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Timelines

Location: Indoors (the area needs to have tables)

Time: 90 minutes

Materials: Rolls of newsprint paper (cut into approximately 60 inches per person)

Pens, markers, or colored pencils

Collage paper

Decorative materials

Magazines

Rulers

Scissors

Timelines Handout

Objectives

• To encourage participants to reflect on significant moments in their lives and begin to make connections or observe patterns.

• To identify cause and effect.

• To put life events (including substance abuse and mental health issues) into context and perspective.

Directions

1. Distribute Timelines Handout. Instruct participants to include positive or negative events. They should try to identify at least five or six life events that stand out to them. If participants have blank spots in their memory, reassure them this is fine and have them note what comes to mind.

2. Have volunteers pass out newsprint. Place art supplies on the tables.

3. Direct participants to draw a large timeline on their newsprint and transfer the events on their handout to the newsprint. Encourage them to decorate the events—using pictures instead of words is acceptable. Assure everyone there is no right or wrong way to do the activity.

4. Give positive feedback as participants work. From time to time, alert them to how much time they have left.

5. When everyone is done, have participants share their timeline with the group, explaining their life story as much as they are comfortable. Promote a discussion about what was thought of while each person was creating the timeline and if connections were made.

Observations

This activity was done over a dozen times. While a few participants may finish quickly, most will need sixty to ninety minutes. Some may keep the timelines and add to them in their free time. Each time, there were several people who spontaneously discovered repeating patterns of behavior. It was common for those who had significant traumas in their lives to have periods of memory loss. The facilitator should be prepared to normalize this experience and encourage them to leave a small blank space and move on. Participants who suffer from more severe mental illness or cognitive impairments may not be able to follow the chronological pattern, but they can be encouraged to draw or collage what they remember. Most enjoyed sharing their finished timelines and often displayed them in their rooms. For the facilitator, it was helpful to see an illustrated story of a client’s life. The timelines were often used productively in subsequent individual sessions. This activity increased reality orientation and prompted self-reflection. Many times significant details emerged through this activity that did not come up in traditional talk therapy.

Inspired by: Similar activities seen at other treatment centers.

Timelines HANDOUT

TIMELINES

Think of your life story as a timeline. What are the important or meaningful events that have happened in your life? These can include events that are happy, sad, or painful to remember. You might include moving, births, deaths, other losses, school, work, pets, friends, first use of alcohol or other drugs, or anything large or small that stands out.

On the left, start with when and where you were born. On the right, at the end, list today’s date and location. What happened in between? How did you get here? Include as many events as you wish.

“Allow yourself to see what you don’t allow yourself to see.”

MILTON H. ERICKSON