For those of us working with clients & in particular kids, it can be really frustrating when we teach them skills, or they "know" or learn the "rules" but simply can't use them in the "real life" situations.  Groups, particularly Qworky groups can be really helpful here.

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When I use groups with kids, my aim is to help kids start learning how to really use the skills that they have learnt, & make them really work for them.  Often helping them to really understand them.

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I often use groups to teach kids skills - particularly relating to:

emotional regulation

anger management

frustration management

self esteem & positive self talk

social skills

& even attentional issues or study skills.

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Groups give kids a chance to really put these skills to the test & to practice them.  It also gives me a realistic chance to see where the real problems lie - no longer in the rather artificial, protected & supported, often optimal individual child-focussed one on one therapy situation.

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But to be most effective, my groups adopt a Qworky approach!  This is not just another therapy session or class.  It becomes something completely new, that feels, hopefully more fun, that they want to engage with, rather than another chore or demand focussing on their weaknesses.

 

I take groups one step further by making the children in groups negotiate and decide on which tasks to attempt & in which order.  My focus in terms of task selections include:

• craft activities - especially those focussing on novel and frustrating activities, pushing them outside of their familiarity and comfort zones, looking at issues of perserverance and not giving up, positive risk-taking, perfectionism, learning and needing to make mistakes, on- vs. off-task behaviour, appropriate offering of assistance to others, not distracting others & dealing with distractions, and appropriate help-seeking methods when required, among many other things

• making items that can be later used as parts of coping kits and coping tools, while teaching, demonstrating and practicing many of these strategies & techniques

• playing games - many focused on balance and fine motor, or response time and timing pressures to practice positive self-talk, planning, frustration and calming

• other games focussing more directly on emotions or social skills

• cooperation, good sportsmanship, turn-taking and group work

• emotional regulation including identification, recognition and management

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The pages and resources attached will hopefully help with these...