Session Twelve: Saying goodbye

Partnering With Families Affected by Concurrent Disorders - Facilitators' Guide

Session Goals

• Formally end the group.
• Get feedback from participants on their experiences in the group.
• Obtain suggestions about things that participants valued most and things that would improve the experience.
• Encourage participants to think about ways they will continue to stay resilient and obtain support.
• Identify resources that could be of help to participants, the ill family member and other family members.
• Celebrate participants’ contributions to making the family support group a positive experience.

Content Outline

• Taking care of the formal tasks related to the ending of the group.
• Allowing participants an adequate time for input and feedback about the experience.
• Taking time to celebrate and affirm the contributions participants made to the support group.
• Talking about the road ahead for each participant in the context of the journey of recovery—immediate issues, concerns on the horizon.
• If part of the plan, reminding participants of follow-up for individual contact for evaluation and feedback of the experience.
• Highlighting the ways that the door remains open for continuing support, formally and informally.
• Saying goodbye and expressing appreciation, respect and best wishes.

Leaders’ Notes

As a way of formally acknowledging that the group is coming to an end, give participants time to reflect on their experiences in the group and to offer feedback about the content and the group process. Make sure that each member has an opportunity to make comments. Remind participants of any further contact that is part of the program—such as a follow-up meeting for evaluation

If you have asked the group to keep their answers to one or more of the quizzes—Preoccupation and Impact (Session 4), Assessing Resilience (Session 5), Family Concurrent Disorders Readiness to Change Ruler (Session 7), Recovery Attitudes Questionnaire (Session 11)—you may want to ask the group to take one of the quizzes again, and to see if their answers and scores have changed. This will help each person focus on the positive changes in his or her own life. Some people may also find that this activity highlights problems or areas that they need to work on.

Resources for ongoing education and support

Introduce the issue of looking ahead and talk about the resources that are available in the agency hosting the group and in the community, as well as online and in books.

Be prepared to answer questions about follow-up services. For example:

• Will this group be meeting for any follow-up sessions in the future?
• Does your program/agency offer any other support educational groups for families or any other kinds of family services?
• Does your agency provide family therapy interventions or concurrent disorders consultations for families in crisis?

If your agency does have family programs, be prepared to talk about details such as:

• the number of families on wait lists
• the specific inclusion/exclusion criteria or other requirements (if any) for other available family services.

If possible, hand out flyers or brochures about your agency’s family services and other services available in your community (e.g., family therapists, the local chapter of the Schizophrenia Society or the Mood Disorders Association)

The Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders contains a list of resources (websites, online publications and books and booklets). You will probably want to add other resources that you have found useful.

Celebrating the work of the group

Consider ending this session with a ceremony or celebration that affirms the work of the support group as an important and valued accomplishment. This can be as simple as having a cake or giving out certificates. Often the group will come up with suggestions. Whatever you choose to do should feel like a natural part of the group process rather than an artificial ritual that is being imposed on the group.

Saying goodbye

Share you own perspective on the experience of the past 11 weeks, and let the group members know that you recognize and appreciate their contributions to the group and their efforts to support their own families.

It is also extremely important to give participants room to grieve the closing of the group, to establish ongoing connections with each other where desired, and to say good-bye.

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Partnering With Families Affected by Concurrent Disorders - Facilitators' Guide

• Overview
• Working with families
• Preparation
• Implementation
• Evaluation
• Session Outlines
  • Session 1: Introduction
  • Session 2: Substance use problems
  • Session 3: Mental health problems
  • Session 4: How concurrent disorders affect family life
  • Session 5: Self-care
  • Session 6: Stigma
  • Session 7: Navigating the treatment system
  • Session 8: Medication
  • Session 9: Relapse prevention
  • Session 10: Crisis and emergency
  • Session 11: Recovery
  • Session 12: Saying goodbye
• References
• Resources
• Appendix 1: An Overview of the Research
• Appendix 2: The Partnering With Families Affected by Concurrent Disorders Project

• Print