Session 1

Fighting the Fire for Freedom | home

back to Treatment Plan

Session 1

Group Session 1: Introduction, Goals, & Group Rules

Discuss the role of Facilitator

Discuss the purpose of the group

Inform the group that it is an eight week closed group

Group members (8-12 people)

Discuss and establish group rules

Note the difference between thinking and feeling

Ice breaker exercise: What I believe?

Establish group cohesion

Establish group trust

The first session will begin with the Facilitator introducing himself/herself. The Facilitator will explain the concept of the group being a closed group and the duration of the group. The Facilitator will brief group members on the goals for the group. The goals are divided into (1) short-term goals and (2) long-term goals:

Short-Term Goals

a) define depression, recognize signs and symptoms

b) define anxiety, recognize signs and symptoms

c) identify loss that has been experienced

d) decrease impact of traumatic event

e) be able to identify their situation and their role from a cognitive perspective

f) be able to connect feelings with cognitive perspective

Long-Term Goals

a) begin a health grieving process

b) develop an awareness of how avoiding grief will affect the healing process

c) complete process of letting go

d) come to terms with the loss(es) experienced

e) accelerate normal process in normal people who have experienced an abnormal situation.

The Facilitator will lead the group through the process of establishing group rules. Some basic group rules are as follows: 1) what is discussed in the group, remains in the group - confidentiality is paramount, 2) speak in "I" statements, 3) attacking another person's point of view will not be tolerated. The group may add any rules they may think are appropriate. The Facilitator will explain benefits of the exercises that may be used to stimulate discussion during group sessions. Group will perform icebreaker exercise: "What I believe"

The group will end with a homework assignment (e.g. write what they expect to get from the group in no less than seven sentences).