How to Conduct a Women's Talk Session

Everyone knows that talking to a trusted friend or professional counselor can bring clarity and comfort. But sometimes, talking things over in a group can be helpful for those facing personal challenges -- such as illness or addiction. Women are sometimes more willing to open up to a group of peers who are facing the same problems, than to a counselor alone: Many find comfort in knowing they are not alone. To conduct a group talk session for women that is both productive and welcoming, it's important to organize the group and its activities thoughtfully and carefully.

Instructions

• 1

  Plan the structure of your group. It should be large enough that no member feels conspicuous for speaking out, but small enough to allow all to participate equally and actively; groups should range from about six to 12 members. The participants can be of diverse ages and backgrounds, as long as they all share the common interest or experience. To ensure continuity and group cohesion, do not introduce new members once the group has been established.

• 2

  Schedule the sessions. Arrange for talk sessions to be at times convenient for members.

• 3

  Enable group members to open up to each other. Introductory meetings of a group should be focused on getting group members acquainted and comfortable with each other. Breaking the group into smaller groups for intimate introductions can be helpful.

• 4

  Acknowledge the potential awkwardness of a group setting. Encourage members to articulate any fear or concerns they may have about participating in group counseling. Foster a sense of community and shared interests within the group.

• 5

  Keep in mind the diversity of experience that group members may bring. Do not expect all members to react in the same ways to suggestions or comments from you or others.

• 6

  Encourage members to act upon lessons learned in the group in their daily lives. Have members share their success stories with each other and discuss positive ways to overcome setbacks.

• 7

  Develop members' confidence in their abilities to cope independently with their problems. This is especially crucial, if your group has a fixed lifespan -- for instance, if it plans to only meet 10 times before disbanding.