ABSTRACT

Hot Air Balloon is a group therapeutic exercise invented by the author to facilitate the therapist and the group to assess clients' relationships with other people, especially their significant others. This group exercise is applied with one key client at a time, with other group members participating in the role play. It is normally applied in the early stage of group intervention when members are not very familiar with each other. When used in the group context, members will be led to understand each other's relationship problems or life goals in a dramatic form through their active participation. The exercise can also help group members to review and reformulate their relationship problems or life goals, enabling them to face their concerns directly and immediately. The therapist provides constant encouragement, empathy, and supports to the key client and all other participants throughout the process, especially when emotional scenes emerge.