Hi Dee,

We started the session with a role play of passengers on the bus (borrowing from Kevin Polk’s method), using this to tie in previous sessions on control and struggle. Then moved into a present moment exercise, which was free painting, we asked them to go with the experience of the paint etc..., from this the teens spontaneously began finger painting to experience the feel of the paint, then sharing the colours with each other by shaking hands, feeling the paint as cold, squishy etc.., and for some this included being willing to have paint covered hands and some discomfort. The group encouraged some reluctant girls, not the facilitators (one girl stayed out). The concluding discussion was contrasting the two exercises (a) living life listening to the passengers, or (b) experiencing it being fully present (and so willing to take the passengers with them). Their discussion really was about how much fun there was in being present and how they lost this when they listened to the passengers. This was about 90 minutes all up.

To put this in context. We are running a research trial of ACT groups for teens and this was one of the weeks. I’m happy to share the protocol once the data support it – about 2-3 months perhaps.

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks, Louise

Ballarat, 3353