Icebreakers Icebreakers are often used to help group members “warm up.” Through these exercises, members—along with the facilitator or facilitators—discover what they have in common and begin to build a bond. Icebreakers also aid participants in interacting, communicating, and developing empathy, the ability to see and understand another person’s perspective.

There are several types of icebreakers for treatment groups. Interactive activities often involve verbal participation (sharing something about oneself) and possibly moving around the room (see the “Group Chain” example). Sometimes members are more comfortable having time to think about their responses and prefer to fill out answers to a list of questions (see the “Written Exercise” example). Finally, a group leader might choose to use an ice breaker that involves props (see the “Rubber Band” example).

Search the internet for icebreaker ideas—and creatively adapt them if needed—keeping your target population and issue in mind. Based on your experiences, you may also have ideas of your own.

Group Chain

Ask group members to stand in the middle of the room. Then, ask a volunteer to start the icebreaker by stating their name and a fact about themselves (e.g., “My name is Adam, and I’m a football fanatic”).

Next, that volunteer forms a “link” by putting one hand on their hip and sticking out their elbow.

Another group member who can relate to the fact shared (e.g., they are also a football fanatic) links arms with that person and repeats the process (e.g., “My name is Shannon, and I’m also a football fanatic. I have three children.”). Another group member who relates to the second person’s fact (e.g., also has three children) then links arms with them, and so on. If someone shares a fact that no other group member can relate to, they must state another fact.

Once everyone has linked arms, the last person who joined the “link” and the volunteer who started the icebreaker must find a commonality and then link arms (forming a “chain”/circle).

Reference: My Group Guide. (2019). Group therapy icebreaker activities. https://www.mygroupguide.com/grouptherapyicebreakers/

Written Exercise Create a list of questions that can help group members begin to share. Use only two or three of these in any one session. The topic should be related to either the purpose of the group or a group-related issue.

In order to stay out of trouble, I need to: One thing I would like to know about others in this group is: One thing I like about myself is: One thing I would like to change is:

Questions might include, for example:

Reference: Schimmel, C. J., & Jacobs, E. E. (2011). When leaders are challenged: Dealing with involuntary members in groups. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 36(2). 144–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2011.562345

Rubber Band Use a large rubber band that can stretch over a foot in length. Ask one member to hold the opposite end while you pull on the rubber band to lengthen it. Then say, “In a minute I’m going to let go, but I am not going to hurt you.” Pause and start to close the distance between yourself and the participant, finally letting go when there is enough slack to not snap the rubber band. Next, ask the participant, “What did you think I would do?”

Use this moment to state to the group that others have “popped” them in their lives, but that you will not pop them. Assure the group that “I will do what I say I am going to do.”

Reference: Schimmel, C. J., & Jacobs, E. E. (2011). When leaders are challenged: Dealing with involuntary members in groups. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 36(2). 144–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2011.562345

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