This model sets the tone for the group.  And here are some other important reasons:

We can’t “fix” other people. But everyone has innate, unique abilities to heal themselvesgiven the right space and tools. The boundary of what we can do for each other is to offer that space and tools for others to use when they are ready.

We don’t want to further traumatize each other or clients. We are (probably) not trained as mental health professionals or counselors. In untrained, inexperienced hands, active counseling techniques can cause more harm than good. Permissive counseling, on the other hand, is a powerful skill anyone can learn to do and can practice without harming others.

Talking about trauma requires structure. Otherwise, it comes out in all kinds of wacky and harmful ways. Permissive counseling gives us safe boundaries and helps keep us from getting distracted by all the ways trauma expresses itself.

Thank you to Nekole Shapiro of Holistic Peer Counseling for allowing us to adapt her material for this instruction, and her model for our group!