SELF CONFIDENCE GROUP REPORT HUNSTANTON SEPTEMBER Facilitators: Trish Benson and Carol Crockett ONE TO ONE PROJECT

Transcription

1 SELF CONFIDENCE GROUP REPORT HUNSTANTON SEPTEMBER 2014 Facilitators: Trish Benson and Carol Crockett ONE TO ONE PROJECT Supporting mental health in the community of West Norfolk Nelson House, Bergen Way, King s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 2JG Tel: Onetooneproject@aol.com

2 INTRODUCTION This report is for the third outreach Self Confidence course offered by the One to One Project during The course was offered and delivered in response to local need for self-confidence and self-esteem skills to assist people living within West Norfolk in rural communities and was open to male and female clients over the age of 18 residing in the West Norfolk area. The group met for 2 hours each Friday morning for a total of six weeks and ran from mid September to mid October Referrals were received from Community Mental Health Teams, G.P. practices and surgery s, increasing access to psychological therapies team (IAPT), MIND, and Sure Start Children s Centre s. The course was also offered to client who were on the One to One waiting list for a counselling service. THE VENUE The venue for this course was Hunstanton Town Hall, which is a magnificent Grade II Listed Building, built by George Skipper in The front of the building is used by the Tourist Information Centre with upstairs incorporating the council Chamber and Clerk s Office. The venue is Centre to Hunstanton. The location had many amenities for disabled persons and disabled parking was available along with parking permits for course members. SELF CONFIDENCE REPORT 1

3 THE FACILITATORS Carol Crockett is an experienced accredited person-centred counsellor, an accredited member of the MBACP and has been a volunteer with the One to One Project for over six years. Trish Benson is also an experienced integrative counsellor and a proficiency registered member of the MBACP. Trish has been a volunteer for the One to One Project for many years. AIMS OF THE GROUP The aims of the group were to create a safe environment where group members could explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences. To support group members to risk being part of a safe and respectful group they were each encouraged to be a little more accepting of themselves, which is a fundamental part of building and increasing self- esteem. Various exercises, skills and techniques were offered to help group members express themselves more assertively and gain new insight into their lives and experiences and choices. SELF CONFIDENCE REPORT 2

4 TOPICS COVERED Introduction What the group is about Human rights / My needs Critical voice Assertiveness How to say No How we relate to others and how they relate to us Compliments / Criticisms Endings PURPOSE OF THE GROUP Help individuals to feel better about themselves Validate each others experiences Help identify, understand and express feelings Build self-confidence and self-esteem Help to build a personal support system Help individuals know who important it is to have fun Provide opportunities to help each other Create a safe place to talk about feelings Help identify what is needed for themselves Strengthen coping skills Help find ways to deal with painful feelings SELF CONFIDENCE REPORT 3

5 ATTENDANCE 8 people confirmed they wished to attend the group The group began with five members attending on the first week (one person was ill and missed this week but joined the group on the second week). Six members completed the course (5 females and 1 male) Two group members stated they would be seeking a counselling service within the One to One Project upon completion of the group. RUNNING THE GROUP As the weeks progressed the group moved naturally towards a deeper experiential way of learning. The course contained a combination of both structured and an unstructured learning but what felt very valuable was the space and opportunity for members to express themselves as and when they felt ready to do so. The facilitators were constantly mindful of always checking in with the group whether the topics covered were what the group wanted. The facilitators also felt it was important to tailor the course according to the needs of the individual group. Handouts were given after each session covering the main SELF CONFIDENCE REPORT 4

6 topics, which could be collected and retained by each member in the folder provided. Past group members along with this group stated they found the handouts very useful to refer to during the course and afterwards. Group members were pleased to have retainable information which they could refer to when a difficult situation arose for them information relating to assertiveness skills and unhelpful thinking patterns. GROUP MEMBERS COMMENTS UPON COMPLETION OF COURSE Group members told us that as a result of attending the group they were all now able to: Participate in other activities with a greater sense of resilience. They shared an increased self-awareness and were able to identify behaviour that had held them back previously, such as avoiding putting their thoughts and feelings forward. That the courage of others to share their experience both positive and sometimes very difficult, gave them courage to risk talking about their own experience. That they felt more able to stand up for themselves and realized that on occasions the standards they had set for themselves felt a little too high and they needed to be more gentle on themselves. During the course group members were able to identify a sense of fulfillment and feel satisfaction from some of the SELF CONFIDENCE REPORT 5

7 choices they had made in their own lives whilst attending the group. The group shared moving examples of past and current experiences with each other. They also expressed feeling the courage to talk because they felt part of something safe and accepting. Taking the risk to share what had happened to them individually and to be heard and accepted was a very positive experience for them. Group members shared that they had experienced warmth and acceptance by the facilitators and felt safe from very early on in the course. The empathy and the gentleness shown by the facilitators and the time and space to talk felt very helpful, allowing each member of the group to feel heard and valued. Members of the group shared contact details so they could continue to support each other after the group ended if they so wished. Members of the group also expressed they would like to access further services provided by the One to One Project, e.g. Counselling, other groups, as they experience had been so valuable and positive for them. Four members of the group requested to be kept informed of future courses for the coming year (2015) in order for them to attend. SELF CONFIDENCE REPORT 6