[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-573310-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":74,"doc-detail-573310-en":120},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":67,"head_meta":69,"extra_data":71,"updated_unix":73},105,"en","check-in-cheat-sheet-counselorclinician-group-icebreaker-questions","Check-In Cheat Sheet - Counselor/Clinician Group Icebreaker Questions","","A counselor-focused guide for running group and individual check-ins in substance use treatment settings. It explains how check-in prompts create a shared baseline status update and help review progress toward treatment goals. It provides a standard five-question check-in structure and an extensive menu of thought-provoking icebreaker prompts, encouraging participants to share gratitude, goals, coping, inner strength, relationships, kindness, and positive experiences, while supporting therapeutic readiness for group sharing.",{"@graph":14,"@context":66},[15,34,49],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/forms/","Forms",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/check-in-cheat-sheet-counselorclinician-group-icebreaker-questions/573310/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"author":36,"headline":10,"publisher":39,"fileFormat":42,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":43,"datePublished":43,"encodingFormat":42,"isAccessibleForFree":44,"interactionStatistic":45},"DigitalDocument",{"name":37,"@type":38},"lilac","Person",{"url":19,"name":40,"@type":41},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-14",true,{"@type":46,"interactionType":47,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":48},"ViewAction",{"@type":50,"mainEntity":51},"FAQPage",[52,58,62],{"name":53,"@type":54,"acceptedAnswer":55},"What is the purpose of a group check-in in counseling programs?","Question",{"text":56,"@type":57},"It helps participants share a basic status report that sets the tone for the group and supports therapeutic sharing aligned with the session topic.","Answer",{"name":59,"@type":54,"acceptedAnswer":60},"What can a counselor review during the check-in period in individual therapy?",{"text":61,"@type":57},"The counselor can use the check-in time to review progress toward treatment plan goals and objectives.",{"name":63,"@type":54,"acceptedAnswer":64},"What types of icebreaker questions are included to add to the check-in?",{"text":65,"@type":57},"The list includes prompts on gratitude, goals, fun, memories, balance, inner strength, kindness, relationships, courage, and other positive or reflective topics.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":68,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":40,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":70,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":72,"site_id":7},573310,1791936898,{"code":4,"msg":75,"data":76},"success",[77,82,87,92,97,102,106,111,116],{"id":78,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":79,"show_sort_weight":80,"slug":81},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":83,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":84,"show_sort_weight":85,"slug":86},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":88,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":93,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":94,"show_sort_weight":95,"slug":96},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":98,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":99,"show_sort_weight":100,"slug":101},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":103,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},17,40,"forms",{"id":107,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":108,"show_sort_weight":109,"slug":110},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":112,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":113,"show_sort_weight":114,"slug":115},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":117,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":118,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":119},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":75,"data":121},{"doc_id":72,"user_id":122,"nickname":37,"user_avatar":123,"doc_module":22,"category_id":103,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":124,"file_id":125,"file_url":126,"file_type":127,"file_size":128,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":112,"language":129,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":130,"faqs":131,"seo_title":132,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":73,"read_time":133},3985747861865,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","Check-In Cheat Sheet  \nMost counselors start group with a check in of some kind. This is a good practice because it helps everyone in the group to give a basic status report which can set the tone for the rest of the group, whatever the topic maybe. It is even a good idea to do a check in during individual therapy as well as the counselor can use the check in period to review progress toward treatment plan goals and objectives.  \nA standard check in a substance use treatment program (with rolling admission and new members regularly) may consist of something like this:  \n1) What is your name?  \n2) Why are you here? (Why are you in this program – what brought you here?)  \n3) What was/were your substances of choice?  \n4) Have you used anything since last session – If so, what?  \n5) Briefly, how are you today? (Include any coexisting issues current being worked on in group as well as any co-occurring mental health symptoms or disorders if applicable)  \nA lot of counselors like to add an item 6) to this list which would be a thought-provoking ice breaker question of some kind. The purpose would be to get the group ready for sharing and expressing personal views, thoughtsand feelings. Below is an extensive list of ice breaker questions that you, as a counselor/clinician or group leader, can choose from to add in an icebreaker to the check in:  \nWhat is one thing that you are grateful for today?  \nWhat is one goal that you have for this program today?  \nWhat is one thing (not substance related) that you do for fun?  \nWhat is one of your best memories of the last week?  \nHow do you create more balance in your life?  \nWhat is one thing that is going right for you right now?  \nIf you could go one place anywhere on earth this weekend for free where would you go?  \nWhat is one lesson you will never forget?  \nWhat is your favorite food?  \nWhat is your favorite color?  \nWho can you look for to get support in your life right now?  \nWho is one thing about one person that you would like to imitate in your life?  \nWho is one person, alive or dead, famous or not, who you find to be inspiring?  \nWhat is one thing from childhood that is a positive lesson that you would pass on to others?  \nWho is one person you love and why?  \nIf you could wish something good to happen to one person today who would it be?  \nWhat is one thing that keeps you going every day?  \nIf you could be famous for something what would you choose?  \nIn what way are you different than most people?  \nWhat is one thing that you can say good about yourself today?  \nWhat is one positive thought that you can share with the group today?  \nWhat animal are you like and why?  \nIf you could witness one past event firsthand which one would you pick?  \nIf you could change one thing about yourself what would you pick?  \nIf you could change one thing about the world what would you choose?  \nWho or what is something you would label as “amazing” and why?  \nWhat is one thing that will be happening in your life when you feel like you are on your way to achieving your goals What is one thing that you feel like you deserve?  \nWhat is one thing you feel like you could give up and never look back?  \nWhat is one aspect of inner beauty in your opinion  \nWhat is something that gets you energized emotionally in a positive way  \nIf you had the time and resources for one year to work on any project, what would you pick? What is a simple thing that makes you happy?  \nWhat is one thing in the last week that made you smile?  \nYou get to choose one unhealthy food and make it healthy which one does you choose?  \nWhat is one thing that you have learned in life about relationships?  \nWhat is one thing that you are unusually good at?  \nWhat is one thing that others may find boring, but you find interesting?  \nWhat is one thing that you feel like more people should know about? If you ruled the world for one day, what is one thing that you would do? What is a line in a book, movie, or song that you really like?  \nWh","cbCaibzcf3gGOZQb","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibzcf3gGOZQb","pdf",767527,"English","# Check-in purpose and context\n## Standard check-in questions\n## Icebreaker prompts list","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a group check-in in counseling programs?\",\"answer\":\"It helps participants share a basic status report that sets the tone for the group and supports therapeutic sharing aligned with the session topic.\"},{\"question\":\"What can a counselor review during the check-in period in individual therapy?\",\"answer\":\"The counselor can use the check-in time to review progress toward treatment plan goals and objectives.\"},{\"question\":\"What types of icebreaker questions are included to add to the check-in?\",\"answer\":\"The list includes prompts on gratitude, goals, fun, memories, balance, inner strength, kindness, relationships, courage, and other positive or reflective topics.\"}]","Check-In Cheat Sheet - Counselor/Clinician Group Icebreaker Questions | PDF",7]