How to Run a Wellness Group for Sober Women

Many women who have completed a substance abuse recovery program will continue to seek services to support their sobriety. Whether you're in recovery yourself or you're a community counselor or advocate you may find it very useful to offer a wellness group for sober women. These groups typically convene to discuss a wide range of health and wellness issues related to sobriety. Topics can include emotional health, coping with physical complications from substance abuse, and self-help tools for wellness, such as exercise, yoga, or meditation. In order to plan and run the group effectively you'll need to know how to structure the content, recruit participants, and facilitate discussions.

Instructions

• 1

  Develop an outline that includes topics for fifteen to twenty meetings. These plans should include a wellness topic with related educational materials, discussion questions, and an activity designed to expand on the topic. For example, if a meeting will focus on stress reduction, a guided meditation may be included as the activity. You'll need to choose your topics, gather materials, and develop a short overview for each meeting so participants can view the materials and understand what the group will explore.

• 2

  Structure guidelines for the group. Guidelines should cover issues such as confidentiality, member participation, and attendance. You will also need to consider if members will be asked to leave the group if they return to using substances. Many organizations vary in their approaches to this issue, but you will have to decide prior to your first meeting and make that guideline clear. Fees and any other responsibilities, such as care of the meeting space or purchasing of supplies should also be considered. You should inform members if they will be expected to contribute extra time or money.

• 3

  Facilitate your first meeting. As a facilitator in your group's meetings, you should present pertinent information about the group and facilitate the first discussion, which will most likely allow people to introduce themselves and share a little about their personal stories. As your role of the facilitator continues, you'll be responsible for enforcing group guidelines. For example, you should ensure that members participate fully in discussions and you should follow up with members who miss meetings.

• 4

  Seek support from other facilitators and experts. If you are new to running a group, you may want to attend groups in your community and observe the facilitators. Alternatively, with the consent of your group members you can ask an experienced facilitator to observe your work and give you feedback. As you work through a variety of wellness topics, search for local experts who may be willing to volunteer their time to visit your group and offer a presentation. For example, if you're planning a discussion on diet and health, you may want to find a nutritionist or nurse who is willing to present to the group.