“The Loop Group”: A Creative Journaling & Process Activity

Group Type:
Psychoeducational / Process / Creative Expression

Materials Needed:

• Pen & paper (optional—can be done aloud)

• Timer or clock (on your phone)

• Maybe a whiteboard if you want to record loops the group shares

Session Theme: “Being Stuck in a Loop”

1. Grounding Check-in (5–10 min)
Quick go-around with the prompt:
“If your morning so far was a song on repeat, what song would it be?”

Lighthearted, metaphorical. Gets them thinking about loops already.

2. Brief Intro & Framing (3–5 min)
You say:
“Today we’re looking at loops—the kind we get stuck in emotionally, mentally, or behaviorally. Sometimes loops are comforting, sometimes they’re exhausting. We’re gonna explore what those loops are, and how we might disrupt them—or at least notice them differently.”

Give a few examples:

• Emotional loop: Worry → avoidance → guilt → more worry

• Thought loop: “I’m not good enough” → overcompensate → burnout → still feel not enough

• Habit loop: Can’t sleep → nap all day → can’t sleep → nap all day

3. Journaling Prompt: “Name Your Loop” (10–15 min)
Prompt them:
“Think about a loop you’re in right now. Emotional, mental, behavioral, relational, etc. Give it a title, like a movie or a playlist. Then describe:”

• What triggers it?

• What’s the pattern?

• What does it feel like to be inside it?

• What’s one word that captures the vibe of that loop?

Encourage creative responses. It can be poetic, silly, serious, metaphorical, abstract, etc.

Optional creative challenge: Write your loop as a haiku or one-sentence story.

4. Group Share & Debrief (15–20 min)
Invite those who feel safe to share their loop titles or short descriptions.
Ask:

• “How do you know when you’re in a loop?”

• “What does your body do when you’re looping?”

• “Is the loop trying to protect you in some way?”

• “What would it take to press pause?”

You can write down loop names or themes if you have a board.

5. Disruption Prompt: “Tiny Breaks” (5–10 min)
Prompt:
“Now imagine you can’t escape the loop completely—but you can add a glitch. What would be a tiny way to interrupt the pattern? Something small but meaningful?”

Examples:

• Breathing

• Texting a friend

• Moving your body

• Saying “this again?” out loud with humor

Jot down or say out loud at least one loop-disrupting idea.

6. Closing Check-Out (3–5 min)
Prompt:
“What’s one word or image you’re leaving with today?”
or
“If your loop had a theme song remix, what would the remix title be?”

Bonus: If You Want To Go Full DADA
You could have them act out their loop in a 30-second pantomime, or give their loop an imaginary animal or object form and describe it to the group like a field guide entry.