Creating Brave Spaces: Gutsy’s Guidelines for Transformative Group Work
One of the ways we create a safe and brave space in Gutsy sessions is through agreeing to a set of guidelines and principles. Everyone in the group also has the opportunity to add to these.
The idea is to create an environment where everyone feels able to stretch and take risks, to make the most of our time together, and to feel supported to grow.
These guidelines were developed and inspired by my own experiences participating in various kinds of workshops, courses, conferences and gatherings, online and in-person, as well as being informed by my training with Claire Schrader in her Sunflower Effect method, by the Anti-Racist Forum’s Safer Spaces Guidelines, and by the open and generous suggestions of several participants.
Gutsy group session guidelines:
Read and absorb these guidelines.
Everything is confidential. We agree not to spread anything that’s shared during the course, including the names of participants.
Do not take photographs, screenshots or photos of the screen in any workshops, unless explicitly invited by Susannah and given permission by all participants.
Make an effort to remember people’s names and pronouns.
Respect people’s boundaries. If physical touch is an option in an exercise (such as placing a hand on your partner’s shoulder), you’ll be invited to agree together on those boundaries before we start.
Be compassionate and respectful. Practice kindness and compassion towards yourself and others. Some exercises invite emotional expression, but this should never be directed at another participant.
If you have a concern about another person in the group, please speak to me after a session or contact me by email. I want to know and will do my best to resolve the issue for you.
If a situation feels uncomfortable, please allow yourself to end the exercise or interaction, and speak to Susannah in person or via the chat if online.
Avoid making judgements or assumptions about others, including about nationality, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexuality, gender, health, social class, age, disabilities, profession, language or background.
Avoid stereotyping others based on your perception of who they are. Be mindful that you will find many crossovers in experience with your fellow group participants, and there will also be many diversities of experience.
Include everyone’s ideas. Make space for everyone’s contributions. If you’ve spoken on several occasions, allow space for others to participate.
Avoid comparing yourself to others. This is hard but we all do it, and we’re all practicing together. Practice turning admiration into inspiration.
Stretch and take risks.
Allow yourself the gift of making mistakes.
Forgive yourself. Acknowledge that we are all learning and in process.
Avoid giving others feedback unless it’s explicitly been invited by them or Susannah.
Commit to yourself, and the group. There will be times you don’t want to come; commit to showing up for yourself and for others in the group. Plan for this resistance and plan to move through it.
Do your best to be punctual and let Susannah know if you’ll be late or won’t be able to attend.
No eating during sessions, including chewing gum, unless for medical reasons.
Be curious. Everything that arises through the experiences is valuable information and fuel for your growth. Use it.