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If this all sounds too much, read the last paragraph at the bottom of the page, first.
LEADERSHIP.
After all, who's the real expert in this? Survivors make great leaders too. Saying that we can't be good leaders is just another way of labelling Survivors as damaged goods.
Good clear leadership is important for a number of reasons: -
Ensuring that someone is not accepted into the group who would disrupt the group and who could possibly prevent those currently in therapy from their healing process.
If you have had any group work dealings in the past, rest assured that this group will be unlike any other you have come across. The leader has to be very confident that he has done enough recovery work himself in order to cope with the responsibilities.
Potential ground rules:
Absolutely vital for ensuring a baseline of safety. Different men have slightly different fears and anxieties, so the base ground rules should be:
PITFALLS.
Don't expect plain sailing in group settings, here's some potential pitfalls to avoid, or be aware of:
It is possible for them to be over involved or use too much of the group time on their issues alone.
In my view, having experienced this twice in the past, it is dangerous, to say the least. Neither would I contemplate accepting a man who was actively homophobic in actions or words. - for the same reason.
These are all tricky, complex issues that need careful consideration.
Issues of safety need to be explored fully
Screening is the professional way to decide who is presently suitable for a group or not.
Some books/experts suggest excluding a wide range of survivors, just because they are in the middle of another form of crisis. e.g. Self harming, addicted to alcohol/drugs, under psychiatric care, taking medication, or even identified as gay, etc.
If we excluded people based on the above, we would not have a group. However, care must be used on just who is admitted to the group, and what potential harm they could have upon current group members.
The last thing needed is for the safety of the group to be compromised for the sake of one individual.
Where men are in crisis, I ask them to weigh carefully whether they have sufficient support outside of the group, to cope with the group experience, and whether they think that hearing other peoples pain could well cause them further distress.
If men have been addicted to alcohol/drugs, they also need to weigh up whether looking closely at their issues in a group setting would set them further back.
FINALLY.......
If that all sounds too much for you to do, please feel free to email me and we can talk it through..
The message about survivor-led recovery groups is that it does work and we Survivors can get together, support one another, look at painful issues, and can get through it all.
In doing so, we can break secrecy, defeat isolation, overcome feelings of shame and guilt and empower ourselves.
Together, we can defeat the legacy of abuse and move on to full recovery. Without doubt!
- this includes clear ground rules, and encouraging group members to focus on their own personal safety whilst in a group setting.
The limit on the confidentiality we provide is if we become aware of a child at risk, we will break any bond of confidentiality in order to protect that child.
That applies to sexual, physical or emotional abuse occurring to a child.
Walking out of the group at anytime is ok, and we will ask you if you need one of us to leave with you to provide support. You are also allowed to ask for that support
No one will be allowed to attend group meetings if under the influence of alcohol or drugs, prescribed or otherwise.
Anger needs to be focused correctly. We prefer to question an issue rather than attack the person stating it, we don't stifle healthy debates or differences of opinion, but we do not allow them to get out of hand.
NO outside contact is permitted between group members, as it creates barriers for other group members, who rightly or wrongly, feel excluded from 'private' conversations that take place outside of group, and perhaps from any 'private' conversations that occur within group meetings.
We have all had enough conflict in our lives, that we dont need it during group sessions, so avoid bringing conflict into the healing arena
This rule is in place because of several previous upsets in group, and is there to prevent any conflict from arising, protect group member's identities, and stops any division in group meetings.
It can also create unwanted and unneeded barriers between others, who rightly or wrongly, feel excluded from conversations that took place outside of group, or perhaps from the 'private' conversations going on in group.
That alone is one good reason that they get regular support and supervision.