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Self-Help Groups: Making it work!
Gillian Kranias - Ontario Self-Help Network/SHRC40 Orchard View Boul. Suite 219Toronto ON M4R 1B9(416) 487-4355 or toll free: 1-888-283-8806web site: www.selfhelp.on.ca
Part I: Introducing Self-Help
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 2
What is self-help?
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Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 3
In 1999, the Canadian Health Network defined self-help as:
“A process of sharing common experience, situations or problems. Self-help is participatory in nature and involves getting help, giving help and learning to help yourself as well as sharing knowledge and experience. There is no charge to participate, although a nominal donation to cover expenses is sometimes requested, but not required. Self-help initiatives meet on an ongoing basis, are voluntary in nature rather than mandatory and are open to new members. Self-help initiatives are run by and for the participants. The primary focus of self-help is emotional support, practical support and informational exchange.”
What is self-help?
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 4
Some support groups borrow from (but are not exactly) “self-help”:
• Groups that charge a fee to participate.
• Groups that are run by a professional (paid) facilitator.
• Groups that are run by someone who does not have the same diagnosis or issue as the members.
• Groups that have members mandated to attend.
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 5
Comparing Self-help to Professionally-led support groups
Evaluation
Duration
Resources Used
Decision Making
Structure
Focus of meetings
Type of Leader(s)
Knowledge emphasized
often required by funderdecided by members
time-limitedongoing
paid staff, fees or funding
volunteer and “in-kind”
led by facilitatoreveryone
formalinformal
guidancemutual support
“outsider”“one of us”
training/educationpersonal experience
Professionally-led? 1 2 3 4 5 ?Self-help/Mutual Aid
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 6
Different sources of support
friends
family
therapy
Medical/ professional
information
professionally-led support group
self-help support group
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 7
Common Challenges in Self-Help Groups
• Recruiting new members
• Sharing the workload• Planning meeting
agendas• Meeting ongoing and
new members’ needs
• Confidentiality• Conflict• People who talk too
much/People who never talk
• Burnout
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 8
Stage 1: first date- high numbers, nervous leaders, silent
members, people leaving early.
To consider: be clear about your goals and guidelines, keep calm, don’t push..
Stage 2: casual dating- fewer people, members not quite ready to
make a full commitment, conflict.
To consider: make sure everyone has a chance to speak, stick to agenda, set aside time to discuss tensions/conflicts.
Stage 4: separation- a founder/key member leaves, someone is ill, or a
crisis takes place.
To consider: keep calm, recognize the inevitable stages of groups, have a discussion about what it feels like. Celebrate what you have gained, breathe, say goodbye... reinvent yourselves!
Stage 3: commitment- fewer people, members coming regularly,
more commitment, readiness to volunteer, lots of talk, trust & ease.
To consider: rotate jobs, do an evaluation, congratulate yourselves!
The stages a group will go through
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 9
Internal supports
• co-leader(s)• executive/other members
with roles• evaluation and planning• referral list• group celebrations• clarifying
goals/expectations
External supports
• leaders from other self-help groups
• helping professionals• sponsoring organization• self-help resource centres• newsletters, books, tapes,
manuals• training sessions
SELF-HELP RESOURCES
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 10
Members of your Self-Help“Community”
• Self-help Support Groups
• Hybrid Groups
• Local or Regional Self-help Networks
• Self-help Organizations
• Self-help Centres (or Clearinghouses)
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 11
Is this working for me?Components of a good group:
• I feel safe to open up and talk.• I feel supported.• I learn, give, and receive.• I make friends.• I can be a leader too.• I can leave the group or rejoin when I want to.• I feel safe to address feelings of tension or conflict when they arise.• There is discussion of conflict (when it arises).• There is change and laughter.• Members graduate and celebrate.• Membership goes up and down.• It feels right for me.
Self-Help Groups: Making it work!
Gillian Kranias - Ontario Self-Help Network/SHRC40 Orchard View Boul. Suite 219Toronto ON M4R 1B9(416) 487-4355 or toll free: 1-888-283-8806web site: www.selfhelp.on.ca
Part II: Tools for Shared Leadership
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 13
?Clear goals & boundaries?Outline of group activities?Sharing of the workload?Guidelines for group
discussions?External supports?Ways to maintain
momentum
Leaders
+
Ship
LeaderSHIP=
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 14
• Who are we?(What do group members have in common?)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
• The two main goals of our group are:____________________________________________________________________________________________
• This is a self-help/mutual aid group. Since we are not professionals, we are not able to:____________________________________________________________________________________________
LeaderSHIP: Clear goals and boundaries
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 15
• Our group meets:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Group activities during meetings:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Group activities between meetings:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Regular ways for participants to give feedback and make suggestions are:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LeaderSHIP: Outline of group activities
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 16
LeaderSHIP: Sharing the workload
Sample job titles:
• Contact person• Time-keeper• Refreshment co-ordinator• Welcomer• Information/publicity• Phoners• Meeting leaders #1 and #2
• Here is our plan to share and rotate jobs:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 17
• When speaking to the group:__________________________________________________________________________________________________
• When responding to others:__________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Strategies to protect confidentiality/anonymity:__________________________________________________________________________________________________
LeaderSHIP: Guidelines for Group Discussions
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 18
• Other self-help groups:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Helping professionals and crisis numbers:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Newsletters, magazines, books, tapes, manuals:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Self-help resource centres and training opportunities:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LeaderSHIP: External Supports
Ontario Self-Help Network - www.selfhelp.on.ca 19
• Ways to acknowledge and thank existing leaders:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Ways to recruit new members:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Times and ways to celebrate accomplishments:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Ways to take a break:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LeaderSHIP: Ways to Maintain Momentum