SOOTHE Group
Supporting Ourselves and Others Through Healing and Empowerment
WEEK 1:
Introductions and defining compassion
(Group Session)
Estimated time to complete Week 1: 25 mins
Welcome to Week 1 of the SOOTHE Group. This week, you will come together with your group online for the first live group session. Before the first session, please take a moment to watch the short video below to understand how to navigate the website.
Throughout each week, you can send an email to ask a question or share a reflection. At the next group session, your facilitator will share a summary of any email responses and comments, without including any identifying information.
You will see that you already have access to all the materials across the 10-week program. Even though all material is available, it's entirely up to you whether you look now or later.
About the Website
What do you hope to get out of the next 10 weeks?
Take a moment to think about what you would like to get from being part of the SOOTHE Group. You might like to think of some personal goals that you could share with the group during the first group session.
Some questions to help you reflect:
-
If this group was helpful, what would be different for me after 10 weeks?
-
What would help me know that coming to this group was worthwhile?
-
Is there something I would like to understand, practise or do differently by the end of the group?
Enter your response in your Reflective Journal and paste it below if you'd like your facilitators to see.
Your responses are unidentifiable, so your facilitators won't know who wrote it unless you put your name. It's important to remember that text responses throughout the modules are for your learning and aren't a way to access increased or crisis support.
Each week you will see an overview of the live group session or self-guided materials. You don't have to do anything with this, it's just to provide you with a brief introduction into what will be covered for that week.
Group Session No. 1
Session overview
1. Introductions, program overview, group rules and norms, checklist, goal discussion
2. Defining compassion
3. Personal practice and self-guided learning and practice
Things to consider before starting the
SOOTHE Group
Checklist and Preparation
What Should You Consider Before Starting the SOOTHE Group:
This handout will help you prepare for the SOOTHE Group and set up a comfortable space where you can safely engage with the program. It will guide you through some practical considerations, such as “Do you have a private and comfortable space?” and “Do you have access to a device with sound and video?”
Read through each item and tick it off as you go (either mentally or using a pen or digital tool).
If there is anything you're unsure of or feel should be ticked but isn't, please reach out to your facilitators by email so they can help you work through it before the group begins.
Meet suffering with kindness, wisdom and courage