Facilitating
Facilitating in therapy, refers to a group process where a trained facilitator supports and guides a group of individuals as they explore and navigate their inner worldview, thoughts, feelings and perspectives, whilst also encountering and engaging with the inner worldview of others.
As a person-centred facilitator, I assist the group process by fostering a safe and supportive environment where each group member can openly share, encounter each other, and work through their challenges.
I often support and guide the groups process by providing empathic understanding and acceptance, facilitating conflict resolution, being attentive to each individual in the group, and creating a space where group members can be honest, non-judgemental and learn from one another.
Encounter Groups
In the person-centred approach, this group process is often referred to as an 'encounter group'.
Encounter groups are a therapeutic and experiential group process and can typically take place over a duration of days where the groups can range from as large as 60 individuals to as small as 4 individuals.
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During these encounter groups, people share their experiences and connect with others, often invertedly finding and understanding parts of themselves through this process.​​ Encounter groups allow deeper connections, understandings and processes, both on an individual level and on an interpersonal level.
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This group process, is largely different to group therapy. There is no formal therapist in an encounter group and unlike group therapy where the group process is directed by a therapist, encounter groups operate in a self-directed way with trained facilitators who assist the group with maintaining its process. In an encounter group, everyone chooses for themselves how much or how little they would like to share, and it is not a requirement of the group to speak. Individuals get to decide how much they would like to participate and can choose to come and go, and each member of the group is equally responsible for the groups process.
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In these encounter groups, there is no specific aim or goal predetermined. Encounter groups are often focused on developing self-awareness, personal growth and understanding others, with the direction and topic of conversation of the group being decided by the group itself.
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These groups offer a safe space where people can explore their own experiences without psychological interpretation. The groups also facilitate an opportunity to encounter and connect with different people who may have largely differing perspectives and worldviews from each other to create a sense of connectedness and deeper understanding of one another. Often when we encounter others on such a level, we discover a deeper understanding of ourselves, others, and the world.
“In such a group the individual comes to know himself and each of the others more completely than is possible in the usual social or working relationships. "
- Carl Rogers (1969)
Founder of the Person-Centred Approach
Facilitating Encounter Groups
For the past 3 years, I have been invited to the University of Nottingham to join trainee psychotherapists during their encounter groups on the MA Person-Centred Experiential Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice course. I have experience of both facilitating my own group, as well as co-facilitating a large group alongside another facilitator.
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As a facilitator in these encounter groups, I am an equal member and participant of the group and the groups process. My role as a facilitator focuses on supporting and guiding the group process. This is often done by listening without judgement, supporting the group with navigating their experiences, and offering empathy and compassion. I may also help resolve any conflict or difficult encounters, acknowledge individuals experiences, help to bring people in to the group, and create space for meaningful connections and encounters to take place.
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A key characteristic of facilitating encounter groups is trusting in the groups process and the groups ability to self-direct. Facilitating is often non-directive, leaving power and responsibility to each individual group member which can often be both a challenging and freeing aspect of participation. ​
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My facilitating approach relies on the wisdom and empathic understanding of the group rather than placing myself in a position of authority or power. I sit beside group members as an equal listening to all aspects of someone's experience, often sharing my own experiences when it is relevant and conducive to do so. This act of genuinely being with individuals and accepting what they share as authentic expressions of themselves has facilitated transformative encounters between group members and provided validation to individuals on a personal level too.
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In these groups, I stay psychologically present with individuals offering them cues and signs that I am with them on their journey. I may assist in facilitating personal growth and supporting members to reflect on their sense of Self by reflecting self-referent meanings from individuals contributions. I also acknowledge and am often moved by the therapeutic ability of the members and their potential for helping others which is often both humbling and inspiring.
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​​My facilitation style is rooted in trusting the feelings, words, impulses and experiences that emerge in me, and in others. I remain present and honest, participating authentically in the group to empower and facilitate for others a demonstration of trusting one's own process, with the belief that this will initiate transformation and acceptance in others, and myself.
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