- Demonstrate how you would start the group session, using the exact wording you would use if you were speaking directly to the group.
- Present and explain an ice-breaker activity that is appropriate for your group. Note: This should be different than any of the examples provided in this week’s Icebreakers document.
- Explain how you would use motivational interviewing within the icebreaker to build cohesion and engagement, particularly with involuntary or resistant group members.
Social Work Scrapbook. (2018, May 29). Social work group therapy: Co-facilitating a girls groupLinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcALmc1yqEE
Essay: Starting a Group Session with Icebreaker and Motivational Interviewing
Introduction
Starting a group therapy session effectively sets the tone for engagement, trust, and cohesion. To foster a safe and inclusive environment, it is essential to use clear communication, a well-planned icebreaker, and motivational interviewing techniques. Below is an outline of how I would start the session, present an icebreaker, and incorporate motivational interviewing to engage resistant or involuntary group members.
Starting the Group Session
Exact wording:
“Hello, everyone. I want to welcome you to this group session. My name is [Your Name], and I’m excited to be here with you all today. I know that joining a group like this can sometimes feel a little intimidating, but this is a safe space where we can share, learn, and grow together. Our focus today is to get to know each other and set the foundation for the work we’ll be doing in future sessions.
To start, I’d like to remind everyone of the group guidelines: respect for each other’s time, listening without judgment, and confidentiality—what we share here stays here. Does anyone have any questions or thoughts about these guidelines before we begin?
Now that we’ve covered that, I’d like to introduce a quick activity to help us break the ice and get comfortable with one another.”
Icebreaker Activity: “Shared Strengths Circle”
Objective: To help participants identify personal strengths while fostering a sense of connection and shared values within the group.
Instructions:
- “We’re going to do an activity called the ‘Shared Strengths Circle.’ Everyone will take turns sharing one personal strength that they feel has helped them overcome challenges. It could be something like resilience, kindness, humor, or anything else that you value about yourself.
After each person shares, anyone in the group who resonates with that strength can raise their hand or nod. This will help us see what we have in common and start building connections.
I’ll go first to show you how it works. One strength I value about myself is perseverance. I’ve faced challenges where I had to keep pushing forward, even when it was hard. Has anyone else felt that their perseverance has helped them? [Pause for response.]
Great! Now, who would like to go next?”
Why it works: This activity encourages self-reflection, highlights shared experiences, and builds a foundation of mutual understanding without requiring deep personal disclosures initially.
Using Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a person-centered approach that uses open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries to engage participants and address ambivalence or resistance.
Application in the Icebreaker Activity:
- Open-ended questions to encourage participation:
- “What is a strength you feel proud of, even if it might not seem obvious to others?”
- “How has this strength helped you in the past?”
- Affirming contributions to build confidence:
- “That’s a wonderful strength—it takes courage to acknowledge that about yourself.”
- “Thank you for sharing. I can see how that strength has played a big role in your journey.”
- Reflective listening to validate feelings:
- “It sounds like your humor has helped you cope with difficult situations, and it’s something others often appreciate about you.”
- Reframing resistance: For participants who are resistant or dismissive, MI can gently reframe their hesitance:
- “It’s okay if you’re not ready to share just yet. Is there something you’ve done recently that you feel good about, even if it’s small?”
- Summarizing to reinforce group cohesion:
- “So far, we’ve heard about strengths like resilience, humor, and kindness. These are powerful traits that connect us all in different ways, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can build on them together.”
Engaging Involuntary or Resistant Members:
Involuntary members may feel pressured to participate, which can lead to resistance. By using MI techniques like empathizing with their feelings—”I understand that joining a group like this wasn’t your choice, and that can be frustrating”—and emphasizing autonomy—”You have the right to decide how much you share”—we can create an environment where they feel respected and more likely to engage over time.
Conclusion
Starting a group session with a welcoming tone, a strengths-based icebreaker, and motivational interviewing techniques can foster trust, engagement, and cohesion. By emphasizing shared experiences and validating individual contributions, even resistant or involuntary members can feel empowered to participate. As facilitators, our role is to guide the group toward connection and growth, one small step at a time.