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Group Activities by topic

Taking the Escalator on

Alphabetical Listings by Topic:

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Accountability and Responsibility

6 Shoulds and Should Nots for Responsibility

Accountability and You - Are You Meeting the Challenge?

Accountability Self-Examination Worksheet

Responsibility Road - Looking at the critical concept of increasing responsibility

The Responsibility Riddle

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Addiction and the Brain (See also Disease Concept of Addiction)

The Resilient Brain

This is Your Brain on Drugs...(Fried Egg Not Included)

VIDEO - The Brain and Addiction Behavior with Dr. Erin Zerbo, MD

 

 

Adolescent/Young Adult Specific

Adolescent Activities List - A guide with recommendations from this website for clinicians working with adolescents

ADOLESCENTS: RISK FACTORS - Exploring risk factors for substance use issues with young people

Adolescent Substance Use - A basic educational outline for those working with adolescents and parents

Adolescent Substance Use Group (Multiple Choice) - This is a kahoot activity for adolescent substance use groups

Drug Dealing

Identifying Teen Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use (PDF Presentation Slides) 

VIDEO LINK - Teen Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use (Corresponds with above)

Three Paths: A Discussion of Marijuana

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Anger Management (See also "Relationships" for Conflict Resolution material)

Anger Discussion Sentence Completion - Simple questions for opening up discussion on anger

Anger Management: Digging Deeper and Using Basic AM Skills

Anger Memories: Family

Anger Styles

Basic Anger Management

Owning and Discharging Anger

Owning Anger Using "I" Statements

Ways People Express Anger

 

 

Anxiety (Also check "CBT Specific" heading)

Anxiety

Anxiety and Panic

The Great Lie of Anxiety

Realistic Self Talk

Three Ps for Coping with Anxiety in the Moment   -  VIDEO LINK: Coping in the Moment

READ - Coping with an Overactive Mind - (Inspirational reading submitted by Nicole Tierney)

 

 

Assessment and Screening Tools

Click to view the Taking the Escalator Assessment and Screening Tools

Assessing Your Change Initiative - Getting started learning about insight, internal motivation and external motivation

VIDEO LINK - "Understanding Insight and Motivation for Positive Change" - (Corresponds with Assessing Change Initiative)

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Attention, Concentration and ADHD

Attention and Concentration

Impulsivity

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Attitude

Anger Attitude Check

Attitude Antonym Answers

Confident or Cocky - It Matters

Garbages and Gardens (Attitude Made Simple)

Keeping it Positive: "I Love it When a Plan Comes Together"

Mandated

Professing the Positive

Shift to a Positive Focus

Surviving Challenges by Adjusting Your Attitude

CBT Specific

CBT and Me: Part 1 - Starting with Thinking

CBT and Me: Part 2 - Feeling our Feelings

CBT and Me: Part 3 - Changing Behaviors

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Overview

REBT - Overview of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy skills for group

 

 

Change Planning/Recovery Planning

READ: 5 and 5 for Change

Change Analysis - Examining the actual, the real and the ideal

Change Management Planning

Change Mode

Flipping the Script on Addiction

A Journey Through Change - Looking at change from various perspectives

Life's Education: Breaking the pattern of repeated mistakes

Outside In - Building yourself up on the inside by developing a solid plan

READ: Planning for Inspiration

Return to Normalcy

Start Where You Are, Use What You Have, Do What You Can

Stay Inspired by Planning for Change (Activity)

 

 

Checking In and Progress Reports

Check In - A basic tool for checking in where you are today

Check In Cheat Sheet - A comprehensive list of information and ideas for the check in process in therapy

Group Goal

Progress Report - Basic progress report worksheet for getting relevant discussion started

Self Assessment: Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

Systems Check - A comprehensive review of where you are in the change process

 

Children (Activities for Children 12 and Under)

 

 

Closing Group - Ideas, Activities and Worksheets for the End of the Session

Discussion Outline for Speakers or Video

End of the Day Review

Goodbye Group - An outline for group when someone is leaving, graduating or moving on

Group Close-Out Ideas

Life Story Outline

Motivational Minute

Text Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself - (Group close-out homework and follow-up activity)

Topics for Art or Journaling

Weekend Relapse Prevention Plan

 

 

 

Cohesion Building for Groups

3A's - Appeciation, Assessment & Advice

Adjective Anecdotes

Brief Group Module and Icebreaker Collection  - Multiple shorter activities to choose from in this large collection  

Caption This

Care or Don't Care Icebreaker - Another basic tool for starting group discussion

Choose or Lose Icebreaker - Some basic multiple choice questions for opening up discussion

Clothes Minded

Cohesion Cards

Declare-Disclose-Display - A variety of ways to get the group talking and interacting

Deep and Personal - Some in depth personal questions for opening people up

Describe - Draw - Describe - Get group sharing thoughts and feelings with art

Escalator Jeopardy - A comprehensive educational review - (Also see "Life Jeopardy" under the Coping Skills heading)

Fill in the Blanks Discussion Generator

Fun Facts

Grab Bag - A great list of interesting, questions and other situations to get people talking

Grading the Group - Interactive group report card

Group Awards

Group Glue - This one has a little bit of education because it explains the power and value of group cohesion

Group Profile

Group Member Fill In the Blank - A great exercise to have fun and make group interactive

Group Share Battle - A group activity to get group talking about some recovery-based topics for positive change

The Honesty Game

Hello Neighbor

Icebreakers for Break Time - Short but interesting group assignments for breaks in between groups

Incoming Text Icebreaker

Image Narrations

The League of Just Us - A basic fun activity focused on superheros

Making the Most out of Substance Use Treatment - This is unique because it is an interactive Kahoot activity

Majority - Interactive exercise, better for an established group than a new one

Memories: A Sci-Fi Action Icebreaker

My World

One Thing

Pointless Pursuits - (Warning: only try this if you and the group members have established a degree of comfort with one another)

Positive Vibes

The Randomizer

Remember When...

"Roll Play"...aka This May Get Dicey"

Slips of Paper - A quick and easy icebreaker that gets a group talking with no prep time

Social Media Icebreaker - Exercise for self expression based on social media

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

Telehealth Specific Group Cohesion Building Activities - Ideas specifically for virtual video groups

Topic Turnaround

Unique - Discussing what you would and wouldn't do

What You Should Know About Me

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Do not forget to check the Taking the Escalator FORUM page for more icebreakers and brief group therapy modules

 

 

Commitment

Breaking the Cycle of Broken Promises

Commitment

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Communication, Boundaries and Social Skills

Assertive Communication

Learning to Say "No" Effectively

Sophisticated Debates

Win, Lose or Indifferent: Positive Qualities for Positive Gains

 

 

Complacency

Complacency - (Submitted by Laura Laura Hennessy, LCSW. LCADC)

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Co-Occurring Disorders/Coexisting Mental Health Issues - (See also Feelings, Thoughts and Emotions) 

READ: Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders

COD - Co Occurring Disorders - An older outline about COD's and addiction

Coexisting Mental Heath Issues - A checklist for starting to look at mental health

Two Way Coping Strategies for Substance Use and Mental Health Issues

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Conflict Resolution (Look under "Relationships")

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Control

Control Loss

READ: To Control or Not to Control...Is that the Question?

Powerlessness and Willpower - Looking beyond powerlessness to examine where we can build willpower

Power and Control - (Submitted by Caitlin Kennedy, LCSW, LCADC)

Working Out Self Control Muscles

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Coping Skills and Life Skills- General

READ - Accept - Cope - Adapt, Part One

Accept-Cope-Adapt - An approach for dealing with life struggles

Coping Circle

Coping Tool Box: Warmup Exercise

"Life" Jeopardy

Life Skills Profile

Pet Appreciation - Discussing how animals can help us cope

Positive Self Statement Coping Collection

Skill Building

Sustain

Use Your Brain and Not Your Pain - Another simple but effective strategy for coping with challenging emotions

 

 

Couples (See also "Relationships")

 

 

COVID-19 Specific

Additional COVID-SPECIFIC resources from the web listed below:

 

 

Cravings

Coping with Cravings - An essential list of tools for understanding and managing cravings and urges

Cravings Plan

 

Criminal Justice Specific

 

 

Cross Addiction

Cross Addiction - Education and exercise on substituting addictive behaviors

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Decision Making, Ethics and Problem Solving

Challenging Choices Checklist - This is specifically for life's more difficult decisions

Decision-Making and Ethics - Examining what is behind making the right choices

Ethical Decision-Making 2 - Using insight and ethics to make tough choices

The Five Basic Elements of Effective Decision Making

Group Problem Solving

Lost - When you just don't know which way to turn

Making the Right Choice - Another look at making decisions starting from good solutions

Red Flags for Decision Making – Warning Signs for Productive Living

The Space Between - Effectively using the space between feelings and words/actions 

When All Else Fails: The Costanza Principle - (Literally only use when all else fails)

 

Defense Mechanisms

Shielding - Looking at how we may try to protect ourselves from in comfortable realities

Group Roles - Outline of different ways individuals may protect themselves in group settings

 

Depression

Coping with Depression

Depression and Alcohol Quiz - A very basic quiz focused on opening up a basic discussion on this topic

 

Developmental Disabilities

  • Tips4Inclusion - Tim Rohrer is a young man who grew up with disabilities who now shares his own tools and resources

 

Disease Concept of Addiction (see also Addiction and the Brain)

Defining Addiction

The Disease Concept of Addiction - Review of "symptoms" of addiction

Major Life Aspects of the Disease of Addiction

 

Distress Tolerance

 

Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia

 

Empathy

Empathy Moments

READ: Empathy without Agreement

"I Feel Like No One Understands"

 

Excuse Making

READ: Circumventing Excuses

Or READ - The Subterfuge Exclusion - (Similiar to Circumventing Excuses in different format)

 

Families, Support and External Motivation

Addiction and Choice - More Food for Thought

Do You Have to Want to Change? - Podcast

CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) - "10 Basic Messages for Families" Slides - Robert Meyers PhD

External Motivation - Looking at what pushes us to change and ways to increase support

Family Match Game - An icebreaker discussion for multii-family therapy group

Family Timeline

Good Choices for Good Living - For Families

POWERPOINT SLIDES - Good Choices for Good Living - For Families

Healthy Families - Looking at positive family qualities

Helpers - Identifying who is out there to help you with the change process

Parenting

The Pendulum - Examining Common Family Issues - Examining some common family challenges

READ: Push Your Best Foot Forward

Stages of Change -A Guide for Families of Individuals with Substance Use Issues

Support Report - Assessing and maximizing exisiting potential support system

Support Zones & Interpersonal Boundaries - Stepping outside of your comfort zone to build support

Strategy List for Families Dealing with a Loved One's Substance Use Issue

VIDEO - Click here to see the above outline "Strategy List for Families..." via Facebook Live video

You Cant Nag Someone Sober

 

 

Fear and Phobias

Are You Letting Fear Hold You Back?

CONFIDENCE BUILDING - (Overcoming Fear of Failure)

Courage and Discouragement

Overcoming Fear of Change

Overcoming Fear of the Unknown

 

 

 

Feelings, Thoughts and Emotions (General)

Change the Channel: The TV Mind Analogy

Dealing with Feelings - Coping with feelings from three viewpoints

Difficult Feelings: Dissect and Deal

READ: Emotional Self-Prevention - Looking at sensitive areas

"The Feeling"

Feeling Under the Weather - A brief true-false list to open an honest discussion about feelings

Five Key Aspects of Appropriately Managing Feelings

Happiness Factor - (Submitted by Lesley SanFilippo, LCSW)

The IDEA Technique- A tool for coping with challenging thoughts and feelings

Meta-emotions - Feelings about feelings

READ: Please Dont Feed the Monster - An illustration about negative thoughts and feelings

Thinking About Thinking - Looking at the link between thinking, feeling and behaving

Thinking, Feeling and Coping in Challenging Scenarios

Thinking Styles - Tool for self-analyzing how we think

Thoughts and Feelings - Gaining an improved understanding how our thoughts and feelings affect us

 

 

Forgiveness and Resentment

Drop the Rocks - Letting go of resentments

READ: Nicole Tierney on Forgiveness

Part 1 : Forgive, Live and Love

Part 2: Divisions of Forgiveness

Part 3: Some Thoughts to Help Cope

Forgiveness and Self Care- Contributed by Jamie Lewitt MSW Intern

 

 

Giving

Give the Gift of Kindness and Hope

Giving Activities - There is more happiness in giving than receiving

Yankee Swap Icebreaker

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Goal Setting

Common Goals

Don't Just Set Goals, Keep Them Going

VIDEO LINK for above worksheet - Don't Just Set Goals, Keep Them Going

Four Year Prediction Time Capsule - An interactive exercise on long term goal setting

Giving Yourself the Best Chance to Succeed

Goal Setting - Using goals to build motivation

Goal Setting Collective: Looking Forward to the Year Ahead

Goal Setting Go Fish

Good Choices for Good Living

Hopeful Thoughts and Plans for the Year Ahead - Discussion questions for the upcoming year

PCRP - Person Centered Recovery Plan - (Submitted by Katie Tracy, LCSW)

 

Gratitude

Gratitude Grab Bag

The Gratitude Grid

Overreaction: Putting Things in Perspective with Gratitude

 

Grief and Loss

Coping with Death and Dying - A simple outline for discussing coping with a recent loss without abusing substances

Grief and Loss Cycle (Submitted by Caitlin Kennedy, LCSW, LCADC)

  • Coping with Grief and Loss - University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Gone too Soon - Workbook specific to loss related to fatal overdose by the BC Centre on Substance Use
  • Grief and Loss Workbook from Better Endings - (Written specifically for people with FASD but most material useful for anyone)
  • Substance Abuse and Overdose: When a Loved One Dies - The Bereavement Center
  • Additional GRIEF, LOSS, and BEREAVEMENT collection from around the web

 

Guilt and Shame

Guilt and Shame - Understanding and learning to cope with these challenging feelings

Understanding and Coping with Guilt and Shame - Similar to the other but in a different format

  • Coping with Guilt and Shame Workbook - Leutenberg and Liptak

Harm Reduction Specific

A Realistic Look at Substitution

Still Drinking?...Think First

Straight D's -A Simple Harm Reduction and MAT Illustration

Taking an Honest Look at Abstinence, Harm Reduction, Substitution & Cross Addiction

Understanding Harm Reduction and Medication Assisted Treatment -The Basics

Understanding Harm Reduction - The Podcast - (Based on the above outline - click title to listen)

 

Hoarding

  • Additional HOARDING collection from around the web

 

Humor

Funny Questions

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Icebreaker (See "Cohesion Building for Groups" on this page) Also check Forum page

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Insight Building - Basic, (Early Stage)

Be Your Best Self

Counting the Cost of THC (This has nothing to do with marijuana)

Good Times. Bad Times

How High was I..How Low did I Go? Assessing highs and lows of getting high

Insight: Keeping the Window Open

The Irony of Addiction

Knowing What You Don't Know (Simplified Version)

Labels - For lower insight levels, comparing what is using, abusing and addiction

The Last 3

The Numbers Game

Past, Present and Future

Perspective Shifts for Positive Growth - VIDEO LINK: Perspective Shifts for Positive Growth

Point of View Adjustment - Looking at other viewpoints to gain awareness

Remembering Me A.D. (After Death)

Self-Ratings Scale (The Lanni Scale)

Taking a Trip to the Other Side - Again exploring insight and motivation building from new perspectives

Using Fables to Overcome Foibles

What is Self-Honesty and Why is it So Important?

Why Didn't I Listen?

  • Character Traits List - (Free download from teacherspayteachers.com)
  • Honesty and Recovery Worksheet - Author unknown
  • Self Awareness Worksheet: Who am I - Destiny's Odyssey

 

Insight Building - Advanced

Addiction and Mental Health Pictured

An Interview with Your Past and Future Self

Facing the Music

Find Yourself

The Insight Game - Who knows the group?

Keeping it Real

Knowing What You Don't Know II -  (Advanced Discussion)

Making Healthy Self -Investments

The Mirror of Awareness - Using the Group as a Mirror

Overcoming Ignorance and Indifference for Positive Growth

Perspective

Pick a Card - A variety of questions for insightful discussion

Self Searching for Acceptance

Simile Self Identification

Simple Insight Inventory - Strengthening existing insight to build motivation

Simple Insight Inventory II - (External/Support) - Working on external motivators and supports

A Step Outside the Comfort Zone

READ - Topping Out...Worse than Hitting Bottom?

Truth Mining

READ - Unfollowing the Nonsense - A brief discussion on how media can influence perception

Why am I Here? - Getting honest about the real reasons for coming to treatment

Wisdom, Intelligence and Changing Your Paradigm

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Integrity

Integrity Self Exploration

READ - Integrity - (Reflective reading submitted by Charles Radiola, MA, LCADC)

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Life Story

Life Story Outline - An outline for presenting life stories in substance use treatment groups

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Living Up to Your Potential

Living Up to Your Potential - Part 1 - Opening the Door

Living Up to Your Potential - Part 2 - Imagining Your Potential

Living Up to Your Potential - Part 3 - The Me I want to Be

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Loneliness 

  • Coping with Loneliness Workbook - Ester R.A. Leutenberg & John J. Liptak, Ed.D.

 

Matrix Model (SAMHSA) - See "Stimulants" below

 

Meaning and Purpose

Meaning and Purpose in the Change Process

Setbacks, Meaning, Purpose and Belief

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Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment (See also Feelings, Thoughts and Emotions - See also Co-Occurring)

Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Overview

Read: Remaking Your Mind

Read: Should I See My Friend's Therapist? - Examining the Pros and Cons

Mind on Mental Health (Podcast), has an engaging host and knowledgeable speakers on MH topics

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Mood Swings/Bipolar Disorder

Understanding and Coping with Mood Swings

 

Motivation Building (Internal)

3 G's to Keep You Going

13 Expectations and Aspirations

14 Character Traits that are Essential for Sustaining Internal Motivation

Decreasing the Negative & Increasing the Positive - (Love the Good, Hate the Bad)