Sharmina, our in house Healing Together Programme Facilitator, talks about her experiences of direct delivery as 1 to 1 and in groups.
In my experience, whether delivering Healing Together sessions in groups or 1 to 1, I've found value in both approaches. Each offers a unique dynamic that contributes to the healing and empowerment of parents. However, both come with their own set of challenges that require careful consideration. There are some key points that helps me to consider how I can best facilitate the sessions to make it a valuable and beneficial experience for parents who are on their healing journey.
Firstly, it is important to create a safe space. The benefit of delivering the programme online provides parents access to sessions from their own safe space. As a facilitator establishing that safe and supportive environment is vital. Building trust and maintaining confidentiality as well as ensuring past trauma and experience is not talked about can be challenging to uphold especially in groups where this can be triggering for other parents. It is essential to create a safe place for parents to attend and learn.
This is particularly challenging in 1 to 1 sessions, however, refocusing on the resources and content of the programme can be helpful to navigate the session back to the learning content. In 1 to 1 sessions, it's important to steer conversations back to the programme to ensure a safe environment for discussion without delving into personal trauma. It helps to be clear about the programme's aims and starting each session with 'The Feeling Safe Together' plan.
The main advantage of 1 to 1 sessions is that they can feel relaxing for those who feel anxious in group setting. It also provides them with the opportunity to share their reflections and have more open discussions. It also provides an opportunity to ask questions and explore in more detail things that they find challenging. By doing 1 to 1 sessions, parents feel comfortable to ask questions and feedback on their thoughts and experiences. This gives you, as a facilitator, to build rapport and trust and reinforce the sense of safety while delivering the programme.
Group sessions can be positively encouraging for those attending: parents have reported feeling a sense of belonging knowing that they are not alone and others with similar experience are facing similar challenges. Group sessions foster a sense of community and solidarity among participants, providing an opportunity for shared experiences and mutual support. Parents often positively inspire each other and shares ways of overcoming challenges they face.
But whilst group sessions are positively encouraging, it is not always possible to tailor the delivery to everyone's needs in a group. This highlights the importance of pre-assessment sessions to determine the most suitable format for each parent. Being mindful of the individual experiences of the parents and having a flexible approach is crucial while delivering the sessions.
Overall, both group and 1 to 1 sessions have proven highly beneficial for parents, with positive feedback indicating the value of each approach in facilitating growth and empowerment.
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