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Building A Support Team
Welcome to the Connections &
Care counseling program. In this module, you will find new ideas, learning activities, and handouts to use when
talking with your clients about schizophrenia and building a
support
team. Because there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to
meeting the education and support needs of people with
schizophrenia, flexibility is the hallmark of this program.
These materials can be used over a period of time to explore the
topic in depth.
Overview
By participating in this session, clients will:
- Learn about the benefits of creating support networks
- Consider who might be members of their support network
- Discuss and/or practice the social skills needed to maintain
a
support network
- Explore how supportive relationships can foster wellness and
recovery
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Tips for
facilitating this module
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Recognize social
isolation as a symptom of schizophrenia
Social withdrawal is widely acknowledged as one of the earliest
signs of schizophrenia. Severed social connections are among the
most painful losses that individuals with the illness may endure.
Nevertheless, individuals do not always readily accept help in
reconnecting. Seeing social withdrawal as a symptom of the illness,
and not a deliberate choice, can help you persevere with helping
your patients to reconnect.
Recognize the lifesaving potential of
social support
Certainly social support can improve the quality of life for
individuals with schizophrenia. But it can do far more than that.
Social isolation, together with hopelessness, has been shown to be
one of the important risk factors for suicide in individuals with
this diagnosis. Thus, helping clients to build a social support
network can be nothing less than lifesaving.
Above all, emphasize hope
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For a very long time, schizophrenia was poorly
understood, and the word recovery had no part in
our clinical vocabulary. Now, that picture has changed
dramatically. There has never been a time of greater hope for
people with schizophrenia. Try to base your discussion on this very
real sense of hope. |
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Using the
materials
The materials are designed to be flexible. Here are suggestions
for using them:
- Review the learning activities and handouts as you plan your
session
- Choose the activities, discussion questions, and/or handouts
that are appropriate for your clients’ needs, interests, and
abilities
- Use the handouts in ways that match your clients’
abilities. For example, use them for discussion ideas, read aloud
as a group before completing, hand to clients to complete, or
assign as homework
- Revisit the learning activities and handouts as often as needed
to
cover the topic
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Icons
Look for these icons to help you choose activities to use with
your clients during individual or group sessions.
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Discussion
starters - Ask questions to introduce and spark your
clients’ interests in a topic. |
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Brainstorming -
Ask your clients to suggest possible solutions to a problem or a
situation. |
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Debate - Ask
your clients to engage in a debate, which helps them see all sides
of an issue. |
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Journal writing - Encourage your clients to write down their thoughts in a
journal. |
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Creative
expression - Invite your clients to explore and express
thoughts and feelings through art. |
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Icebreaker -
Ask clients for verbal responses to a topic question to help them
feel comfortable with sharing. |
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