Joely Ramos

Activities Portfolio #8

LEI 4724

Activity Title: Hidden Heart

Source: Anger Management Activities and Games. (n.d.). Retrieved March
28, 2016, from
http://www.gamesforgroups.com/angermanagementgames.html
Equipment: slips of paper, pens or pencils, scissors, thin pieces of ribbon,
large balloon per person AND small balloon per person (neither blown up),
permanent colored markers
Activity Description: This activity is called Hidden Heart and it is a social
skill modality that serve to have clients more outwardly express what they
feel inside. First, give each participant a pair of scissors, a thin ribbon, a
permanent marker, ten slips of paper, a pen or pencil, and one of each sized
balloon. Explain to them that the small balloon represents their heart and all
of the pain, hurt and anger that can be found inside of it. Ask them to write
down on the slips of paper different things that make them angry, uneasy, or
feel hurt. Then, instruct them to put the slips of paper into the small balloon
and tie it with the ribbon. Remember, this small balloon will not be inflated
and no one needs to see what they wrote on their slips of paper. Now, guide
everyone into placing the small balloon into the bigger balloon and blowing it
up. They can tie it regularly and can ask for help if they need it. Have the
participants blow up the big balloon with their heart in it. On the outside of
the balloon, prompt them to jot down things that show how they present
themselves to others so that no one knows whats really inside. For example,
tell them many people use humor or over confidence to hide the pain and
loneliness they feel. Once all balloons are written on, encourage each
participant to share at least one thing they wrote down on the outside of the
balloon. After this discussion, allow them to pop their balloons as a symbolic
way of getting rid of all the walls and devices that they use to hide their pain.
After the balloons are popped, the hearts with the ribbons tied around them
should remain. Challenge each person in the group to find someone in the
next weeks time whom they trust enough to give their heart to. They should
explain to that person what the balloon represents and why they want to
give it to them; they should then let that person untie the ribbon to see what
is inside. If possible bring the group back together a week later for a follow
up group to find out who was able to find someone to give their heart to. Or
simply challenge the group to read what they had in their "heart" to the
group (Anger Management Activities and Games, n.d.).
Leadership Considerations: A therapeutic recreation (TR) specialist is
adequate for leading this activity, but anyone with prior leadership
experience can lead it. Since this can be a very emotional activity leaders
should be mentally prepared to deal with any unexpected reactions from
participants. Having posters around the room with ways to cope with anger,
anxiety, and/or depression might be helpful to refer to. Consistently
encouraging participants to speak up is necessary to make this idea

Joely Ramos

Activities Portfolio #8

LEI 4724

effective, but no one should be forced to share since that could possibly
trigger negative replies. Leaders should focus on building a repertoire of
prosocial skills, rather than teaching how to control undesired behaviors, so
the more talking and engagement between participants included the better
(Burt, Patel, & Gonzalez, 2013).
Adaptions: Participants with Anger-Related issues: Anger is a normal,
healthy emotion that most people experience at some point in their lives.
However, when the emotion controls the person rather than the person
controlling the emotion, it can spin out of hand and negatively effective
various areas of a persons life. However, this activity challenges participants
with anger management issues to grow in healthily expressing their
obstacles. According to PsychGuides (n.d.), without the initial step of getting
the person you care about to agree that a real problem exists, no progress
toward a solution will even be seriously attempted. With this said, giving the
participants the freedom to write down only what they believe they get
angry at and not what others tell them they are angry about, is a way to
effectively get them analyzing they actions and true thoughts. Also, Burt,
Patel, & Gonzalez (2013) say that personal factors, behavior, and
environment as each affects the others in varying magnitudes. You would
want to adapt the environment of this activity to a peaceful, harm free, and
calming place for the participants possibly by adding soothing sounds in the
background, adding pleasant fragrances, or including humor into your
explanations. Also, you wouldnt want to have two participants that have
issues with each other in the same room because the behavioral aspect can
interfere with activity effectiveness.
Participants with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD occurs
when someone has experience an event that has changes the way they react
to what would have been regular on another occasion. Many war veterans
experience this when they come back home from war zones. Townsend
(2008) advises that the environment where therapy is occurring should
encourage concentration and specific goal making. Also, participants should
get enough sleep to avoid risk of injury, so this activity would most likely
be more effective in the afternoon, or late morning when participants are
most active and awake (Townsend, 2008). Also, NCHPAD (2015) suggests
showing participants a safe place to unwind and decompress AHEAD OF
TIME and not asking are you okay? but rather asking can I help you? or
stating I am here if you need me. This activity should be in a quiet place,
where participants feel that they dont need to be watching out for danger.
Adaptations References
Burt, I., Patel, S. H., & Gonzalez, T. (2013). Integrating Leadership Skills into
Anger Management Groups to Reduce Aggressive Behaviors: The LIT

Joely Ramos

Activities Portfolio #8

LEI 4724

Model. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. Retrieved March 28, 2016,

from http://www.readperiodicals.com/201304/2955701141.html
NCHPAD. (2015). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Helping People with
PTSD at the Fitness Center : NCHPAD - Building Inclusive Communities.
Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://www.nchpad.org/920/5042/PostTraumatic~Stress~Disorder~~PTSD~~~
Helping~People~with~PTSD~at~the~Fitness~Center
PsychGuides. (n.d.). How to Find Help Treating an Anger Management
Problem. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from
http://www.psychguides.com/guides/how-to-find-help-treating-ananger-management-problem/
Townsend, M. C. (2008). Essentials of Psychiatric Mntal Health Nursing:
Concepts of Care in Evidence-based Practice. Philadelphia, PA: F.A.
Davis.