Читать книгу Engage the Group, Engage the Brain - Kay Colbert - Страница 17

Gratitude Books

Location: Indoors

Time: 60–90 minutes

Materials: Colored paper

Writing paper

Decorative or scrapbook paper

Card stock

Markers, pencils, or pens

Scissors

Glue

Stapler

Ribbons or strings

Optional: holiday template shapes

Objectives

• To have a positive thinking activity that could be used on holidays or times when clients tend to feel restless and discontent.

• To shift the focus from resentment in the twelve-step tradition to that of gratitude, counteracting self-pity and negative thinking.

Directions

1. Prepare a sample book in advance to show group.

2. Show group the sample book and explain the activity.

3. Discuss possible moments of gratitude in participants’ lives to include in their book.

4. Invite participants to choose materials from the available supplies. Any size or shape book of approximately six pages can be constructed from card stock and writing paper. It can be decorated with craft materials, recovery slogans, drawings, or collage materials. To tie it in to a particular holiday, you can use templates of shapes, such as hearts for Valentine’s Day, turkeys for Thanksgiving, and pumpkins for Halloween.

5. Once clients have completed their books, suggest they write about their moments of gratitude on the pages. If they wish, they can pass their books around for other people to write something positive or encouraging about them.

6. Encourage participants to share their finished products.

Observations

Everyone was enthusiastic about this simple activity. Often the activity took place on holiday weekends when regular programming was flexible. Participants were often reflective about missing their families and loved ones, and sometimes the longing for family prompted the impulse to consider leaving treatment early. This activity provided a useful and productive redirection that was engaging and affirming and enhanced twelve-step work.

Inspired by: Staff at the center where we worked always noted increases in depression, anxiety, and restlessness around holidays, and this activity was developed to address the issue.

This heart-shaped gratitude book that was passed around for encouraging comments from peers. One inscription reads, “For My Best friend!! I love you forever!!!” Another says, “You are so beautiful and so is your spirit!”