Setting up and facilitating bereavement support groups a practical guide - Graves, Dodie (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2012)
Includes bibliographical references and index
Those who have been bereaved are in need of support, and groupwork is an effective way in which people can come together and support each other in a trusted environment. This book provides a practical introduction to setting up and facilitating bereavement support groups, giving facilitators the confidence to run a group. It guides the reader through all the stages of setting up a group, and examines different types of facilitation and the skills needed. Case studies illustrate different types of group, such as closed, time-limited groups and open groups, with a discussion about the potential
Setting Up and Facilitating Bereavement Support Groups: A Practical Guide; Acknowledgements; Disclaimer; 1. Introduction; 2. Setting Up a Bereavement Support Group; Some things to consider before you start; Some things to consider about running the group; 3. Thinking about Facilitating a Group; What makes a good facilitator and co-facilitator?; The role of the facilitator; Lead-facilitation and co-facilitation; Listening skills; Group management skills; 4. Different Groups that Operate; A case study of a closed group with no fixed agenda; Closed groups with structured content
A case study of an open groupOther groups; 5. Managing Dynamics in the Group; Overbearing or dominating behaviours; Silent behaviours; Tearful, distressed and emotional behaviours; Inappropriate disclosures; Conflict between the participants; Relationships that emerge; Absenteeism and fallout; 6. Pitfalls Along the Way; Participants forming a clique and diverting the focus of the group; Familiarity and overstepping the boundaries; Participants being upset by a facilitator's comments; Not providing a safe place; Allowing a group to go down in their mood every week
Sacrificing the group for the sake of one participantControversial subject matter; 7. Conclusion; Appendix 1: An Example of a Support Group's Threefold Leaflet; Appendix 2: An Example of anEvaluation Questionnaire; Appendix 3: An Example ofa Facilitator's Record; References; Further Reading; Useful Resources; Index; Blank Page