Archive for December, 2009
Support Confidentiality and the Group Formation in Process..First Steps First!
December 1st, 2009 | Author: connie
The past month has been a whirlwind of ‘firsts’….first meeting, first greetings, first opportunity to begin to define the specific nature of what this unique group is all about! Every meeting begins with a familar reminder: participation requires a pledge of confidentiality, a covenant not to share with others anything about who was there, details about what was shared, etc. Entrusting ourselves to one another requires that we remain steadfast in this commitment to confidentiality, now and always.
While out in the Greensburg community, I happened to see the mother of one of the women attending Single Mothers Network. She knew I was the group facilitator and mentioned that she was pleased that her daughter was attending, but indicated that she felt somewhat perplexed. Without acknowledging whether her daughter had or had not been in attendance, I noted that it seemed clear she had some concerns and I would be happy to address them, if I could. She told me that she had asked her daughter who else was there, what they discussed, etc…and her daughter basically said it was good and walked off. Frankly, the woman was not sure what to make of that! This mother was not meaning to meddle or gossip, but was genuinely interested in the group and its potential to be of help to her loved one in some way. I explained that her daughter’s response was in keeping with our pledge for confidentiality, and I indicated that I was pleased with her daughter’s brief response. Put in this context, the woman understood and wished us well.
Our group is always available to those who want to participate. Questions or concerns? Email Connie@Greensburg MothersNetwork,org or call 812-222-9475
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