Activity Group Therapy Research Articles

SP3-33 Management and prevention of diabetes using community- and ICT-based program in Japanese rural communities

In recent years, there has been rapid growth in non-communicable disease in developing and developed countries. Diabetes has been identified as a healthcare priority by the Japanese government and WHO....

Characteristics of Clients Nursed in Professional Nursing Model, Psychiatric Unit, Dr. H. Marzuki Mahdi Hospital Bogor

Since September 2000, Community and Mental Health Department Faculty of Nursing University of Indonesia, have developed Professional Nursing Practice Model (PNPM) on Psychiatric Nursing at Dr. H. Marzoeki Mahdi Health Hospital. PNPM at Marzoeki Mahdi Hospital is the first PNPM especially for mental health. The study was a quantitative cross sectional study conducted during the period February 4th to July 30th 2001 and covering 79 client. The aim of the study was to identify characteristics of clients at PNPM. It was found that most of the clients were males, aged 20-55 years, living in the area of Jabotabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi), especially in Bogor, the city of the hospital. Most of them had no job, with a senior high school education whereas the number with unmarried status was nearly the same with the number with married status and belonged to the Sundanese ethnic group. Characteristics of the family were mostly as followed: big family, with more than 2 children, closed communication and family meeting during meals. On health status it was found that clients were admitted to the hospital because of angry/violence, angry/violence and talking/laughing by themselves, whereas the number of clients in the group never nursed in a hospital before were nearly the same as the number in the group ever nursed before, with average length of staying in hospital 9 days. It was revealed that the problem of hallucination was mostly found among the nursing problems. Health education was mostly on efforts to eliminate paranoid problems and Activity Group Therapy was focused on efforts to socialize the clients. The medical diagnosis of most of the clients was paranoid schizophrenia. It was concluded that in this study characteristics of the clients in PNPM was very varied. For optimal nursing criteria of clients at PNPM who should be admitted should be established.

Working Through Family-Based Problem Behavior Through Activity Group Therapy

A six-member young adolescent group of boys met weekly throughout the school year with the school social worker, who utilized Activity Group Therapy to provide an opportunity for them to advance their psychosocial growth. The boys developed various subgroup configurations as they used one another in relationships that moved them toward their respective goals. Postgroup content analysis revealed that each boy had acted out, and had significantly worked through, problems which he had developed within his family and had displaced onto the group. An understanding and acceptance of the dynamics which arise out of the liberal environment of these groups is a prerequisite for checking countertransference so that the group process will not be interrupted.

Enhancing the Self-Esteem and Social Competence of Hyperactive Children: A Semi-Structured Activity Group Therapy Model

This article proposes a semi-structured activities group model for addressing the fragile self-esteem and social discord often shown by hyperactive children. Included is a discussion of the amount of structure and types of activities necessary to foster effective group work with this client population. The author asserts that hyperactivity oftentimes is better conceptualized in terms of unmet exhibitionistic needs, the sensitive handling of which can impact the acquisition of healthy self-esteem. Another key focus is the role of shame in manifestations of aggression and externalization of blame that diminish the social competence of hyperactive children. Clinical vignettes are used to illustrate key points.

Group Activities for Children and Adolescents: An Activity Group Therapy Approach

Historically, group psychotherapy has been successful with children and adolescents. In the 1930s Slavson introduced Activity Group Therapy (AGT) for children and adolescents. AGT provides children with opportunities to express normal and conflicted feelings in an extraordinarily free treatment environment, and to participate in games, crafts, and other activities of interest to these particular age groups. This paper presents an AGT guide for use with children and adolescents in inpatient, outpatient, and school settings.

The Value of a Social Work Practicum in Activity Group Therapy

BSW students placed in a child guidance clinic were paired gender-wise and assigned co-facilitation responsibilities of two latency age activity groups composed of children the same gender as the co-facilitators. Preparation included an introduction to Activity Group Therapy through film, readings, and discussion. The students composed their own six-member groups from a pool of candidates referred by the staff. Weekly supervision was held throughout the 32-week duration of the groups. The growth noted in the students by their supervisor through this group practicum is discussed.

PROMOTING INCLUSION: THE WORK OF THE PYRAMID TRUST

This paper looks at exclusion as a mental health issue. It describes the aims of the National Pyramid Trust and its work to reduce exclusion by boosting the self‐esteem and resilience of primary age children causing their teachers concern. The Trust uses a package of three measures: systematic identification of 7 and 8 year old children at risk of social and educational failure in school, multi‐agency consultation to formulate a preventive strategy on their behalf and short term activity group therapy to promote confidence, social skills and maturation.

The efficacy of activity group therapy in a residential treatment center

Time limited Activity Group Therapy (14 sessions) was conducted for children and adolescents in an inpatient setting by a graduate class taking Family and Group Psychotherapy Methods. The professor of the course was present at each session to supervise and act as facilitator and therapist when necessary. Mental Health Workers (MHWs) from the facility were also present and incorporated into the sessions. The description of the group sessions including the types of activities, group structure, and leadership approaches are presented. The outcome data suggest that patients derived considerable therapeutic benefit and demonstrated improved psychosocial functioning as a result of their group experiences. The training and educational benefits garnered by both the graduate students and the MHWs as a result of the partnership between the treatment facility and the university are discussed.

Working With the Patient With a Chronic Mental Impairment: An Activity Group Approach

Patients with a chronic mental impairment who have difficulty interacting and demonstrating positive behavioral change experience a social system void of meaningful interpersonal relationships. Activity group therapy stimulates interaction among members by focusing on simple tasks that encourage members to focus on group goals. With health care moving toward community-based programs, clinical nurse specialists are equipped to deal with the psychological and physical health problems of the patient with a chronic mental impairment.

The impact of transference and countertransference in activity group therapy

The effective use of countertransference reactions in children's group psychotherapy is discussed. Countertransferences activated by the group dynamics or by the dynamics of individual group members must be analyzed and understood by the therapist if they are to be utilized. The analysis of resistances in children's therapy groups is enhanced by the therapists' awareness of their own countertransference reactions. Clinical examples are presented.

Premature terminations in activity group therapy.

Premature terminations in activity group therapy.

Activity Group Therapy for Emotionally Disturbed Pre-School Children

Treatment services for preschool children with emotional problems is a neglected area in the network of mental health facilities. This might be partly due to pressures of schools and courts to treat the large number of disturbed children in the latency and adolescent age groups and partly to the lack of adequate models. One agency offering comprehensive services for children between the ages of two to five and in operation since 1962 is described in the following article. Though structure of the agency, funding and admission procedures are mentioned, major emphasis is on the theoretical and practical application of activity group therapy to this age group. Case studies are used to illustrate the most frequent symptoms encountered and the treatment followed.

The impact of collaborative treatment on premature termination in activity group therapy

Ever since Dora vengefully abandoned Freud (1953) by prematurely terminating her treatment, the problem of premature termination has been a common concern in our field. The dropout rate of adults reported by Yalom (1975) is high in the first year of group therapy, and from my experience, the problems of premature termination in children's groups are equally serious. It is the purpose of this paper to report on the attempt to pare down the casualty rates of membership in children's group therapy through collaborative treatment with parents..By understanding of dynamics, defenses, and resistances of the parental needs and conflicts, collaborative treatment becomes an important tool in stemming the tide and reducing the percentages of destructive influences to groups by loss of membership. Activity Group Therapy as a specific form of ego-oriented group therapy for latency-age children has been well documented by Slavson (1943) and more recently by Slavson and Schiffer (1975). Its practice has been thoroughly described and demonstrated by their colleagues Hallowitz, Rosenthal, Scheidlinger, myself, and others. The process of emotional re-education in Activity Group Therapy derives from the social interaction of the group members around the use of materials, food, and play rather than from the primary method of discussion, exploration, and interpretation. The desire of children for social interaction, the need to be accepted by peers, and their social hunger become powerful determinants for group cohesion and identification. In the presence of an adult, the symbolic family is created. The treatment allows children to make use of the permissive

Activity group therapy: Implications in community agency practice

Activity group therapy: Implications in community agency practice

Art-Therapy Group for Latency Age Children

presented the problems of being teased, picked on, and left out by their peers. Although these children were being treated in parent-child counsel ing and/or individual therapy (usually play therapy), the patterns by which these children were scapegoated did not become readily evident. At the same time, the author's work with chil dren who had difficulty with verbal in teraction revealed art therapy to be a useful technique in helping such chil dren at latency age. From this observa tion the concept of an art-therapy group for latency age children who had problems with peer relationships was developed. A review of the literature pertain ing to art therapy and child group ther apy showed no precedent for group art therapy with children (although ac tivity group therapy is well docu mented.)1 The literature suggests that scarcity of materials would prompt sharing, feelings of sibling rivalry, and interdependence. The research ers generally recommended that the group be homogeneous in age, sex, and socioeconomic status and that there be a balance in the numbers of withdrawn children and dominant children.2

Modifications of activity group therapy for children.

Modifications of activity group therapy for children.

Modifications of activity group therapy: Responses to ego-improverished children

Modifications of activity group therapy: Responses to ego-improverished children

Experience in developing a combined activity and verbal group therapy program with latency-age boys.

Experience in developing a combined activity and verbal group therapy program with latency-age boys.

The impact of activity group therapy upon a highly constricted child.

(1974). The Impact of Activity Group Therapy Upon a Highly Constricted Child. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 207-216.

Some special forms of aggressiveness in activity group therapy and their impact on the therapist

Some special forms of aggressiveness in activity group therapy and their impact on the therapist