Chapter 3. Getting to know you activities

The session starts with acknowledging the group members and explaining that we will take turns asking each other three questions to help promote a sense of safety and trust within the group. People stand and form a circle.

The group facilitator then asks the person to their left in the circle three questions. That person then asks the person to the left of them in the circle the same questions, and so on. This continues until every person in the circle, including the facilitator, has answered the questions.

The questions are:

1. How are you feeling?
2. What are you grateful for?
3. Who will you go to if you need help?

Start by explaining the steps of the activity.

Step 1 is a check-in typically used at the beginning of each group. For example, each person says where they have come from immediately prior to the group and how they feel about being here today.

In this step, participants are invited to rate how they are feeling from 1 – 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Participants do not have to share why they feel this way but may if they wish. Explain that the purpose of the check-in is to gauge where everyone is at the start of the group, and we will be especially gentle with those who identify as a lower number.

Step 2 is to ask an icebreaker question such as, “What is your favourite dessert?”. The group then takes it in turns, and each person shares their rating and answers the question.

Resources required: access to technology to show a short video clip, coloured paper, coloured felt tip pens, masking tape, sticky notes.

In this activity, towards the beginning of the group, everyone is given a sheet of paper and coloured felt tip pens. The facilitator invites people to complete a one-page profile.

A one-page profile is explained by showing the following video.

Watch One page profile – personalisation (2012). YouTube [5:15 min]

The facilitator explains that we are using a variation of this therapeutic tool as a get-to-know-each-other activity. Everyone is invited to draw, write or design one strength they are bringing to the group that they would like everyone in the group to know. People share their one-page and explain their strengths.

The page is stuck on a wall in the group room (being careful not to damage the wall). During group time, people are encouraged to notice each other’s strengths and to stick to the one-page profile a short affirmation comment of that person -for example, great active listening skills or infectious laugh. By the end of the group, people will have a page full of affirming comments about their strengths to take home. It is based on applying a pedagogy and theology of kindness, where all stakeholders in the group are encouraging and pastorally caring for each other.