For this icebreaker everyone share a story about a life experience. As a group icebreaker discuss what is one thing you could do to try to push past one of your boundaries or limits to improve your life. Assessing highs and lows of getting high, Labels - For lower insight levels, comparing what is using, abusing and addiction, Perspective Shifts for Positive Growth- VIDEO LINK: Perspective Shifts for Positive Growth, Point of View Adjustment - Looking at other viewpoints to gain awareness, Taking a Trip to the Other Side - Again exploring insight and motivation building from new perspectives. Positive predictions only (No insults or hurtful ideas such as: "So and so is going to cry in group today" or "So and so used again") - Instead try to predict something encouraging, helpful or interesting in a constructive way. Addiction and substance abuse disorders are quick to take over your life and everything that's important to you. There is also a large selection of TREATMENT PLANNING material on this page too. As an icebreaker, use this list of 93 Stupid Questions to generate some interesting group discussion: Link: https://icebreakerideas.com/stupid-questions-to-ask/. The Taking the Escalator Method is focused on enhancing and sustaining these three essential qualities in the diagram (Insight, Internal Motivation and External Motivation/Support) to establish and drive the positive changes needed for inspiration and progress toward treatment and overall lifestyle goals www.takingtheescalator.com f Background: Something got you up and going this morning. Everyone write down a "Positive Prediction" about something that will happen in the session today. New group therapy activity - - Taking the Escalator | Facebook 8/27/22 - What Doesnt Kill You Makes You Stronger. Just email [emailprotected], Feel free to use these original therapeutic motivational memes featured on a lot of Taking the Escalator worksheets and more, Taking the Escalator needs you - Click here to see how you can support - (It won't cost you a cent), Finally a New Way to Combat the Opioid Epidemic, Alternative Counseling & Recovery Coaching Tools. More therapy material posted several times per week - JOIN: Need a quick icebreaker to start out your group? Systems adi Group Ltd 3,545 followers 5d . There is also a large selection of TREATMENT PLANNING material on this page too. The Real in Substance Use Treatment, Escalator Second Floor: Acknowledge and Reinforce Strengths, Simple Insight Inventory - Strengthening existing insight to build motivation, Simple Insight Inventory II - (External/Support) - Working on external motivators and supports, Pick a Card - A variety of questions for insightful discussion. Imagine a fantasy scenario where someone else is going to take your place in life for one month. HIGH - What do you anticipate as the highlight for you in the next month? Practicing Mindfulness in Groups: 8 Activities and Exercises (No Lap Sitting). These can be big, life changing moments at times but at other times these unique experiences pop up in strange and unexpected ways. takingtheescalator.com Addiction and Substance Use Resources, Non 12 Step Motivational Harm Reduction Tools for Substance Use & Mental Health, This page contains regular updates with brief group therapy modules, discussion points, icebreakers, . Some potential topics - FOOD, HOBBIES, MUSIC, EXPERIENCES, ENTERTAINMENT, We all know about warning labels on things like medication which may have a warning label that says "Do not drive or operate heavy machinery after taking" or something like that. This is a brief group assessment and discussion on current family functioning. Self Esteem II - More self esteem, continued Self Esteem Boost: Building Self Esteem and Increasing a Sense of Self Worth, Self Value - (Submitted by Lesley Sanfilippo, LCSW), Self Esteem and Affirmation Development - (Submitted by Caitlin Kennedy, LCSW, LCADC), Self Awareness - (Submitted by Caitlin Kennedy, LCSW, LCADC), The Truth about Self Esteem - An in depth look at Self Esteem from a realistic perspective, Associations - Honestly considering how your choice of associations affect you, The "Cushion" Concept for Managing Setbacks, FOMO -How to Identify, Prevent and Overcome the Fear of Missing Out, Getting Over the Hump - An activity for those who have been at this a long time, Holiday Survival Plan - Planning ahead to get through any holiday without setbacks or relapse -, Plan to Avoid Relapse - (Submitted by Caitlin Kennedy, LCSW, LCADC), Stability and Setback Prevention Checklist, Staying the Course Toward Success Know the SIGNS, Triggered: A Discussion on Coping with Mental Health and Substance Use, UNG- Unnecessary Grief - Thinking and planning ahead to avoid trouble later, Weekend Plan - A basic planning tool for surviving weekends, Spirituality (Moved to "Meaning and Purpose"), Coping with Stress - A comprehensive list of effective coping skills, Killer Bs The Effects of Stress and the Body, Brain and Behavior, Stress PowerPoint Slides- CLICK HERE FOR ACTUAL POWERPOINT VERSION, Melissa Mackolin on her Journey to Recovery - Podcast, Nicole Tierney: A Story of Recovery and Hope, Megan Reeves: Hold on Pain Ends - (With discussion questions), (For additional information on Trauma see the Escalator Trauma Resource Page), Unforeseen Circumstances: Adapt or Collapse, It's Easy to Be Honest When You Have Nothing to Lie About, Lifeboat Activity - Lifeboat exercises are nothing new but this one has had good success, VIDEO LINK -VALUES - WHAT'S IMPORTANT - (Corresponds to the above worksheet), Additional VETERANS collection from around the web, Taking the Escalator YouTube Page - Videos for group therapy, The Brain and Addiction Behavior with Dr. Erin Zerbo, MD, Coping with Stress and Anxiety in a Changing World, Life Story Video - LB HEARS Episode 1 - Nikki Tierney - (Click to view), Not Okay? Its strange in life the things we can get accustomed too if we are exposed to a situation long enough. 6/18/22 - Discussion Module: "Family Functioning". (Hubbard . Examples provided to get group started. To view the CCI website directly go to - https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Overview, < To search by word anywhere on this page press: CTRL F >, 6 Shoulds and Should Nots for Responsibility. New fun, easy, interesting group - Taking the Escalator - Facebook Help Needed! When you are not in this group, if you need to process this further: Where can you get more, Counselor may want to prepare some local resources, 4. "This is the best day ever!" said one child on our most recent Skills Escalator Day Huge thanks to Pentaco Construction Ltd for all your support for our What could this group achieve if everyone worked together in unity? What "old-soul" habits or hobbies do you have? takingtheescalator.com Addiction and Substance Use Resources Non 12 Step Motivational Harm Reduction Tools for Substance Use & Mental Health TAKING THE ESCALATOR Taking the Escalator needs you -Click here to see how you can support- (It won't cost you a cent) Addiction and Substance Use Resources 2022 . and applaud. Gail takes extra care to be cooperative as she and her classmate work on an art project together. LOW - What do you think will be the most difficult thing you will have to do in the next month (and why?). Some examples are provided to help get the group started: When done, as a group discuss this final question: > What other positive and healthy things in life do you think that you could get accustomed too. Talking Trauma and Survival - Group therapy activity focused on getting people talking about challenging memories, situations and emotions with guidelines for creating safe therapeutic environment - https://takingtheescalator.blogspot.com//talking-traumaand takingtheescalator.blogspot.com Lost - Taking the Escalator therapy activity intro - YouTube What works for you? Accountability and You - Are You Meeting the Challenge? You get to sit and have dinner with any three people in the world or in history, alive or dead, for one hour to have a deep discussion on the topic of your choice. Who do you invite and what is the topic of discussion, https://icebreakerideas.com/stupid-questions-to-ask/. April 29, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT. Forum - Taking the Escalator To Control or Not to ControlIs that the Question? Tags: addiction prevention addiction psychology drug addiction prevention relapse relapse prevention Taking the Escalator needs you - Click here to see how you can support - (It won't cost you a cent), Finally a New Way to Combat the Opioid Epidemic, Alternative Counseling & Recovery Coaching Tools. This page has all of the Taking the Escalator original material organized according to the Taking the Escalator Method. Discuss: Life can be exciting even without drugs and alcohol. Therapy Tools - Taking the Escalator How can nature benefit your mental and emotional health? This is a brief discussion on getting motivated to face each day. Go around the group and have group members share about a person (real - dead or alive - or fictional) whom they can relate to and why. What warning label should be displayed when you are angry? Try to come up with examples to discuss for the following two thoughts about the idea of "never, What are three things in your life right now that are at least at a "stable" point in your life (No real problems to speak of at the moment in these life areas), What have you been doing to increase stability in your life? Taking the Escalator Free counseling materials, worksheets, group therapy activities and other tools for substance use/mental health counselors, therapists and recovery coaches This is a brief icebreaker or discussion focused on the role technology plays in mental health. You should be receiving an order confirmation from Paypal shortly. 2 - What is one thing you can say that you are "great" at? Global Elevator & Escalator Market 2023 - Yahoo Finance Maintaining a Balanced Ego - Looking at a balanced view of self. Accountability Self-Examination Worksheet, Responsibility Road - Looking at the critical concept of increasing responsibility, Addiction and the Brain (See also Disease Concept of Addiction), This is Your Brain on Drugs(Fried Egg Not Included), VIDEO - The Brain and Addiction Behavior with Dr. Erin Zerbo, MD, Adolescent Activities List - A guide with recommendations from this website for clinicians working with adolescents, ADOLESCENTS: RISK FACTORS - Exploring risk factors for substance use issues with young people, Adolescent Substance Use - A basic educational outline for those working with adolescents and parents, Adolescent Substance Use Group (Multiple Choice) - This is a kahoot activity for adolescent substance use groups, Identifying Teen Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use (PDF Presentation Slides) - Powerpoint version, VIDEO LINK - Teen Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use (Corresponds with above), Anger Management (See also "Relationships" for Conflict Resolution material), Anger Discussion Sentence Completion - Simple questions for opening up discussion on anger, Anger Management: Digging Deeper and Using Basic AM Skills, Anxiety (Also check "CBT Specific" heading), Three Ps for Coping with Anxiety in the Moment -VIDEO LINK: Coping in the Moment, READ - Coping with an Overactive Mind - (Inspirational reading submitted by Nicole Tierney), Click to view the Taking the Escalator Assessment and Screening Tools, Assessing Your Change Initiative - Getting started learning about insight, internal motivation and external motivation, VIDEO LINK - "Understanding Insight and Motivation for Positive Change" - (Corresponds with Assessing Change Initiative), Garbages and Gardens (Attitude Made Simple), Keeping it Positive: "I Love it When a Plan Comes Together", Surviving Challenges by Adjusting Your Attitude, CBT and Me: Part 1 - Starting with Thinking, CBT and Me: Part 2 - Feeling our Feelings, REBT - Overview of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy skills for group, Change Analysis - Examining the actual, the real and the ideal, A Journey Through Change - Looking at change from various perspectives, Life's Education: Breaking the pattern of repeated mistakes, Outside In - Building yourself up on the inside by developing a solid plan, Start Where You Are, Use What You Have, Do What You Can, Stay Inspired by Planning for Change (Activity), Check In - A basic tool for checking in where you are today, Check In Cheat Sheet - A comprehensive list of information and ideas for the check in process in therapy, Progress Report - Basic progress report worksheet for getting relevant discussion started, Self Assessment: Giving Credit Where Credit is Due, Systems Check - A comprehensive review of where you are in the change process, Children (Activities for Children 12 and Under), Closing Group - Ideas, Activities and Worksheets for the End of the Session, Goodbye Group - An outline for group when someone is leaving, graduating or moving on, Text Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself - (Group close-out homework and follow-up activity), Brief Group Module and Icebreaker Collection 1 - Multiple shorter activities to choose from in this collection, Brief Group Module and Icebreaker Collection 2 - More shorter activities like in collection 1 above, Care or Don't Care Icebreaker - Another basic tool for starting group discussion, Choose or Lose Icebreaker - Some basic multiple choice questions for opening up discussion, Declare-Disclose-Display - A variety of ways to get the group talking and interacting, Deep and Personal - Some in depth personal questions for opening people up, Describe - Draw - Describe - Get group sharing thoughts and feelings with art, Escalator Jeopardy - A comprehensive educational review - (Also see "Life Jeopardy" under the Coping Skills heading), Grab Bag - A great list of interesting, questions and other situations to get people talking, Grading the Group - Interactive group report card, Group Glue - This one has a little bit of education because it explains the power and value of group cohesion, Group Member Fill In the Blank - A great exercise to have fun and make group interactive, Group Share Battle - A group activity to get group talking about some recovery-based topics for positive change, Icebreakers for Break Time - Short but interesting group assignments for breaks in between groups, The League of Just Us - A basic fun activity focused on superheros, Making the Most out of Substance Use Treatment - This is unique because it is an interactive Kahoot activity, Majority - Interactive exercise, better for an established group than a new one, Pointless Pursuits - (Warning: only try this if you and the group members have established a degree of comfort with one another), Slips of Paper - A quick and easy icebreaker that gets a group talking with no prep time, Social Media Icebreaker - Exercise for self expression based on social media, Telehealth Specific Group Cohesion Building Activities - Ideas specifically for virtual video groups, Unique - Discussing what you would and wouldn't do, Do not forget to check the Taking the Escalator FORUM page for more icebreakers and brief group therapy modules, Communication, Boundaries and Social Skills, Win, Lose or Indifferent: Positive Qualities for Positive Gains, Complacency - (Submitted by Laura Laura Hennessy, LCSW. The global elevator & escalator (E&E) market is likely to escalate to US$157.36 billion in 2027, progressing at a CAGR of 5.43% during the period spanning from 2023 to 2027 (Any topic at all as long as its appropriate), OPTIONAL - If you want, set a timer and do your commercial for the group. Long Branch HEARS is an organization in Monmouth County, New Jersey, the same area where Taking the Escalator got its start. Today I want to tune out conversations about. - Getting honest about the real reasons for coming to treatment, Wisdom, Intelligence and Changing Your Paradigm, INTERNAL MOTIVATION - Increasing existing motivation further, Dissecting the Heart - Enhanced internal motivation building, Positive Motivation - Building motivation by focusing on the positive, Stay Inspired by Planning for Change (Activity), 14 Character Traits that are Essential for Sustaining Internal Motivation. Assessing highs and lows of getting high, Labels - For lower insight levels, comparing what is using, abusing and addiction, Progress Report - Basic progress report worksheet for getting relevant discussion started, Understanding and Coping with Guilt and Shame - Similar to the other but in a different format, COD - Co Occurring Disorders - An older outline about COD's and addiction some people (LH) still like to use (Updated version on About page), Group Roles - Outline of different ways individuals may protect themselves in group settings, The Disease Concept of Addiction - Review of "symptoms" of addiction, Podcast - A Story of Recovery and Hope: Nicole Tierney, Podcast - Melissa Mackolin's Recovery Journey, Podcast - Megan Reeves "Hold On Pain Ends" with discussion questions, Guest Submissions - Please email [emailprotected] if you would like to submit an activity for the website. A habit plan involves connecting a new habit to an existing one, then rewarding the successful completion of the task. READ: To Control or Not to ControlIs that the Question? Lost - Taking the Escalator therapy activity intro Taking the Escalator 319 subscribers Subscribe Like 928 views 3 months ago Link to activity - https://takingtheescalator.blogspot.c.. Consider names you may have had in the following situations: Have some fun answering questions as a group using this random question generator website - https://randomwordgenerator.com/question.php, For this simple but fun and interesting icebreaker, everyone in the group should share an experience where something unusual happened (or you thought something unusual was happening due to a misunderstanding). You can submit it here. How are you living your life differently as a result of these experiences? To start group today first do this simple exercise. NEW: Ideas, News and Suggestions for Counselors: Click Here to View the Latest Taking the Escalator Blog, Click Here to View the Taking the Escalator FORUM page, < To search by word anywhere on this page press: CTRL F >, Click to view the Taking the Escalator Assessment and Screening Tools, Escalator Chapters 1 - 4: Essential Background Information, Taking Another Look at Addiction, Recovery, and Sobriety, Understanding Some Key Concepts in a New Light, Understanding the Escalator Method from a Theoretical Perspective, The 10 Principles of the Escalator Change Process, Escalator First Floor: Finding Your Way through the Escalator, Helpers - Identifying who is out there to help you with the change process, Assessing Your Change Initiative - Getting started learning about insight, internal motivation and external motivation, VIDEO LINK - "Understanding Insight and Motivation for Positive Change" - (Corresponds with Assessing Change Initiative), FOR COUNSELORS - Read: Understanding the Key Roles of Insight & Motivation for Engagement in Counseling, The Ideal Vs. Discuss the following points as a group, keeping in mind that it is important to respect others views and opinions rather than argue. What are your three instructions for your life replacement, What is one thing in this world that you wish there. As an icebreaker, everyone in group is encouraged to share some things that they have gotten used to in life even if they were difficult at first. New group therapy material - - Taking the Escalator | Facebook Make sure you are fully utilizing all of the free resources on. 37 views, 1 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Taking the Escalator: Taking the Escalator - Addiction Group Therapy Tools that are Super, man! - Getting Started Up the Mountain), Motivation, Determination, & Habit in Recovery, Distinguishing Information-Seeking and Reassurance Seeking, Additional RESILIENCE collection from around the web, The Mission Consumer Workbook (Relapse Prevention), Freedom from Sex Addiction: A Self-Help Workbook, Matrix Model for People with Stimulant Use Disorders, Matrix Model Relapse Prevention Group Handouts, Stress Less: Relaxation Enhancement Group Veteran Manual, Worksheets and Handouts on Trauma and ACES, VALUES - WHAT'S IMPORTANT , Supported Employment: Caring for the Whole Person, Setbacks and Engagement- A Guide for Counselors, mason.script.plugins.twitterTweetPlugin.tweet. Submitted by Caitlin Kennedy LCSW, LCADC: Self Esteem and Affirmation Development -, Submitted by Laura Hennessey, LCSW, LCADC, Reason or Excuse: Product of Your Environment, Taking the Escalator needs you - Click here to see how you can support - (It won't cost you a cent), Finally a New Way to Combat the Opioid Epidemic, Alternative Counseling & Recovery Coaching Tools. Did you know that Taking the Escalator is not just a resource site but it is also a highly effective Method for counseling? Taking the Escalator - Posts | Facebook The next list is a list of specific Taking the Escalator activities that have a history of a great success rate with adolescent groups, even with challenging or resistant teens: See next page for activities list for adolescent groups: www.takingtheescalator.com f Effective Adolescent Taking the Escalator Activities: (No particular order) Self The invention of the escalator was, literally, ground-breaking. Lifeboat Activity Passengers on a sinking ship must decide who will be able to take their chances on a life boat somewhere in the Caribbean Sea. Here are some suggestions. . About this group This group is for people who believe in Integrated Treatment (Treating mental health and substance use together, at the same time) - This is a place to share treatment tools, resources, interesting topics, and exchange support and feedback for people who work with clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Have you signed up for Taking the Escalator ? New fun, easy, interesting group therapy activity - Sure to get group talking: "The Randomizer" -. If so click below to Read a Special Message for people who signed up. The process is easy: Take turns allowing everyone in the group to make a thoughtful statement. Accept-Cope-Adapt - An approach for dealing with life struggles, Overreaction: Putting Things in Perspective with Gratitude, Overcoming Ignorance and Indifference for Positive Growth, An Interview with my Past and Future Self, Major Life Aspects of the Disease of Addiction, READ - Unfollowing the Nonsense - A brief discussion on how media can influence perception, Why am I Here? A time when I wish I would have listened was. Taking the Escalator offers a variety of free assessment and screening tools. Even when troubling things happen in the news we need to keep moving forward in our own lives. It expanded our concept of space and timeand, accordingly, redefined the possibilities for commerce. Just about everyone has at least one historical event that interests them. Taking the Escalator takingtheescalator.com Addiction and Substance Use Resources Non 12 Step Motivational Harm Reduction Tools for Substance Use & Mental Health Taking the Escalator Homepage Home Group Activities by Topic Forum About Trauma Resources More NEWS and UPDATES: GIVE A GOOGLE REVIEW GOOGLE REVIEW Follow on YouTube YouTube Follow on This is just a brief group discussion module focused on listening. What was the WORST job you ever had and why? Everyone in the group should think for a minute or two how they can do this. The Setback-Motivation Guide - Start here to determine what areas you need to work on below: Staying the Course Toward Success Know the SIGNS, Before and After: Preparing for and Coping with Special Events, Weekend Plan - A basic planning tool for surviving weekends, Holiday Survival Plan - Planning ahead to get through any holiday without setbacks or relapse -, Escalator Seventh Floor: Supplemental Suggestions and Considerations, Meaning and Purpose in the Change Process, Coping with Death and Dying - A simple outline for discussing coping with a recent loss without abusing substances, FOR COUNSELORS READ: Engagement Tool - Values and Values and CBT, VIDEO LINK - Values - What's Important - (Corresponds to the above worksheet), Lifeboat Activity - Lifeboat exercises are nothing new but this one has had good success, It's Easy to Be Honest When You Have Nothing to Lie About, READ - Personality Issues: The Honest Truth, Getting Your Needs Met: Manipulation vs. Persuasion, (The Escalator method is a harm reduction approach overall however the following info specifically addresses harm reduction issues and topics), Understanding Harm Reduction and Medication Assisted Treatment -The Basics, Understanding Harm Reduction - The Podcast - (Based on the above outline - click title to listen), Taking an Honest Look at Abstinence, Harm Reduction, Substitution & Cross Addiction, READ -Straight D's -A Simple Harm Reduction and MAT Illustration, Adolescent/Young Adult Specific Worksheets and Information, For Counselors: READ: Working with Adolescents and Young People, Adolescent Substance Use - A basic educational outline for those working with adolescents and parents, Adolescent Substance Use Group (Multiple Choice) - This is a kahoot activity for adolescent substance use groups, ADOLESCENTS: RISK FACTORS - Exploring risk factors for substance use issues with young people, Icebreakers and Group Cohesion Building -, (These are less about education and more about building up the group in a positive manner which can be equally important), Group Glue - This one has a little bit of education because it explains the power and value of group cohesion, Brief Group Module and Icebreaker Collection 1 - Multiple shorter activities to choose from in this collection, Brief Group Module and Icebreaker Collection 2 - More, Making the Most out of Substance Use Treatment - This one is different because it is an interactive Kahoot activity, Telehealth Specific Group Cohesion Building Activities - Ideas specifically for virtual video groups, Declare-Disclose-Display - A variety of ways to get the group talking and interacting, Social Media Icebreaker - Exercise for self expression based on social media, Grading the Group - Interactive group report card, Grab Bag - A great list of interesting, questions and other situations to get people talking, Giving Activities - There is more happiness in giving than receiving, Fun Facts - Group Cohesion Building with some substance use and mental health info, Group Member Fill In the Blank - A great exercise to have fun and make group interactive, Describe - Draw - Describe - Get group sharing thoughts and feelings with art, Deep and Personal - Some in depth personal questions for opening people up, Slips of Paper - A quick and easy icebreaker that gets a group talking with no prep time, Unique - Discussing what you would and wouldnt do, Care or Don't Care Icebreaker - Another basic tool for starting group discussion, Majority - Interactive exercise, better for an established group than a new one, Choose or Lose Icebreaker - Some basic multiple choice questions for opening up discussion, Icebreakers for Break Time - Short but interesting group assignments for breaks in between groups, Sophisticated Debates - Communicating your viewpoint in a respectful way, Pointless Pursuits - (Warning: only try this if you and the group members have established a degree of comfort with one another), The League of Just Us - A basic activity about superheroes just for fun, Escalator Jeopardy - A comprehensive educational review in relaxed game format, Group Topics, Ideas and Worksheets for Closing Group, Goodbye Group - An outline for group when someone is leaving, graduating or moving on, VIDEO: Life Story Video - LB HEARS Episode 1 - Nikki Tierney - (Click to view).