Trust Development

Two-Person Trust Fall*
Purpose: trust development (lead up to "Willow in the Wind" and other trust activities)
Procedure:
One person (the faller) stands upright with arms folded across chest (make sure arms and elbows are secure during falling, to protect spotters). The faller's feet should remain together and firmly planted throughout the exercise. She or he should also keep knees and body straight and fall in a direct line.

Two spotters are used for each faller, one immediately behind and one in front of the faller (arm's length away). Spotters should stand with arms extended toward the faller, palms a few inches from the faller's chest and/or back. Legs should be staggered, with the front knee slightly bent, both feet firmly planted on the group. When catching, the spotter should make contact with the faller as soon as possible, bending knees if desiring to bring faller lower down.

Calling Sequence:
Faller: "Ready to catch?"
Catcher: "Ready to catch!"
Faller: "Falling."
Catcher: "Fall away."

Each time the faller prepares to fall, either forward or backward, he or she must complete this calling sequence and not fall until the catchers answer. Special care to ensure safety should be taken with this exercise. Spotters should protect the faller's head at all times.

Willow in the Wind*
Purpose: trust development within group
Procedure:
Ten to fifteen people stand shoulder to shoulder in a circle with one person (the faller) standing rigid and trusting in the center. Those in the circle raise their arms, palms toward the faller. Spotters' legs are staggered slightly with the front knee bent to help absorb impact.

Remaining rigid and keeping both feet together and firmly planted in one place, the center person slowly falls in any direction. Before he/she moves very far off plumb, the surrounding people use their palms to redirect the faller's impetus to another arc of the circle. At any given "catch point" at least 2 people's palms should be supporting the faller. Never let one person take the full weight alone.

This fall-catch-shove sequence continues in a gentle fashion until it becomes obvious that the center person is relaxing (but remaining rigid) and that the circle people have gained confidence in their ability to work together toward handling the occasional weight shift of the faller.

Change people in the center until everyone who wishes has had an opportunity to be "shoved around."

Graphics: Self-Disclosure Activities
Purpose: trust development within group
Below are listed several structured experiences that generate self-disclosure data through graphics. One advantage of these methods is that participants often can disclose themselves more quickly and straightforwardly than through verbal interactions. The facilitator should ensure that there is adequate processing time for each activity.

1. The Road of Life.  - Participants are given large sheets of paper and markers. Each places a dog on the paper to represent his or her birth. Without lifting the marker from the paper, she/he portrays a series of critical incidents in his/her lifetime.

2. Advertisement for Myself - Using collage materials such as construction paper, glue, scissors, magazines, etc., participants create brochures advertising themselves. This is a good method of introduction early on in the group's formation.

3. Coat of Arms - After a brief introduction to heraldry, participants create coats of arms to represent themselves.

4. Comic Strip - Participants are given large pieces of paper and pencils to draw lines to divide the paper into 12 equal-sized sections. In each section they are to depict a significant event in which they were involved (These