For the past decade Sanctuary
staff have been using S.E.L.F.as a powerful
psychoeducational tool to organize treatment, training, and even system
evaluations. S.E.L.F. stands for "Safety", "Emotional
management", "Loss", and "Future",
four key domains of recovery from just about anything - and everything.
The training includes an introduction to
Trauma Theory and
S.E.L.F. by Dr. Sandra Bloom and then twelve weeks of hands-on
group training with two experienced trauma therapists and co-founders of the
Sanctuary Model, Joseph Foderaro and
RuthAnn Ryan. The group training is held
with the staff and clients present for the first hour and then a review session
with the staff. The entire
S.E.L.F. Psychoeducational Group Curriculum is
now included in the training package.
Beginning in 2002, the Parenting
Collaborative of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services funded
CommunityWorks to provide S.E.L.F. Group training to a number of
different organizations including:
Women Against Abuse (domestic
violence shelter)
Interim House Residential and
Outpatient (SA treatment for women)
People's Emergency Center
(shelter)
Achieving Reunification Center
(DHS family reunification center)
Red Shield Family Residence, The
Salvation Army (shelter)
Warwick House (child and
adolescent residential treatment)
Pathways PA
H.E.L.P Inc.
Jane Addams shelter
For
information on purchasing the S.E.L.F. Group Curriculum
Here are some comments from some
of the
group participants:
This group is important to
continue because…
It
gives everybody the opportunity to share what they are feeling inside.
It
helps us get stuff off our chest towards one another and know where the
boundaries are without hurting each other.
Some
people require it.
The
community gets to speak on different things/issues that are really
important. That they may not/cannot share at another time or in another
group.
It
helps us deal with issues that may bother us in a safe environment and
atmosphere. It also allows us to give and get back helpful feedback.
Learning S.E.L.F.
S.E.L.F.
is a very good group. You can get a lot out of S.E.L.F.
This
group teaches you how to safely manage your feelings.
It
allows us to let out how we feel and what is bothering us.
It has
an impact on how to handle angry and different issues.
Basically it helps me to focus on feelings that still come up in life.
It
gives me a lot of insight related to my recovery and the process of S.E.L.F.
We need
to talk about safety, emotional management, loss, and future.
There
are people always in need of awareness and solutions to behaviors and
feelings…. including me.
It
helps you to express yourself.
It
keeps me focused and together as far as reality.
We need
it.
How
can what you have learned in group help you?
It can
help me to remain open to others so they can help me with what I am feeling.
It
helps me deal with my temper and lets me know when to stop and how to go
about the situation.
It
helps me recognize when someone’s safety is put at risk.
I will
talk about my issues instead of holding it all in.
If I
practice maintaining volume control in my daily life, it can ease a lot of
unnecessary stress and tension.
It
teaches me to talk more to my peers.
It has
helped me a lot – safety and affect management—to know how to control my
anger.
What I
learned about is my feelings and how they can be presented differently.
How to
get along with people.
Help to
be able to speak out and participate in S.EL.F.
To stay
aware.
Given
me more courage and confidence with my recovery and to realize I am not
alone.
By
taking heed to what I learned.
It can
help me when feelings or situations of mine are in need of a new
perspective. Putting things through the S.E.L.F.model sets things in a better
perspective.
I no
longer have to hold things; I speak on how I feel.
By
following what I have learned.
To be
safe.
Are
you using S.E.L.F.? Please explain how knowing about Safety, Emotional
Management, Loss and Future has made a difference for you?
I am
now able to recognize when I’m feeling an ouch or an uh-oh and be brave
enough to say yes or no.
It is
helping me with learning how to deal with grieving my brother’s death and
that I can and now have a choice with what goes on in my life.
Not
really. I guess I do but I don’t attribute that to S.E.L.F.
I know
longer hold things in. I speak on things I need to talk about.
It helps me practice
self-discipline in my daily life. It helps me see that the choices are mine
to make.
When we have a situation
we use the words: Yes, No, Uh-oh, Ouch.
Yes I am. I know just
when and where safety comes and goes. I need to learn how to control my
anger.
ABOUT FUTuRE: Now II know
how to move on with life without the use of drugs.
I try to refer to each
letter of S.E.L.F. when I need to present my feelings.
Helps to be able to speak
out and participate in S.E.L.F.
It has made life easier.
Once you have the tools and begin to use them one feels more confident.
By me doing the steps it
asks of me.
Yes, I use S.E.L.F.
Knowing about S.E.L.F. and applying it to my life keeps me grounded and
focused. It keeps me conscious of what I am going through and conscious of
a solution.
I really don’t know.
Yes, to gain things I’ve
learned.
I have learned how to
grieve and be safe.
Do you think
learning about S.E.L.F. can help “stop the cycle of violence” in dealing with your
children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews? How?
Yes! Because I can stop
and think and talk the situation out at a minimum tone and keep the affect
of the conversation at the “0” point level.
Yes, it teaches me patience and how to deal with violence
when it comes to me and how to act when people say bad things or do bad
things to me.
If we take it seriously
and apply it to our lives.
Yes, because people talk
things through instead of fighting.
Yes, because children
usually practice leaned behaviors. If I can change the way my behavio8rs
affect them today. tomorrow their children won’t repeat the cycle.
Yes.
Yes, it has helped me a
lot because I know just when to put S.E.L.F. to use.
Maybe: I think it helps
during disciplining your children or anyone. Yes, because it teaches you how
to deal with situations.
Yes, because there are
areas that can always need improvement. But physical; violence among family
is not one of them.
Yes, by understanding you
begin to accept. Once you accept you learn how to deal with it.
Yes, because it shows us a
better way of looking at things.
Yes I do…if the recipient
is in full understanding of how it can really work for them because it is a
solution to over expressed feelings and actions in a constructive way. S.E.L.F.
is guided by people who are good at it and then teaches it to others until
it biomes repetitive enough to do on your own and pass onto others.
Yes, I know how to go
about situations now with the help of S.E.L.F.
Yes, because it is
positive.
Yes! (I don’t have any of
the above children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews).
This group is
important to continue because:
I learn about safety.
This group has helped me
with learning how to be safe in all that I do.
It helps you identify with
your trauma and deal with it now that you are sober.
I can express my feelings.
I learn how to be safe in
my recovery.
I use S.E.L.F. now in
every area of my life.
It can help me in a lot of
areas in my life.
I need to stay clean and
sober to share my experiences, strength.
Safety is important.
We discuss important
issues such as safety.
It teaches me to be safe,
to maintain my volume when I get upset.
I work on my issues.
We need to be safe.
I
think the group would be better if:
People got
more honest with themselves.
People are
more open.
We had more
time.
Once in
awhile we pick a topic to discuss as a whole.
People use
S.E.L.F.
More days
of the week.
I don’t
know, sorry.
We all participate.
We continue
to practice how to stay safe and calm and protected.
Everybody
uses S.E.L.F.
I enjoy it
as it is, “sharing.”
It is good
now.
I enjoy it
as it is.
How can what
you have learned in group help you?
It will help me by
sharing.
It will give me the power
to do the things I’ve learned about S.E.L.F.
I am able to place my
problems and face and connect them to S.E.L.F.
Be aware of the uh-oh and
ouch.
To stay protected, moving
on, letting go, stay balanced.
It can help me if I feel,
like I need the uses of any safe behaviors.
To express my feelings
about myself.
How to grieve.
Learning how to manage my
feelings in a safe way helps my recovery.
Being calm when I do get
angry or when I get a Yes, No, Uh-Oh or Ouch.
Keep my hand on the volume
control knob
For Information About S.E.L.F. Group Training please fill out the form
below
