By: Kate Patterson
I. Project Objectives
Originally I started this project with the intention of creating group content to contribute to a pilot program at Center for Hope. This pilot program had been created to support parents with children in the judicial system as well as parents in the judicial system with children. However, as I worked with the group facilitator, it became apparent that the content the group needed was something that they could carry home in their pockets. And so, the tip cards were born! In addition to the tip cards, I also created a guide full of helpful tips for group facilitators. There are so many incredible facilitators, so I took the time to learn from some of the best and compiled their wisdom in an easily accessible guide.
II. The Project Deliverables
- Below are tips cards with useful information that anyone can use when dealing with an emotionally tense situation. They are perfect to keep in wallets, backpacks, and so on for easy reminders and suggestions.
- Below is a general guide to some facilitating best practices. While this is meant to serve as a reminder for trained facilitators, it also has some incredible points regarding listening.
III. Project Challenges
The biggest challenge was understanding what the people in the pilot program needed the most. A few weeks into the project, the group facilitator and I decided that we needed to change the direction that the content was going and put the new content into different and more personalized tip cards. So the project went from being a good ways along to being thrown back on the drawing board. But once we arrived the tip cards and guide, it was smooth sailing.
IV. Project Processes
I spent the first part of this project learning about grief and how to facilitate grief groups. I attended a QPR training offered by Andra Hansen, grief group facilitating training offered by Joana Harpel, and a trauma informed and resilience focused practice training offered by Kate Francis. I spent at least 40 hours going to these trainings. They allowed me to build my skill repertoire to a point where I could contribute useful and safe information to people who were hurting and in need of help. Once I felt comfortable in that knowledge, I began to create the tip cards. Another student and I collaborated on these because we had both been to the same trainings for different projects. At this point, I also created the facilitating guide under the direction of the pilot program group facilitator at Center for Hope.
V. Project Experiences
This project taught me more about people, grief, and healing than I ever thought possible. Hearing people tell their stories during the trainings about their experiences with grief, suicide, substance abuse, and so many other things opened my eyes to a whole world of suffering that I never knew about. This inspired me to create connections with people so that I could learn more from them about how I can lift where I stand.
VI. Insights
The biggest take away from this project was that every single person that you will ever meet has pain that they carry. The best way that we can help is by being a safe place for them so that they can rest, heal, and grow.