Leading Small Groups

Tips for Leading Small Groups

Write or Draw

If your group goes quiet or struggles to share, first pause and get your group to write or draw their Strength on their Peer Leader Guide Poster before discussing what they wrote or drew.

Adults Share but Don’t Over Share

Share honestly but appropriately. If a student has to start worrying about you then you may have over shared.

Avoid 20 Questions

It’s not a group therapy session or an interrogation, so avoid asking too many probing questions.

Honor, Acknowledge, and Pivot Back to Strength

If a student shares something hard and it never arrives back to a story of Strength, respond by Honoring and Acknowledging (what they have shared), and then pivot back towards Strength by asking them what Strengths they used to help them through tough times.

Support Emotional Students

Support students if they leave the circle or the room due to feeling emotional. You or another adult should go with them, check in, offer support, and invite them back in when they are ready. The Trainer may be able to help you facilitate your group should you need to leave.

Issues of Confidentiality & Mandatory Reporting

If something comes up that needs to be reported, please invite a Trusted Adult like a counselor or administrator immediately during or after the training. • Keep confidential issues confidential.

Debrief After the Training

After the training we will debrief. Please remember any concerns that you observe during the training to share during this time. We will make a plan to offer support where needed.

Prompts for Small Group Sharing

Family Support

Share an example of what Family Support looks like for you, a person in your family that supports you (immediate family, extended family, chosen family, foster family), or a way that your family supports you.

Positive Friends

Who is a Positive Friend for you and what do you appreciate about them?

Mentors

Who is a Mentor for you and what do you appreciate about them, what do they do for you as a support? (Teacher, Coach, Parent, Counselor, Youth Leader, Sibling, etc.)

Healthy Activities

Name a few of your favorite Healthy Activities and what they do for you in terms of coping and managing stress.

Generosity

Share a time that you experienced Generosity from someone else or a time when you were generous towards others.

Spirituality

Share an example of how Spirituality has been a Strength for you. If you can’t think of anything, then share something you are grateful for.

Physical Health

Share about a time that Physical Health was a Strength for you or your family or friends, whether proactively caring for your health or getting help when you need it.

Mental Health

Which of the Big 3 Emotions is more common for you when you are having a hard time or wrestling with stress (anger, anxiety, or sadness)? Or which combination is more common? What helps with that? Which areas of the Wheel or Healthy Activities are your go to?

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