how to apply conflict resolution skills  PS:B1.7 Demonstrate a respect and appreciation for individual and  cultural differences  PS:B1.8 Know when peer pressure is influencing a decision  PS:B1.9 Identify long- and short-term goals  PS:B1.10 Identify alternative ways of achieving goals  PS:B1.11 Use persistence and perseverance in acquiring knowledge  and skills  PS:B1.12 Develop an action plan to set and achieve realistic goals  PS:C1.10 Learn techniques for managing stress and conflict  PS:C1.11 Learn coping skills for managing life events

Works Cited  American School Counselor Association (2004). ASCA National Standards for Students. Alexandria, VA: Author.  Jackson, T. (1993). Activities that Teach. Boulder, CO, Red Rock Publishing.  Jackson, T. (1995). More Activities that Teach. Boulder, CO, Red Rock Publishing.  Jackson, T. (2000). Still More Activities that Teach. Boulder, CO, Red Rock Publishing.  Heck, T. (2009). Duct Tape Teambuilding Games. Asheville, NC: Life Coach Inc.  Kottman, T., Ashby, J, &DeGraaf, D. (2001). Adventures in Guidance: How to Integrate Fun Into Your Guidance Program. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.