63rd Annual Conference

Friday, February 24

Afternoon Open Sessions

4:00-5:00 P.M.

Session 222

Bridging Team-Building and Group Therapy: Using Physical Games and Activities to Enhance Trust and Support in Groups

Presenter:     

Barney Straus, M.A., M.S.W., Caseworker, Counseling Center of Lakeview, Chicago, Illinois

The fields of team-building and group therapy will be "bridged" by using games and challenges associated with the former to advance the goals, values, and therapeutic factors of group therapy.  Participants will engage in structured activities designed to promote mutual trust, altruism, and effective communication among group members.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Utilize specific activities to foster therapeutic values such as trust, altruism, and honesty among group members.

2. Arrange a sequence of team-building activities in a meaningful progression.

3. Adapt various activities to meet the needs of specific populations and work environments.

Course References:

1. Gass, M. (1993).  Foundations of Adventure Therapy, in Adventure Therapy: Therapeutic applications of adventure programming.  Dubuqe, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt.

2. Itin, C. (2001).  Adventure Therapy-Critical Questions.  The Journal of Experiential Education, 24 (2), 80-85.

3. Yalom, I. (1995).  The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy. 4^th Edition. New York, NY: Basic Books. 442-448.