#3647. Playing Psychologist

Social Studies, level: Senior
Posted Mon Feb 6 07:36:38 PST 2006 by Michelle Crouse (crouseml@pickens.k12.sc.us).
Focus Chart
Materials Required: Resources such as Psychology Books or Articles
Activity Time: 90 minutes
Concepts Taught: Psychological Disorders

This activity can be used as an introduction to psychological disorders or a review.

Activity:

1. Students are put into small groups of 3-4.

2. Each group is given a focus chart (see link below)and a psychological disorder. Disorders could be any of the following:
Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Schizophrenia, and any other disorders that seem appropriate.

3. The groups will use their resources to fill in their column of the focus chart.

4. Each group will then choose a group member to portray a patient with their particular disorder. The group will help the patient get into character. Remind students to be serious and respectful in portraying the disorders.

5. When all groups have completed their charts the class will reassemble.

6. The teacher, or a student, will portray the psychologist. The psychologist will ask the patient questions about their problems. The students will describe their symptoms and feelings, how long they have felt this way, and possible causes of their feelings.

7. The class will fill in the other sections of the focus chart as they listen to the counseling sessions.

8. This activity can be done to introduce disorders, and students can take notes as you go. It can also be done as a review game where the rest of the class has to guess what disorder the patient has. The session ends with the psychologist prescribing a treatment method.

Focus Chart for Psychological Disorders should include the following questions.
1. Name of Disorder:
2. Suspected Causes of Disorder:
3. Common Symptoms of Disorder:
4. How Disorder Interferes with Daily Life:
5. Known Treatments for Disorder: