How does the group work? We try to determine what the majority of people want to get out of our sessions. Currently sessions are mainly focused towards mutual identification and support. Sometimes extra information is presented by facilitators or members to help members increase their social confidence and a generally improve their quality of life. Your suggestions for session content are always welcome. One of the main benefits of covering material within a group, rather than on your own, is that it greatly helps with staying focused and motivated plus you get access to different perspectives on things that you may not have previously considered. It also gives you the chance to discuss and share any concerns and issues you have in a confidential environment. Members of often find that they encounter similar problems and that they can draw from each others experiences to help them understand themselves and make positive changes in their lives. During each session, members often share their own experiences of living with social anxiety in small groups or pairs. What do you need to know before coming to the group? If you have read the information on this web site, or other sites and believe you have many of the signs of social anxiety, then you will be very welcome at our sessions. We understand that coming to the group for the first time could be a big and nerve-racking step for you. Many new members express feeling very nervous about coming to the group for the first time but often also report that they've had a positive first session. We'll understand if you're extra quiet at first. If you feel unable to attend a session on your own and feel that you need the support of someone else like a support worker, family member or close friend then please contact us first, or ask them to contact us. We have allowed this on occasion in the past but generally find that members gain more from sessions when the group only consists of people who have experienced social anxiety. Rules and Guidelines To help protect our members and provide a suitable environment for the group we have laid down the following basic common sense rules for all members and group facilitators to follow during sessions. Rules For the safety of the group and to make the group a valuable resource for its members, all members and facilitators must follow these rules at all times. Information personal to members or facilitators that is seen or heard during pair work, small group discussion or the session as a whole must remain strictly confidential within that group. People may tell you things in confidence that they don't wish for other group members or facilitators to know about. If for a good reason you need to speak to people external to the group about things that relate to group members or facilitators then do not give away any identifying information about them, such as their name, age, job, address, activities or appearance. Discriminatory acts or remarks within the group are not acceptable, including those of race, sex, skin colour, religion, age or sexual orientation. Physical or mental bullying within the group is under no circumstances acceptable. Partaking in the group while under the influence of drugs, including alcohol is not acceptable. This excludes any prescribed medication you may be taking. All members and facilitators must respect the personal views of other members or facilitators and accept that opinions will differ. All members and facilitators must be sensitive towards each others personal issues. Be aware that things which may sound trivial or ridiculous to you may be a serious issue for another member and could be causing them a lot of distress. Everyone must be given space to contribute during session activities if they wish to. Guidelines Please try and stay focused on matters relating to social anxiety and the group. Remember that session time is limited and that members attend the group to receive help and support with social anxiety. You do not have to take part in any of the group activities during the session. Please just say that you'll pass if you don't want to take part in anything. Members should not have to explain why they wish to pass. There is no obligation or pressure to share personal issues or information. You do not have to share anything if you do not want to. Remember that we are all here for the same reason; because we experience social anxiety or have experienced social anxiety in the past to a degree where it limits the quality of our life and happiness. If you feel that you have suffered as a consequence of any of the rules being broken by someone at a group session then please contact the group facilitator. They can then help resolve the matter sensitively and appropriately. These basic common-sense rules are read at the begriming of each session with some reminders at the end of the session. What happens in a group session? This is what to expect during a typical group session. Please remember you have the choice to leave at any point during a session without having to give a reason, although please remember to inform someone that you are leaving for health and safety reasons. Also you will not be forced to take part in anything you do not wish to. Our current feelings* - This just involves saying literally one or two words about how you're currently feeling. This is always done and the start and end of each session, members can also provide feedback about the session if they wish to. Handouts - Handouts are sometimes distributed to provide information about social anxiety and increasing social confidence. Exercises - Sometimes members get the opportunity to actively work on making progress with their social confidence by taking part in set exercises. These may be done individually or with other members. Often these involve things like increasing self-esteem and general self-improvement. Social Skills Practice - Occasionally we provide the opportunity for member to practice their social or public speaking skills within the safe environment of the group. Pair Work* - Members are split off into pairs to discuss matters relating to social anxiety and their experience of it. Small Groups* - Members are split off into smaller groups of 3 or 4 people to chat or do an exercise together if they wish to. News & Group Admin* - News about group changes or activities and other news relating to social anxiety is given out. Any other matters relating to the running or development of the group will be discussed. * These activities are included in most sessions. What's expected of you? We expect very little from yourself you'll be glad to hear, but please bare the following in mind. You must follow the group session rules listed in this document. Please let us know if you are unhappy about anything concerning the group. We ask for a suggested voluntary donation of £1 per session. This is optional but SA West depends on these donations to cover the venue rental and other runnings costs. If we do not receive enough funds then all costs come out of facilitators own pockets. Extra funds are put back into benefits for members. Again, you are under no obligation to stay for the whole session or take part in any activity. You are not required to bring anything other than yourself. Reasons not to worry about coming to the group or how you acted afterwards It is common with social anxiety to have concerns about things you said or did with other people after you've been with them. Usually these concerns are unjustified so please bare the following in mind. Everyone in the group has experienced what it's like to be socially anxious so they understand how you feel. If you did not say anything in the meeting, you won't be the first and we really do understand. Everyone is often very focused on their own behaviour and will unlikely be scrutinising yours. No pressure environment - you are under no obligation to take part in anything you do not wish to. You can leave at any time. You are under no obligation to keep coming. You are very welcome to try a session and not return. If then days, months or years later you decide to attend again then you are very welcome to come back. Facilitators and group session rules are there to provide you with a safe, welcoming & confidential environment. We love getting new members, although we won't make a fuss. We often have a member welcoming people at the door until 19:05 to help make it easier for newcomers. Your first visit will probably go a lot better than you think, the thought of coming to the group is often a lot worse than actually coming. Coming to the group is probably one of the best things you can do to help yourself overcome SA (in our opinion). Hey what else is there to do on Monday nights! :o) Finally... Please get in touch (see the contacts page) if you have any questions about coming to the group or for information about social anxiety in general. For information about how to find us please see the directions page.	Click here for a schedule of session dates All meetings start at exactly 7pm and will finish 9pm at the latest. The entrance door will only remain open between 7pm and 7:30pm. This has been introduced to help avoid interruptions from the general public trying to use Redland library services. Library services are unavailable during group sessions. If you'll be arriving later than 7:30pm then please contact us in advance or ring us when you arrive so we know to let you in (call 0790 807 0036). It is possible that we'll be unable to hear knocks on the door so please keep our mobile number with you. Social events One of our members has kindly taken on the role of social secretary to help arrange social get-together's outside of the regular group sessions. Please ask for more information about this during group sessions. Also after sessions some members proceed to a nearby pub to join an informal social group that's arranged for people experiencing social anxiety. Information about social events can often be found by joining the following discussion group: SA - UK Bristol SA West is not responsible for the contents of 3rd party web sites or activities that happen outside of the regular weekly sessions between 7pm & 9pm.
Last modified on 5 Oct 2007