This exercise is used to explain the concept of the four barriers to re-offending that is found in the Pathways workbook.  The four barriers are Motivation, Internal, External and Victim Resistance.  I teach them as the four walls as many clients get confused between barriers and boundaries. In using the term walls I can demonstrate building a wall and using a ladder (unhealthy behavior) to get over the wall.

Materials
Chairs
Group Members
Piece of paper or object

Directions
Chose one group member to be the volunteer.  Out of ear reach of the volunteer inform the other group members that they are not allowed to touch the volunteer, and they are not to let the volunteer get by them.

Set up four rows of chairs much like one would see in a conference.  There should be no room to walk around the rows.  Use the group members to fill in gaps on the outside or even in the middle of the rows.  The volunteer will stand facing the rows and you will be behind the fourth row facing the volunteer.  Ask the volunteer what material item they would like to have.  Once that is identified tell them that you are holding that item and all they have to do is get through the chairs and the item is theirs. 

Once the volunteer reaches you walk away from them, make it difficult for them to obtain the item you are holding.  Then inform them that they have another victim.  Tell them to go back and try again.  Entice them to retrieve the item from you.  When they reach you inform them they have another victim and return to the starting place.  After about five times inquire to the group what one of the treatment goals is and allow the group to identify: No more victims.  Inform the volunteer that they have five additional victims.  Start the process over again with the volunteer standing at the front of the chairs.  Prompt them to recite a treatment goal, which is no more victims, and then tell them to come get the item they desire.  The group member needs to recognize that they should not come after the item.  Sometimes they can figure it out and others you will need to prompt them to remember a treatment goal of no more victims.

When processing this activity you will want to focus on how easily the volunteer made it over the chairs and resistance they encountered from other group members.  Inform the group that the rows represent the walls with the first two being inside of them and the last two are outside of them.  A goal of treatment is to build these barriers or walls up.  You can demonstrate the ease of stepping over a small wall by placing a pencil on the floor and walking over it.  Discuss how a planter box or small three foot high wall can be walked over with a slightly more effort, the chairs with a little more effort, a five foot high wall with effort and/or assistance and someone could get over a ten foot wall with assistance and increased effort.  The more effort required the better chance of stopping oneself before they go over the wall. 

A goal of treatment is to learn interventions to build the walls, with the internal wall and external wall probably being taller then the others. 

While the chairs are still in place discuss with the volunteer the following questions.  As you ask the questions place a hand on a chair from that row.  Move from row to row as you discuss each concept.
Motivation Wall:  what motivated them to walk across/through the wall?

Internal Wall:  Discuss what thoughts or feelings the volunteer had.

External Wall:  How did they get around those people and places that were meant to keep them safe?

Victim Resistance:  How did they overcome victim resistance?

Discuss with the other clients what they observed and ask them if someone was going to sexually offend what would motivate them.  Again stand next to the row and place your hand on the row.  You can move in front of each chair and ask a different group member as you move from chair to chair.  Encourage each one to identify a different motivation.  Moving to the next row and standing in front of a chair for each complete the same process for each wall.

This exercise is meant to assist the group members in learning about the four walls to offending or any unhealthy behavior.  They can learn how to develop walls to keep them safe.  If you would like to continue this exercise in your next group, assign each group member the following homework: write on an index card what would motivate them to do an unhealthy behavior and on the back of the card the intervention.

For the next group you can reset up the chairs and start focusing on bricks for each wall.  Have each group member read their card and place the card with the intervention side face up on the chair.  As each group member has a chance to participate remind them that they are building up the wall.  Allow the group to brainstorm other interventions for the unhealthy behavior that the person identified, again building up the wall.

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