The Celebrate Recovery Group

docx

School

University of the Cumberlands *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

634

Subject

Psychology

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by BailiffSeahorseMaster1288

The Celebrate Recovery Group A Psychoeducational Adult Group Sarah Mitchem COOL 634 University of the Cumberlands

2 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP Psychoeducational interventions support group members in sharing and developing coping skills and behaviors to deal with new or difficult situations (DeLucia-Waack, 2006). A group leader decides the general goals for the group and tailors’ specific content and interventions. A successful group leader fulfills the goals of the group by making the members feel safe, give them a sense of belonging, and a feeling of safety so they can open up and be themselves while they are in the group. I am grateful that I was able to observe an efficient group leader while in this class. Ms. Teresa taught me how to fully focus on group members and how to encourage group members to join in the activities. She also helped me to understand group structure in a small setting and how to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and able to participate. Group Formation and the Need Being Met Celebrate recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. It is a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling the lives of people. A big goal of Celebrate Recovery is that it is open to anyone and everyone and a goal is to bring the diversity of people’s issues and addiction all to one Christ Centered solution. Group members were first approached by the Assistant Pastor and Ms. Theresa. They immediately welcome everyone and start conversations to build relationships. The length of the treatment varies from how long the lessons last, if meetings are postponed due to weather, emergencies, reschedules, etc. The program is a 12-step program so it will last at least twelve weeks. Group members are struggling with addiction, anger, codependency, eating disorders, food addictions, love and relationship addictions, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, alcohol and drug addictions, sexual, and gambling addictions. Each member is also struggling with anxiety and depression to some extent. Ms. Theresa also touches

3 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP base with the members by making personal phone calls and text messages each day to check in on how their day is going. At the beginning of a new program, a general survey is given to participants. Their answers just for the counselor eyes only to get to know the participant’s background and personal information. The groups began meeting in March and after only a couple of sessions had to stop because of COVID. All original members of the groups were still in attendance when I began observing and no new members joined during my observation times. In total, there was one whole group at the beginning of each session and two separate small groups (one male group and one female group) with at least four members in each. Each group was the same gender and mixed age. The duration of the small group meetings were approximately thirty minutes per week, but the personal calls and text messages allowed Ms. Theresa to keep in touch with the participants. Credentials of Ms. Theresa Ms. Theresa has been a spiritual counselor for over ten years. Before that, she was a spiritual leader for twelve years. She is always furthering her education hours relating to leadership. Additionally, during her ten years as a counselor, Ms. Theresa has led many celebrate recovery groups and developed many relationships with members over the years. From my observations, I noticed that she upheld a high level of engagement with the group members. Her attention did not waiver at any time with any member during the meetings. When a member made an intense statement, Ms. Theresa would use her natural personality of caring and the technique of questioning/reflecting to help them express themselves and open up. The technique of questioning/reflecting can lead to increased self-awareness in students and establish safety in the group (DeLucia-Waack, 2006). I think Ms. Theresa’s calm, caring personality is one of the greatest qualities in leading these recovery groups for adults. The adults are very comfortable

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP talking with her and in front of her to others and they all know that she is there to help them. She went over all of the rules each session even if there weren’t any new members and made sure each member knew exactly what was going to be discussed during each meeting. If one meeting would run over into the next week’s meeting, the whole group part would review the lesson of the week before, so everyone was on the same page. This also created a great starting point for the new meeting. These adults seem to feel very safe in the environment that Ms. Theresa provides each week. Confidentiality When I started observing the meetings in October, confidentiality had already been established. Adult members knew that what was said in whole and small group, stayed in those groups. During my first meeting, Ms. Theresa went over all confidentiality rules with me and provided a flyer with the small group rules that are read aloud before each meeting begins. The flyer for small groups stated that sharing should be focused on their own thoughts and feelings, no crosstalk, we are here to support one another, not to “fix” them, confidentiality is enforced, and no offensive language. Any offenses can result in reporting to the ministry leader and/or being removed from the group. Ms. Theresa was always enforcing confidentiality and made sure the members knew that confidentiality was very important and a big part of the group. She was always so cautious in group to make sure all members felt safe and comfortable and knew that confidentiality was a very important part in their groups. Because these groups have different ages and come from different areas, the members might not see each other at all unless they are familiar with each other outside of the group. The group members did not seem to want to hide the fact that they were a part of the celebrate recovery group. Many of the members seemed very confident in their feelings. I noticed that

5 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP some members could talk about their feelings very easily, but some still struggled with opening up. The group determined at the first meeting that it was a personal preference if the member wanted anyone to know they are a part of the celebrate recovery group. Ms. Theresa made sure to let the members know that they were not to discuss about who else was participating in the group with them. They could talk about their own participation, but no one else. This gave the participants the option of how open they wanted to be with others outside of the group, without going into detail about any of the other members. This worked out best for possibly uncomfortable situations for the group members. Group Process The evening of my first meeting, Ms. Theresa and the ministry leader greeted everyone as they came through the door. They knew everyone there, so conversation came easily. Before every meeting started, the church offered dinner for all group members. Participants are encouraged to invite their families and friends to the pre-meeting dinner if they choose. The dinner is designed for a time of intimate fellowship and food with other Celebrate Recovery participants. The whole group meeting is designed for the participant to set aside the busyness and stress of their outside world by entering into a time of prayer, praise, and worship, and teaching as a way of getting in touch with the one and only higher power, Jesus Christ. The open share small group meets immediately after the large group meeting and provides a place for the participant to connect with other Celebrate Recovery members. This is a safe place where participants are placed in gender-specific groups and issue-specific groups. Newcomers 101 is for first-time participants and help the members better understand what Celebrate Recovery is all about as well as give them the opportunity to ask questions or process feelings in a safe environment before they make that commitment to be in a small group. After members have

6 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP attended Celebrate Recovery for a while, they join a step study. The step study small group is for those who are ready to dive deeper into their past and choices that they have made. This is where participants will see real, lasting changes starting to happen. Step studies take place another night of the week. Celebrate Recovery also offers a program for children and teens. Celebration place is the uplifting, hope-filled children’s companion to Celebrate Recovery. The Landing is Celebrate Recovery written for teens that help them deal with their hurts, hang-ups and habits (Celebrate Recovery, 2018). The Celebrate Recovery meetings took place on Tuesday evenings at a local church from 6:00-8:00 pm. The pre-meeting dinner starts for around 30 minutes. During that time, fellowship and casual conversation are taken place. I observed that many of the members knew each other and were comfortable with everyone around them. The dinner is provided and paid for by the church. After dinner, everyone moves in front of the stage where whole group takes place. Whole group is singing and fellowship with everyone as a whole group. This is a time where Ms. Theresa and the ministry leader laugh, sing, tell jokes, and create a small community with everyone. After the singing, the ministry leader leads the whole group into an introduction of the step that the recovery meeting is on. During my first meeting, the group was just starting Step 4. Celebrate Recovery has 12 steps and biblical comparisons. I noticed that at every meeting these 12 steps are recited and one member from the group will stand in front of everyone and say the biblical comparisons from memory after each step. Step 4 is “We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” Each member examines themselves and writes down their past hurts, who has hurt them or who they have hurt, and a solution to their hurt. These are not shared unless the member is wanting to voluntary share them in small group. The ministry leader has around a 30-45-minute lesson that he teaches from the principle that they are on. Although I was

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

7 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP just an observer, I found that the ministry leader was speaking to myself on many levels as well and I started to picture myself as a participant of the recovery group as well. After the ministry lesson and the introduction of the principle, it was time for small groups. I observed the female group during my entire observation period. Ms. Theresa led the group. Before every meeting, she would make sure to read the small group rules. She did a great job of including me in the group as well just like I was a participant. She did not mind me participating with them. I noticed that there were a couple of members who were very shy and hesitant about explaining and Ms. Theresa did not push them at all to have to answer. She had this caring firmness about her though that made them be attentive and not just sit in the groups and not participate. On my last observation day, one technique that I observed Ms. Theresa use was her willingness to share her own struggles. She never made a member feel left alone or left out. She had a close friend commit suicide and found out the day of the meeting. She came in and shared her story of how she knew him and how it made her feel. He had been a veteran and never had gotten any type of mental help. She said that no one around him knew that he had been struggling. I think that the realness that she brings to the group is an invaluable asset that creates a personal bond with each of the members. Ethical Issues I did not see or experience any ethical issues in the groups, there surely was opportunity for some to take place. Members could have been skeptical of confiding in Ms. Theresa if she reminded them of someone in their past or past relationships. This transference could have caused some members to dislike Ms. Theresa or not have any trust towards her. By the time I began observing this group, any issues related to this, if any were present, were already resolved.

8 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP The only time that I observed Ms. Theresa using personal emotion was the time in whole group talking about her friend committing suicide. Counter-transference issues have never been a factor for her in any of her interactions with adults that I have observed. She is always her calm, considerate self. She is the ultimate role model of being herself and seems to know how to deal with adults of all types. Additionally, while I did not observe any crucial incidents in this respect, anytime adults are working in groups the possibility for these incidents exists. Adults could have developed relationships with each other outside of the group members or friendship. While this may not be a bad thing, the goal of the groups is for adults to feel comfortable, safe, and able to work on their coping skills, anxiety, depressions, anger, and any addiction management. The goal was NOT to provide a dating venue. The adults could have also violated the confidentiality code. Since the group members were truly opening themselves up to each other, this would have had devastating consequences. Many of the adults in the group were struggling heavily with self- esteem issues as well as many of them said anxiety, depression, and addictions, so a breach of confidentiality may have been the last of it. Fortunately, everyone stayed honest to the confidentiality code and no one was affected. My Facilitation I would not change the facilitation of this group. By the time that I had entered the group, Ms. Theresa had very vividly earned their trust and established safety in the group. Overall, the adults were comfortable expressing themselves with one another and they all appeared to feel like they belonged in the group. According to DeLucia-Waack (2006), mental health agencies may be able to sustain longer groups. An ideal length for most psychoeducational groups in this setting is 12 to 16 sessions, allowing time to deal with more complex issues and behavior change to occur (the old saying is that it takes 10 weeks to acquire a new habit or behavior). Although

9 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP our textbook is written for psychoeducational groups for children and adolescents, I believe that this statistic would be proper for adult ages as well. I think that it would be beneficial to have a 12-step program last sixteen sessions so adults could get as much self-confidence to boost themselves after they complete the program. Overall, I feel that Ms. Theresa did an excellent job of combining anxiety and depression, stress, addiction management and coping skills into a group that is meant to be a road to recovery for anyone struggling with hurt, pain, or addiction of any kind. She made it a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that control their lives. She provided them with another adult in the church and the knowledge of Jesus Christ with whom they could connect with, which is always important for success. I learned many important things from observing her interactions with the adult members and feel better prepared to lead my own groups one day.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

10 THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY GROUP References Celebrate Recovery. “Celebrate Recovery Home Page.” Celebrate Recovery Homepage , Celebrate Recovery, 5 Apr. 2018, www.celebraterecovery.com/index.php DeLucia-Waack, J. L. (2006). Leading psychoeducational groups for children and adolescents . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

The Celebrate Recovery Group

Related Documents