As Members Arrive
- Cultivate an environment of positive encouragement, engagement, and conversation
- As people arrive virtually, welcome them into the gathering
- Greet arrivals with a personal welcome – say their name
- Engage in conversation around common interest
Focus the Gathering
- Begin within 5 minutes of the start time
- Bring a focus by getting everyone’s attention
- If there are new members – begin with introductions and a check-in
- Introduce yourself and model what you want others to share by what you say
- Name, something memorable or interesting about you personally
- Share your loss with a brief description of who you lost
- Their relationship to you
- How long ago you lost them
- What your grief journey has been like since
- Check-in by sharing what life is like for you right now with regard to your grief
- Remind the group of the relevant community guidelines
- Invite others to introduce themselves, share their loss story, and check-in with how they are doing now
- Be sure to explain that anyone may “pass” on any question, or limit sharing if uncomfortable
- Listen carefully to what people share and consider the needs of the members as you transition to sharing after introductions and check-in
- Consider making notes to help your memory and keep the focus on member needs
- Introduce yourself and model what you want others to share by what you say
Transition from Introductions to a Topic
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- A topic may be introduced with a couple of sentences, but quickly move to a question and offer the opportunity for members to share
- FACILITATE – DO NOT TEACH!
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- If you are doing all the talking, something is wrong
- Your role is to facilitate discussion
- Less is more when it comes to Facilitators talking
- Keep the focus on asking relevant, insightful, open-ended questions
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- The topic may come from a general element of healthy grieving, or it may come from several members of the community mentioning the same need or struggle
- Let member needs drive the topic
- Topic examples:
- Grief bursts – emotional “waves” that overwhelm us without warning
- Isolation and withdrawal – inability or lack of desire to get out and be around people
- Self-care: taking care of yourself physically, mentally, relationally, spiritually and emotionally
- Holidays, Anniversaries & Special Days
- Nurture the Environment of the Community
- Your community needs to be a safe place to be real
- Positive, private, encouraging, pressure-free, inclusive, and non-judgmental
- Gently invite quiet or non-participating members to join in
Move toward closing with about 10 minutes left
- Wrap up any loose ends from the conversation
- Acknowledge the positive sharing of the group
- Ask if there are topics of interest for next time that have come out of today’s gathering
- Mention resources available on the website
- Invite everyone to connect between gatherings on the group’s private Facebook page
- Remind the group about upcoming workshops or podcasts, and the next gathering day/time
End on Time!