PURPOSE: To create a supportive
environment for women to grow personally and spiritually
by sharing with others who are faced with similar challenges.
TIME: Wednesdays, for 90 minutes, 9:45 to 11:15 AM, 3 times a month
Coffee and juice will be furnished.
I will carefully screen all group members in individual counseling sessions, which will be used to set individual goals and insure all members are able and willing to keep the secrets of the group. To keep our focus on who we are in private and in group, last names, the first names of life partners, and names of businesses will not be expressed in group.
PROCESS:
In the first group, each woman will have
10-15 minutes to introduce herself, and another five to get feedback from others
in the group. After that, each
session will begin with prayer and a 5-minute account from each member of her
week--her most significant gratitudes, temptations, mistakes, accomplishments,
and issues which need time in group that morning. Then the floor will be
open for dealing with the issues presented. I will ensure that each person
requesting time gets her share of it, that each person asks for group time at
least twice a month, that everyone reacts to each other in a constructive
manner, and that his insights and direction are given when needed.
When a new member comes into the group, or anyone decides to leave, after
the usual round of initial reports, she will be given 20 minutes to introduce
herself, and ten minutes to get the group’s feedback.
GROUP
RULES AND PROCEDURES
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Beyond these rules and those
on the front, nothing that is said or done in this group will be discussed outside the group members, without
permission of those involved. It is understood that I will also abide by
these rules with the following exceptions, which I am required by law to report:
·
Communication of any group member's intent to harm herself or others
·
The revelation of recent or ongoing sexual or physical abuse, and
·
Whatever may become requested by court order.
AVOIDING CLIQUES: We’ll
be supportive and responsive to other group members who contact us between sessions. But to
prevent cliques from forming, and others from feeling left out, when mentioning
these contacts in group, we will not mention other group member(s) by name. Once
the group is established, outings for the whole group are encouraged.
CONSIDERING
OTHERS:
Group members should guard
against offending one another. In
the event of an offense, Matt. 18: 15-17 will guide our efforts to work it out.
MAKING DECISIONS:
Group decisions will be made by consensus of the group.
RESPECT: Members will respect
others' freedom to find their own answers. Advice
should be given only when it is clearly desired.
SHARING:
Members will consider
everyone's need to share, and to have their own "floor time."
PUNCTUALITY: Every effort will be
made to start and stop the group meeting on time. Group members will try
to be on time for each meeting, and are asked to apologize very briefly without
excuse when they are not.
FEE PAYMENT: $40 per session.
Thus $120 will be payable at the first of each month, to “Paul Schmidt”
or “Dr. Schmidt”.
INSURANCE COVERAGE:
If you are able to file an insurance claim for
reimbursement of your fees paid for group, I will be happy to furnish or file
these on a monthly basis. Insurance
is likely to preauthorize, as group sessions are less expensive.
TERMINATION: The decision to
terminate from the group must be announced to me in private, two sessions prior
to termination in order for the member and the group to process the event
constructively. Any prepaid fees
will be refunded.
REVISIONS
AND VIOLATIONS OF THESE RULES WILL
BE DEALT WITH IN THE GROUP AND BY THE GROUP.
For
Personal and Family Integrity
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OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AND ISSUES
Our lives are journeys we are not meant to travel alone.
That's why God gives us families, friends, church families and Christian
counselors. If you would like to
experience deeper love, joy and peace in your relationships, this group may well
be for you.
It is a problem-solving group, yes, but also a personal growth group.
It can be a therapy group for some, a support group for others.
Some will want to talk more at first, other will choose to talk less at
first, and more later.
So that no one will have to be surprised by finding someone in the group
from her own church, the first group member to join from any church can veto any
prospective group member who wants to join from the same church before they are
given her name. But if she OK's the
new person joining, her name will be shared with that applicant, who in turn can
then also decide whether to join the group.
To minimize competition for approval or attention here, I will make sure
everyone gets her share of time to talk, and of guidance and support in return.
To encourage quality new members to join the group and replace graduating
ones, that friend can join by mutual agreement, and subject to screenings
mentioned above: prior approval of
group members who are in her church, and my approval through individual
interview in advance.
To encourage members to make connections with each other for support
between groups, members will be encouraged to exchange phone numbers and email
addresses with any group member they feel a kinship with.
Questions? Feel free to call me on my cell, 502
633 2860.