Core 6: Using Support Groups to Promote and Sustain Recovery

Behavioral Health Support Group

Recovery-oriented care and recovery support systems help people with mental and substance use disorders manage their conditions successfully.

Behavioral Health- the connection between behaviors and the health and well-being of the body, mind and spirit. This would include how behaviors like eating habits, drinking or exercising impact physical or mental health.
Support Group-a group of people with common experiences or concerns who provide each other with encouragement, comfort, and advice

Benefits of Support Groups

People in the groups learn from each other. When you are in a group you get to know the people in the group and may even value their opinion. You might try things based on their experiences or not based on their experience or suggestions.
Being in a group is not as intensive or demanding as one on one situations. The focus doesn’t have to be on you at times and you can bring the focus on you when you want.
Learn we are not alone or not the only one with these situations. There is a comfort in finding out you are not the only one that has experienced this.
Reducing distress- Having people to talk to that can relate to you is empowering. Just hearing that someone went through or is experiencing something you have is comforting.

What to Avoid Doing When Working with Individuals as a Peer Supporter

No fixing
No saving
No advising
No setting a person straight
No judging
Only handing out negative feedback
Ignoring people
Making everything about you
Playing favorites

Managing by fear and intimidation
Expecting people to read your mind
Taking credit for the work of others
Being sympathetic
Being disrespectful
Being dishonest
Being indirect
Acting as if you have power over your peer

Responsibilities of a Group Facilitator

• Guide You must know the steps of the process the group will execute from beginning to end. You must carefully guide the participants through each of the step.

• Motivator From the rousing opening statement to the closing words of cheer, you must ignite a fire within the group and keep it well lit. You must establish momentum and keep the pace.

• Visionary You must create a vision for the group of why the meeting is important.

• Bridge Builder You must create and maintain a safe and open environment for sharing ideas. Where other people see differences, you must find and use similarities to establish a foundation for building bridges to consensus.

Responsibilities of a Group Facilitator Cont.

• Clairvoyant Throughout the session, you must watch carefully for signs of potential strain, weariness, aggravation and dis-empowerment — and respond in advance to avoi dysfunctional behavior.

• Peacemaker While it is almost always better to avoid a direct confrontation between participants, should such an event occur, you must quickly step in, re-establish order an direct the group toward a constructive resolution.

• Taskmaster You are ultimately responsible for keeping the session on track; this means tactfully cutting short irrelevant discussions, preventing detours and maintaining a consistent level of detail throughout the session.

• Praiser At every opportunity, you should praise the effort put forth, the progress made, and the results achieved. Praise well, praise often, praise specifically.

Common Guidelines Peer Supporters May Use When Facilitating Groups

Meetings begin and end on time. It is important because people's time is valuable and this provides structure and sets a routine.
What is said in the group stays in the group. This makes people feel comfortable and will promote sharing.
Remember everyone has an equal right to the time allotted. It's important to know that everyone is allowed to speak for as long a time as anyone else.
Everyone is given the opportunity to speak as well as to decline to speak. You shouldn’t force sharing but be sure everyone was given the opportunity so everyone feels included.
Regular attendance at meetings is encouraged but not required. Its good to be consistent but isn’t a requirement because if they miss we want them to know its ok to come back and they aren’t banned they valued.
Members may come and go as their needs change. People lives change. In the beginning they may need everyday interaction. However, as they accomplish goals and gain new responsibilities their reliance on the process lessens.

What to do in Difficult Situations

If Someone in Group is Bored or Disinterested

Ask them questions directly about the topic or group being discussed. This can give you insight to what they are thinking or why they are feeling that way.
Provide a survey at the end to get honest feedback to know how to alter group to be engaging the next time.
Let them lead the group for a while. See where they want to take it.

Disruptive Behavior

Acknowledge the feelings of the individual.
Provide ground rules before starting the group as a preventative measure.
Remember that disruptive behavior is often caused by stress or frustration.
Try to engage them by asking them questions specifically about group to see if they need to talk about something else or just needed to feel like they had the opportunity to speak.
Distress is often the cause of a disruption. It is important to recognize the stress while still addressing the behavior. Rather than say, “John, you are clearly emotional right now and you need to stop arguing,” say, “John, I can see that this topic has you upset; however, we need to bring this debate to a close.”

Silence

• Rephrasing the question, and waiting through the silence. If no one speaks up, the leader will share a transparent story from their own life knowing that the honesty and vulnerability often provokes a response.

Call on veteran members of the group who won’t be embarrassed or even bothered.
Remember silence isn’t always bad. At times silence could mean you have evoked critical thinking or encouraged someone to speak that normally doesn’t share.

Someone Who is Monopolizing Group Time • Establish ground rules to promote adequate time for everyone to share

• useable “Round Robin “ format, giving everyone the chance to share or pass if they would like.

• Set the stage by announcing before each discussion that you want everyone to have the opportunity to share. For example, state each person in the group to limit their sharing to a set time. When the dominant personality starts talking, give them their time and wait until they catch a breath, or maybe just slow down. Then catch their eye, hold up your hand, and say, "That's a really good point." Immediately look at another person in the group, direct your hand toward them, and ask, "What do you think?“

Types of Behavioral Health Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous- Substance Use Diagnosis Group
Narcotics Anonymous- Substance Use Diagnosis Group
Drug Addicts Anonymous- Substance Use Diagnosis Group
Celebrate Recovery- Faith based Recovery Group
MAT specific meetings- Safe place for MAT clients to attend substance use group where they feel included
Cocaine Anonymous- Substance Use Diagnosis Group
Alanon- Loved ones of Substance users Group
Nacanon- Loved ones of substance users group

Resource Information

• Pink Cloud App (AA meeting finder)• Quick NA Meeting Finder App (NA Meeting finder)• In the rooms App (meeting finder)• https://www.narcotics.com/na-meetings/kentucky/lexington/

Core 6: Using Support Groups to Promote and Sustain Recovery

Behavioral Health Support Group

Recovery-oriented care and recovery support systems help people with mental and substance use disorders manage their conditions successfully.

Behavioral Health- the connection between behaviors and the health and well-being of the body, mind and spirit. This would include how behaviors like eating habits, drinking or exercising impact physical or mental health.

Support Group-a group of people with common experiences or concerns who provide each other with encouragement, comfort, and advice

Benefits of Support Groups

People in the groups learn from each other. When you are in a group you get to know the people in the group and may even value their opinion. You might try things based on their experiences or not based on their experience or suggestions.

Being in a group is not as intensive or demanding as one on one situations. The focus doesn’t have to be on you at times and you can bring the focus on you when you want.

Learn we are not alone or not the only one with these situations. There is a comfort in finding out you are not the only one that has experienced this.

Reducing distress- Having people to talk to that can relate to you is empowering. Just hearing that someone went through or is experiencing something you have is comforting.

What to Avoid Doing When Working with Individuals as a Peer Supporter

No fixing

No saving

No advising

No setting a person straight

No judging

Only handing out negative feedback

Ignoring people

Making everything about you

Playing favorites

Managing by fear and intimidation

Expecting people to read your mind

Taking credit for the work of others

Being sympathetic

Being disrespectful

Being dishonest

Being indirect

Acting as if you have power over your peer

Responsibilities of a Group Facilitator

• Guide You must know the steps of the process the group will execute from beginning to end. You must carefully guide the participants through each of the step.

• Motivator From the rousing opening statement to the closing words of cheer, you must ignite a fire within the group and keep it well lit. You must establish momentum and keep the pace.

• Visionary You must create a vision for the group of why the meeting is important.

• Bridge Builder You must create and maintain a safe and open environment for sharing ideas. Where other people see differences, you must find and use similarities to establish a foundation for building bridges to consensus.

Responsibilities of a Group Facilitator Cont.

• Clairvoyant Throughout the session, you must watch carefully for signs of potential strain, weariness, aggravation and dis-empowerment — and respond in advance to avoi dysfunctional behavior.

• Peacemaker While it is almost always better to avoid a direct confrontation between participants, should such an event occur, you must quickly step in, re-establish order an direct the group toward a constructive resolution.

• Taskmaster You are ultimately responsible for keeping the session on track; this means tactfully cutting short irrelevant discussions, preventing detours and maintaining a consistent level of detail throughout the session.

• Praiser At every opportunity, you should praise the effort put forth, the progress made, and the results achieved. Praise well, praise often, praise specifically.

Common Guidelines Peer Supporters May Use When Facilitating Groups

Meetings begin and end on time. It is important because people's time is valuable and this provides structure and sets a routine.

What is said in the group stays in the group. This makes people feel comfortable and will promote sharing.

Remember everyone has an equal right to the time allotted. It's important to know that everyone is allowed to speak for as long a time as anyone else.

Everyone is given the opportunity to speak as well as to decline to speak. You shouldn’t force sharing but be sure everyone was given the opportunity so everyone feels included.

Regular attendance at meetings is encouraged but not required. Its good to be consistent but isn’t a requirement because if they miss we want them to know its ok to come back and they aren’t banned they valued.

Members may come and go as their needs change. People lives change. In the beginning they may need everyday interaction. However, as they accomplish goals and gain new responsibilities their reliance on the process lessens.

What to do in Difficult Situations

If Someone in Group is Bored or Disinterested

Ask them questions directly about the topic or group being discussed. This can give you insight to what they are thinking or why they are feeling that way.

Provide a survey at the end to get honest feedback to know how to alter group to be engaging the next time.

Let them lead the group for a while. See where they want to take it.

Disruptive Behavior

Acknowledge the feelings of the individual.

Provide ground rules before starting the group as a preventative measure.

Remember that disruptive behavior is often caused by stress or frustration.

Try to engage them by asking them questions specifically about group to see if they need to talk about something else or just needed to feel like they had the opportunity to speak.

Silence

• Rephrasing the question, and waiting through the silence. If no one speaks up, the leader will share a transparent story from their own life knowing that the honesty and vulnerability often provokes a response.

Call on veteran members of the group who won’t be embarrassed or even bothered.

Remember silence isn’t always bad. At times silence could mean you have evoked critical thinking or encouraged someone to speak that normally doesn’t share.

Someone Who is Monopolizing Group Time • Establish ground rules to promote adequate time for everyone to share

• useable “Round Robin “ format, giving everyone the chance to share or pass if they would like.

Types of Behavioral Health Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous- Substance Use Diagnosis Group

Narcotics Anonymous- Substance Use Diagnosis Group

Drug Addicts Anonymous- Substance Use Diagnosis Group

Celebrate Recovery- Faith based Recovery Group

MAT specific meetings- Safe place for MAT clients to attend substance use group where they feel included

Cocaine Anonymous- Substance Use Diagnosis Group

Alanon- Loved ones of Substance users Group

Nacanon- Loved ones of substance users group

Resource Information

• Pink Cloud App (AA meeting finder)• Quick NA Meeting Finder App (NA Meeting finder)• In the rooms App (meeting finder)• https://www.narcotics.com/na-meetings/kentucky/lexington/