FACILITATOR’S GUIDE
 
This Guide is written to give you practical suggestions in the basics of leading a group, as well as ideas about the core message itself, followed by a review of each week’s specific core message!

Before reading this guide, please read and be familiar with the HOME PAGE, the WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW PAGE (Of special interest is the “Pause, Reflect, Receive” part), and the and the TOOL KIT.  The educational work of WONDERFULLY MADE/SCRIPTURE AND SCIENCE is important information that provides an understanding of how God has designed us for healing.  See the tabs above.  These readings are well worth your time and will give you a great foundation of what is in Comfort.Guide!
 
But first the basics…  
As stated in our Home Page, Comfort.Guide will revolve around two core areas: knowing Jesus and His heart for us, and knowing ourselves so we can invite Jesus to heal us and experience His abundant life.  Everything that follows will line up with these two areas!
 
THE FACILITATOR’S ROLE

A facilitator’s role is meant to assist God in what God is doing. It is important to realize that the work being done is truly God’s work, not the facilitator’s work.  The members present are God’s sheep, not the facilitator’s sheep.  Be encouraged through this truth and trust the Holy Spirit to unfold His work and plans for you and for this group! 

The facilitator’s role is first and foremost to establish, and model, a complete reliance on the Holy Spirit.  This draws each member’s attention to actively listening to the leadings of the Holy Spirit for themselves as well as fully participating in the group.

This awareness of the reliance on the Holy Spirit can be accomplished through the process of intentionally pausing to “cry out” to Jesus in worship, music and prayer as each session begins.  A “quiet time” to calm the body and the mind lays a foundation for more effective listening to the Holy Spirit.  Letting go of distractions is so important in receiving comfort.  We want the Holy Spirit’s words to us to become a personal “heart” belief, rather than acknowledged as only a general “awareness”.   Of special interest is the “Pause, Reflect, Receive” part of the WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW page.

 
THE FACILITATOR’S ROLE AS A MODEL

The practice of pausing, quieting, and “crying out” to Jesus is to be modeled not only at the beginning of the session but throughout the session when emotions surface, when questions for direction surface, or personal prayer is needed at the request of a member, or the evidence of need for intervening with comfort as certain painful memories are shared.  In other words, Jesus is the “go to” person.  Become familiar and practice the self-soothing information in the TOOL KIT.  This information will also aid you in helping an individual who may need assistance in calming their deep emotions.  Some people may also become easily distracted as a way of avoiding discomfort when experiencing emotions.  These reactions are quite normal.  NOTE: In certain situations, some group members might need professional counseling, as evidenced by becoming deeply overwhelmed and almost inconsolable as well as consistently distracted when emotions are discussed.  Knowing a qualified Christian counselor in your area will be helpful.
 

FACILITATOR’S ROLE AS A DIRECTOR

A facilitator must balance the need to “cover material” with knowing when to pause, perhaps because at a particular time God’s work is evidently being done in a special way.  Similarly, reflecting on a certain point for a longer than planned time permits a member or members to go to the depth of healing needed in the moment. That’s receiving!

A wise facilitator will also be sensitive to the timing and pacing of the Holy Spirit so that you will know exactly when to move to the next area.  This will involve assessing both what can be accomplished in the group and what can be processed later at home on an individual level.  Please note that most probably, MOST of the education, etc., will be done throughout the week; it will be impossible to cover everything just within the confines of the group meeting itself.

 
FACILITATOR’S ROLE AS OBSERVER AND ENCOURAGER

Each session will have plenty of great teaching and education; however facilitating is different than the role of teaching.  Your role as teacher gives information needed for understanding certain material.  Your role as facilitator continues to use open ended questions and opportunity for the members to use their own words and seek the Holy Spirit’s leading.  Also, your role is to look at each member and ascertain how they are absorbing the material.  In other words, are the ideas “clicking”, or are you seeing someone seemingly confused?  Watch for the interaction of each group member: open and active, or quiet and passive, assertive or aggressive?  You may see these patterns and help the members identify the source of loss that is perhaps at the root of their response in group dynamics.  You want to be ready to support each member especially as they grapple with perhaps some painful life experiences.
 

FACILITATOR’S ROLE IN ESTABLISHING SAFETY

Another important role is establishing safety!  Making each group member feel SAFE, as well as COMFORTABLE and WELCOME is essential!  This builds trust, resulting in successful group interactions.

 
Here are some practical suggestions for establishing safety…

The facilitator, as well as each group member should commit to being supportive to all group members by developing the skills of listening, empathy and encouragement.  Bring this to the group members in order to set an agreed upon way of participating in the group.

* Listening expresses understanding and shows care about the current issue without having to “fix” the issue.      
* Empathy is the ability to understand and have compassion for a person, “see and feel through their “eyes” without being judgmental or critical. Empathy also distinguishes between and maintains a boundary between your feelings and the feelings of others.
* Encouragement involves expression of hope and truth expressed through valuing the individual’s potential for growth.

* Self-introductions during the first session will assist each person in knowing each other more personally.  It also builds “belonging”!
* Commit yourself and each member to confidentiality; an individual’s disclosures in the group is not to be discussed or shared with anyone outside the group, ever.
* Encourage the members to commit to attending each group session as consistency will enhance a sense of safety.
* Start and close on time.  This builds a sense of safety and respect for each person’s boundaries.
* Each member in the group has the freedom to participate in the group at their own pace.  Members can be encouraged to share but should never be pressured.  How each member participates in the group internally is as important for healing and understanding of themselves as how they participate outwardly in the group. It is important to invite each member to become aware of what is happening in their internal reactions and be able to share these internal responses with the group or privately with the facilitator.
* There is no pressure, nor is it encouraged, for members to establish relationships outside of the group process.   If members do indeed meet outside the group, and if the actual group process is discussed, then these issues discussed should be brought to the leader and the group as a whole. 

Before we begin to look at each week, it will be helpful at this point to take a look at change and grief.


Click HERE to go to the next section: "Change and Grief".

To look for a certain week, just click on the "Facilitator's Guide" tab at the top of this page and click on the correct week.