Peer support groups entail the following things:
(1) Atomic Habits book,
(2) group meetings, and
(3) habit change.
See below for more details.
- Atomic Habits Book -
It's helpful to have a resource full of information on what habits are and techniques for how to change. Atomic Habits by James Clear nicely provides such information, which is derived from basic and applied research in psychology. This book is based on a foundational model of behavior called the "Three Term Contingency," yet it expands on it with modern research and examples.
Antecedent
These are the triggers of a behavior. They can be cues in your environment, emotions that you feel, thoughts that you have, or even other habits. As time goes on they can suggest that a particular behavior may lead to a particular consequence.
Behavior
These are the responses or habits that you are trying to change or develop. Although antecedents can trigger a response, there may be things in your environment that limit the response, for example, the response is not easily accessible or it is hard to do.
Consequence
These are the outcomes of a behavior. Sometimes the trigger elicits a negative feeling and the behavior gets rid of that feeling. The consequence itself may be some positive feeling. The outcome can determine the likely of that behavior occuring again or not.
- Group Meetings -
Group meetings are a great place to troubleshoot ideas, have a source of acconutability, and feel inspired by others who are making change. Groups are lead by a Clinical Psychologist trained in habit formation. However, they are fueled by people like you. In order to make this group run smoothy, there are a few rules to follow:
- Confidentiality: What is shared in meetings should stay in the group. If you learn a helpful tool, that is okay to share with others.
- Active Listening: Listen attentively without interrupting others or speaking over others. Please limit distractions and avoid multitasking if you can.
- Respect Others: Treat each participant with kindness, empathy, and respect. Also, if someone doesn't want to talk or receive advice, respect that too.
- No Judgement: Try not to judge others, or at the very least, hold your judgements lightly. We have different values and are at different stages of change.
- Mutual Support: Offer support, encouragement, and inspiration to fellow participants whenever possible. If advice is given, speak from your own experience.
- Habit Change -
This is where the rubber meets the road. With the tools you learn from Atomic Habits and the support you get from group meetings, you should have what you need to make a change. If you are still struggling, let us know. Perhaps we can help you get unstuck.
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