1imhca conference april 30, 2009 adventure-based counseling bringing enthusiasm to your therapy...

11IMHCA Conference April 30, 2009IMHCA Conference April 30, 2009

Adventure-Based Adventure-Based CounselingCounseling

Bringing Enthusiasm to Your Therapy Bringing Enthusiasm to Your Therapy GroupsGroups

Jim Wilwerding, M.Div., MA, LMHC, Jim Wilwerding, M.Div., MA, LMHC, CADC, NCCCADC, NCC

IMHCA Conference April 30, 2009IMHCA Conference April 30, 2009 22

Group JuggleGroup Juggle

• Needs



• Needs

• Values



• Needs Values

• Goals



• Needs Values

• Goals Hopes



• Needs Values

• Goals Hopes

• Dreams



• Needs Values

• Goals Hopes

Responsibilities• Dreams



DUCK!


Adventure-Based CounselingAdventure-Based Counseling

• Adventure-Based Counseling (ABC) is a mixture of experiential learning, outdoor education and group counseling (Gillis & Simpson, 1994)

• Adventure therapy is the use of games, activities, initiatives, and peak experiences to facilitate the development of group process, interpersonal relationships, personal growth and therapeutic gain. (Ashby, Kottman, & DeGraaf, 2008)


Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors (1995)(1995)

• Instillation of hope• Universality• Imparting information• Altruism• The corrective

recapitulation of the primary family group

• Development of socializing techniques

• Imitative behavior• Interpersonal learning• Group cohesiveness• Catharsis• Existential factors


Primary Goal: Improvement of Self-Primary Goal: Improvement of Self-ConceptConcept

• Key elements– Trust Building– Goal Setting– Challenge/Stress– Peak Experiences– Humor/Fun– Problem Solving

(Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988)


Full Value ContractFull Value Contract

• This is the rationale for “buy-in” for the group.

• Includes expectations of group members to each other as well as personal/group goals

• Defines safety rules, both emotional and physical

• “The Good Stuff” (Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988)


Trust BuildingTrust Building

• Trust building begins with the first introduction of a new member to the group

• Trust is directly related to group cohesion• In Adventure-Based groups, there is an

inherent rationale for the group to embody trust. Through the practice of learning safety skills necessary for the challenges, the group has an experience of trust. (Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988)


Goal SettingGoal Setting

• According to Lewin (1944), psychological success will be experienced if:– The individual is able to define his/her own goals– His/her goals are related to central needs and values– S/he is able to define the paths that lead to the

accomplishment of these goals– The goals represent a realistic level of aspiration,

neither too high or too low, but high enough to challenge. (as presented in Schoel, Prouty & Radcliffe, 1988)


Challenge/StressChallenge/Stress

• Perceived challenge and/or “impossible” tasks, problems, physically demanding situation

• In this situation, the individual and the group face their own personal doubts/fears

• Properly sequenced and prepared, the client has is likely to experience success



Peak ExperiencePeak Experience

• A culminating event in the Adventure process (i.e., ropes course outing/element, rock climbing excursion, service project, etc.)

• Peak experiences can place the group in a highly focused state of support and encouragement.



Humor/FunHumor/Fun

• Humor is great medicine for the addicted mind

• Humor allows the individual to let go of inhibitions

• Remember, if treatment does not incorporate fun/humor, what appeal does a sober life have?


Problem SolvingProblem Solving

• May include simple choices which lead to bigger choices

• May also include relying on others/the group for success.

• The whole is greater than the sum of the parts


Challenge By ChoiceChallenge By Choice

• The facilitator’s role is to present a situation where the physical safety of the participant is never in jeopardy (although it may appear so to the participant)

• The participant’s role is to determine and act within the boundaries of challenging him or herself to growth while maintaining emotional safety


Change ZonesChange Zones (Luckner & Nadler, 1997)(Luckner & Nadler, 1997)

• Comfort Zone—Most familiar, maintain old patterns—the “status quo”

• Groan Zone—Little familiarity, risky and uncomfortable, some anxiety, temptation to return to old ways

• Growth Zone—Confidence using new knowledge, integration of new skills, feelings of mastery & accomplishment (p. 20)


The Adventure WaveThe Adventure Wave (Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988)(Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988)


ProcessProcess

• Briefing—establish metaphor, define challenge

• Activity—from a leadership standpoint, less direction is definitely better than more

• Debrief—apply the metaphor to the client’s life

• As in many groups, invite feedback from “teammates” regarding client’s behavior in group.


MetaphorMetaphor

• “The essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another.” (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980)

• In ABC, the challenge is presented in a metaphor that engages the participant on both intellectual and affective levels (this ball IS your values, etc.)


MetaphorMetaphor

• Metaphors can connect experience back to home or “real life”

• Metaphors enhance the transfer of the experience—memories get created more strongly when they are connected with an image or picture

(Luckner & Nadler, 1997)


MetaphorMetaphor

• By engaging the metaphor, the participant is also drawn into self-observation and reflection on an undeniable level

• Once the metaphorical level of the activity is engaged, the individual can begin recognizing the Self (see Rogers) in situ


Interpersonal LearningInterpersonal Learning

• The group is a social microcosm for the client

• “If the group is so conducted that the members can behave in an unguarded, unself-conscious manner, the will, most vividly, recreate and display their pathology in the group.” (Yalom, 1995, p. 39)


Adventure Axiom Adventure Axiom

• If how you approach these activities is, generally speaking, how you approach life, what have you learned about yourself today?


Leadership ConsiderationsLeadership Considerations

• Safety

• Distress/Eustress

• Risk takers/Thrill-seekers

• Client Boundary Issues



• Facilitator’s job is to keep the clients engaged in the challenge

• Create roles for those who choose to opt out of direct participation in the challenge (“Challenge by Choice” does not equate to disengagement from the group)—examples: “director,” “observer,” etc.



• Since many challenges are perceived to be “impossible” the facilitator may need to offer encouragement for near misses, attempts, etc. Before long, the group can also take on this role

• Again, resist the urge to offer too many “hints” or too much direction or you risk the possibility of disrupting the client’s engagement with the metaphor.


But Our Program Has No $$But Our Program Has No $$

• The power is in the metaphor not in the high-tech design

• Creative minds + powerful metaphors =

Adventure-Based Therapy


Warm-up/DeinhibitizersWarm-up/DeinhibitizersGoal is to get the group movingGoal is to get the group moving

• “Giants/Elves/Wizards”—Tag game spin-off from “Rock/Paper/Scissors”

• Flippin’ Burgers (Cavert & Sikes, 1997)—Use the noodles to be the last remaining group member to “keep your good stuff.”

• Line up—form a line from “x” to “y” (i.e., shortest to tallest, youngest to oldest, alphabetical by middle name, etc.)—introduction and fun


Warm-up/DeinhibitizersWarm-up/DeinhibitizersGoal is to get the group movingGoal is to get the group moving

• “Flip me the Bird”—Tag-type game with a metaphorical twist—how do you ask for help/respond to requests for help

• Group Juggle I, II, III

• Inside out/Outside in (Cain, 2001)



• “Willow in the Wind”—Trust circle physical trust of others

• Trust Fall to group or in pairs

• “Helium Stick”—trust of group members/also a communication exercise



• Trust Lift (Cain, 2002)—Rather than trust fall, a cradle is formed from the Raccoon Circle to carry participants across a distance or gently rocked.

• Friendship Walk (Cavert & Friends, 1999)


Communication ActivitiesCommunication Activities

• Toxic Waste—Blindfolded participants are directed by teammates to guide ropes and bungee to “rescue the good stuff” from the pit of toxic waste

• Bull Ring—team works together to “bring the good stuff home”

• Going Nuts (Cavert & Friends, 1999)—work to remove and rethread hexnuts from threaded rods—metaphor of unmanagables, frustration, etc.


Communication ActivitiesCommunication Activities

• Traffic Jam• Tanks• Blind Bat (Cavert & Sikes, 1997)• Robots• All-Aboard• Amazing Maze• The Missing Link (Cain, 2004)—

Consensus


Problem-SolvingProblem-Solving

• Immobile Chopsticks (Cavert & Sikes, 1997)

• Spider Web

• Meuse

• Marble Movers (Cavert & Friends, 1999)

• Stepping Stones



• Trolleys (Cavert & Friends, 1999)



• Windmill (Cavert & Friends, 1999)• Electric Fence/Window of Opportunity• The Clothes Line (Cain, 2004)• The Human Knot (Cain, 2002)• Cross Every Line (Cain, 2002)• A Knot Between Us (Cain, 2001)• Pass the Loop (Cain, 2001)/Pass the Loop

II


Bungee Box Bungee Box (Cavert & Friends, 1999)(Cavert & Friends, 1999)


Amazing Maze Amazing Maze (Cavert & Friends, 1999)(Cavert & Friends, 1999)


Horizontal Spider’s Web Horizontal Spider’s Web (Cavert & Friends, 1999)(Cavert & Friends, 1999)


Lines of Communication Lines of Communication (Cavert & Friends, 1999)(Cavert & Friends, 1999)


ReferencesReferencesAshby, J.S., Kottman, T, & DeGraaf, D. (2008). Active Interventions for

Kids and Teens: Adding Adventure and Fun to Counseling. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Associaton.

Cain, J. (2001, 2002). Raccoon Circles: A Handbook for Facilitators Book I & Book II. Brockport, NY: Teamwork and Teamplay. Available in PDF format for no cost at www.teamworkandteamplay.com

Cavert, C. & Sikes, S. (1997). 50 Ways to Use Your Noodle: Loads of Land Games with Foam Noodle Toys. Tulsa, OK: Learning Unlimited Corporation.

Cavert, C. & Friends (1999). Affordable Portables: A Working Book of Initiative Activities & Problem Solving Elements, Revised & Expanded Ed. Oklahoma City, OK: Wood ‘N’ Barnes Publishing and Distribution.

Gillis, H.L. & Simpson, C.A. (1994) Working with substance abusing adolescents through Project Adventure. Addictions Looseleaf Notebook. Aspen, CO: Love Publishing Co.


ReferencesReferencesHagedorn, W.B., & Hirshhorn, M.A. (March, 2009). When Talking Won’t

Work: Implementing Experiential Group Activities With Addicted Clients. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, Vol 34 (1) pp. 43-67.

Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Life By. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Luckner, J.L., & Nadler, R.S. (1997) Processing the Experience: Strategies to Enhance and Generalize Learning. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Schoel, J., Prouty, D., & Radcliffe, P. (1988). Islands of Healing: A Guide to Adventure Based Counseling. Hamilton, MA: Project Adventure.

Yalom, I.D. (1995). The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 4th Ed. New York: Basic Books.


Contact InformationContact Information

Jim Wilwerding, M.Div., MA, LMHC, [email protected]

www.newheightscounseling.org

4910 Urbandale Ave. Ste. 304

Des Moines, IA 50310

P: 515-274-9690

F: 515-274-9680

1imhca conference april 30, 2009 adventure-based counseling bringing enthusiasm to your therapy...

Documents

group trust

group juggle needs slide

imhca conference apri

group cohesion

group juggle duck

ncc slide

development of group

expectations of group