Animals (introduce as an animal)

Purpose. Uses metaphor to make self-disclosure feel playful rather than exposing.

When to use. In the first 15 minutes of a session, once names are known and the group is settling in.

Best for. Any group size, in person.

• No materials to gather; just read through the steps once before you run it.

Room setup. Open enough floor space for pairs to spread out and hear only their own partner.

Virtual setup. Run this over video call using breakout rooms for the paired discussion.

Hybrid setup. Pair remote participants with each other for the discussion round.

Materials.

1. Ask each participant to think of an animal they'd like to be.
2. Going around the group, each person introduces themselves speaking “as” that animal, briefly sharing what they like and dislike about being it. For example: “I'm a golden retriever. I love how loyal and enthusiastic I am, but I wish I didn't get so anxious when left alone.”
3. Once everyone's introduced their animal, split into pairs.
4. In pairs, discuss why each person chose their animal and whether its traits mirror their own life.

Learning outcome. Participants leave having shared something real about themselves through a playful, low- pressure metaphor.

• No materials needed
• Debrief questions ready
• Timer set for 30 min
• Pairs planned for the discussion round