| 
Many participants worry about
the small group experience. Will I feel uncomfortable? Will
they force me to talk? Is it safe to share? Will the people
in my group be weird? What if I cry? Will anybody be in control?
These and many other questions are common concerns of participants.
It is our goal to make the small group experience a positive
fulfilling, growing and healing experience for all participants.
Your group will be guided by trained facilitators. These facilitators
have all experienced the loss of a love relationship and have
taken the workshop themselves. They will guide the group and
keep it safe for all participants. Many participants feel
uncomfortable
in their small group at first, this is normal. The barriers
drop very quickly as stories are shared and the commonality
of our experience is recognized. The people in the group will,
at first, sometimes seem "weird" but as the group shares stories
and feelings, a connection is formed that overcomes first impressions.
Some of the people that may seem "weird" at first could become
close friends by the end of the workshop. In the small group,
everyone is given the opportunity to share, but no one is
ever forced to share. Each participant always has the right
to "pass". the safety of the small group is governed by the
"Small Group Covenant" and the "Group Rules". We take these
rules and covenants very seriously - especially the rule of
"Confidentiality".
What it is:
A support group IS a place to experience loving
and caring community, to be open honest and vulnerable, to
be non judgmental and accepting, to validate and encourage
and to extend the hand of empathy and understanding. A support
group IS a safe place to share feelings experiences and stories.
It IS a place where it is safe to cry as well as laugh. It
is a place to learn together, to grow together and to find
healing and hope together.
What it is not:
A support group IS NOT group therapy, NOT counseling,
NOT a lecture by an expert, NOT a place to give advice or
to "teach" or "preach", NOT a place to "fix" people, NOT a
place to change or convert people, NOT a place to criticize,
to judge, or to minimize pain..
Purpose:
The purpose of the recovery small group is to provide
appropriate support and encouragement to members as they process
their pain while allowing each individual to take responsibility
for their own recovery. Recovery groups are made up of individuals
who are working towards their own recovery with the support
an encouragement of others. Recovering people NEED to take
responsibility for their own recovery, to realize that their
progress is up to them.
Goals:
- To provide a safe place for members to discover, express,
and process painful feelings related to the end of their
love relationship.
- To help members understand that other people have experienced
similar feelings and problems and that they are not alone.
- To help members experience a sense of hope and healing.
- To help members form new community and meaningful friendships.
- To equip members with some basic tools, skills, and concepts
that can help them build healthier and more fullfilling
relationships in all areas of their life.
|
