HEAL Support Group Agreements

1. We welcome everyone based on our equity statement. 

2. We care for ourselves by opting in or out of any activity or sharing as best serves us.

3. We support ourselves and each other with kindness, compassion, understanding and open minds.

4. We practice peaceful, non-judgmental listening to other members and to our own thoughts and feelings as we listen.

5. We carefully choose words and actions which bring optimal healing for everyone.

6. We appreciate the healthy diversity of every healing path/situation by refraining from projecting our own path or choices onto others. In return, we take from others only that which serves us.

7. We ask questions of others (with the understanding that others may choose to respond or not), rather than directly stating our impressions of others' experiences or what might serve them.

8. We balance expressing with inquiry, being as interested in other’s experiences and perspectives as our own. We sometimes take more time when we need, and allow others to do the same.

9. We acknowledge that members who are therapists or in other supportive roles are attending the group as a peer, not in a professional capacity.

10. We honor the gift of vulnerability by keeping other members' sharing confidential (we may share our personal experience of a meeting freely as it serves our healing).

Feedback regarding these agreements is welcome, whether anonymous or posted in our forum.