Discussion 06: Diversity Among Members in the Group
Please note: In order to successfully complete the program, you must respond to this post. Your comment/response should answer the questions/show that you completed the given activity (if any). Read the post carefully and implement the learning in the chat rooms. If you didn't participate in Discussion 05: Ethical, Cultural, and Group Management Issues, then check here!
This discussion will highlight how group leaders think about the identities of the group members and themselves and how we factor these thoughts into planning and leading the groups.
The myth about the homogenous group
When we talk about homogenous or heterogeneous groups, it is referred to as the problem presented in the group. A homogenous group is one in which members share similar kinds of problems to discuss and share. Anxiety Support Group, for example, focused on anxiety issues while Depression Support Group focused on depression, Trauma Support for trauma-related issues, Relationship Support for relationship support issues, and so on.
Although, variability still exists in these topic-specific groups as well even though it is assumed it is not highly relevant to the operation of the topic-specific groups. This perspective can have different roots. The first is the sublevels of the specific topic. Like in the anxiety support room, there could be some members experiencing social anxiety, some struggling with test anxiety, and some with health anxiety as well. Though they are broadly categorized as anxiety, they are different. The triggers for these subtopics could be different and so the coping mechanisms and intensity at which a member experiences them.
Another root is member’s thoughts about their own identity and the challenges they have. Due to differences in one’s perspective and how everyone perceives a piece of information could cause conflict too. Like thoughts on one’s mental health struggles with the factor of religion or cultural aspects to it. And, how others see it. Or, the group leader’s own thoughts on these points and the knowledge they have on it to address it.
All of these factors conspire to lead group leaders to limit permissible acknowledgment of the diversity of the group members even though they look like a homogeneous group.
To address this diversified group, a group leader needs to acknowledge. Individual differences like age, generational influence, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, socio-economic status, mental health issue, etc need to be considered and acknowledged while addressing and leading the group.
When a group leader acknowledges their situation with an empathetic view and helps them understand how others may have similar situations but just individual differences, then they are able to build a healthy connection and support in the group. It allows group leaders to structure the group effectively even though they are diversified.
7Cups Community Leader, for example, is the term we use for our leaders instead of stressing on who is from where, the age, education, etc. In the 7Cups ecosystem, they are known as community leaders of 7Cups who are performing different levels of activities to ensure better support and guidance for everyone.
As long as a group leader is able to identify and connect the common grounds, the group members would feel inclusive and unified and better supported and comfortable.
Discussion: What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
Activity: Respond to at least two of your fellow trainees' comments with thoughts on their share.
After fulfilling the requirements of this post. Ensure to implement the learning from these discussions in the chat rooms to build and support the group. You must take part in the brainstorming/activities given in all of these discussions to successfully complete the program.
Edited by Asherwolfice, 4/19/21
@ASilentObserver
People here belong to different countries cultures and communities my take away as a leader will be no matter what i shall be welcoming respectful empathic and kind to each and everyone in the room
@Healingbeams Agreed!!
@ASilentObserver
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
As leaders, we need to understand that everyone coming into the group chat may be at different points in their own healing journey while not forgetting diversity among members including race, ethnicity, religion etc. This ensures that everyone feels validated
@beck1 I agree with you
@beck1
Well said beck. It's important for us to keep in mind that we are all at different points in our own personal journeys. Without that realization, it's hard to maintain a friendly and inclusive chatroom environment.
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
Yes, as far as the group composition, I recognize that at any point in time I might have participants from any corner of the globe. I try to affirm that our cultural beliefs may be different and that we can approach each person from where they are rather than from where we are in our views.
@ASilentObserver
Diversity amoung all of us is what makes us all unique and special, we all need to educate ourselves to give us a better understanding of others!
@pianoplayer1253
Yup piano! Well said! 💙
Sharing the same or similar kinds of struggles creates a very strong bond. This bond helps us not feel alone. It make it easier to empathize. We can learn from each other how to cope. And we can see that others are ahead and we can make it, too. We all try to move along together. In that sense shared troubles makes groups "better".
But I find that diversity in our struggles can be a good thing, too. It helps us further develop compassion for others' struggles although we do not share them. It brings people together whose commonality is not the kind of problems they are facing, but who simply have in common that they struggle. And sometimes this diversity shows us that there are others struggling with issues that we do not struggle with which can help put the problems we face into perspective.
Yet, there are times when it does not work. When the gaps are too wide, other's struggles may not be relatable anymore. Some may feel mocked by what others consider issues to vent about. Some problems may seem nonsensical due to a lack of cultural sensitivity.
I find that even in these cases, most groups still work as long at the gaps that cannot be bridged are not central to the session.
@MagnificentSunrise
Yeah sunn! Lack of knowledge about different cultures can make gaps between members. But still we can simply be there for them, so they won't feel alone. We can care for others and help them with kindness. We can't change others perspectives, but we can remind others to be non judgemental.
@MagnificentSunrise Yes, it's good to learn from one another rather than creating gaps and distances from each other. But not everyone is willing to do that often, depending on how they express themselves to the group. It definitely requires clear communication that we're giving each other support within the whole group, and what the topics that are being focused on, despite coming from different backgrounds.
@ASilentObserver
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
All the people in the world don't have same problem with the same severity and the ways they use to overcome the problems are also different and unique. This diversity can be very helpful since the people with same type of problem for example depression, don't have to feel they are the only one who is suffering , they can feel less alone after meeting other ppl with depression. They can share their thoughts, validate, show empathy and share their coping mechanisms. They can make bonds.
People with different problems can still share their thoughts without being judgemental, validate and show empathy. At the end the thing which matters most is everyone feel heard and supported.
@ASilentObserver
My takeaway from this is that even though we are all here probably for the same reason which is mental health issues, we should still acknowledge that we are from different backgrounds, with different practices/living, and therefore be mindful towards one another, be respectful, understanding and empathetic.
I'm glad there's diversity in this platform as this is also the way to learn about different things from each other (cultural, religious and etc.), and should one come across someone in real life different than them, they will be able to engage with them in a manner which is not disrespectful towards them in any way, as they now have some knowledge pertaining whatever "the engagement" will be about.
@SoothingHope
i agree with this and also feel like a platform like 7Cups is an amazing way to start getting the exposure of connecting and interacting with the general public regarding mental health because what looks healthy for one person for example may not be for another. So by acknowledging these differences and at the same time come to an understanding of how we think differently is what we need as supporters.
@ASilentObserver
Discussion: What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
My takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader is that each person has their own wording on the definition of terms such as for empathy and self care yet despite these different wordings or what they emphasize in the definition and their method to apply the skills, they are all correct or true because the skills in what they are and how they can used are so vast and even people who may not be familiar or have used the skills can share what they’ve seen or done that related to these skills and learn what they can try from other members responses. That’d why no matter how many discussions I host I always feel like I’m taking in something new from someone and always preparing to adapt to a new group with their shared and differed ideas
@ASilentObserver
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
My takeaway is that although we all come here for the same reasons, how we interpret others and certain situations are different based on our cultural and social makeups. We might all come here to give support or be supported but how we receive and give that support matters a lot as everyone has different ways of interacting and feeling.
@Endure777 that's very true. The general purpose of 7cups is where people can receive as well as give support for those who need a safe place to be in, no matter where they are from. I think that's quite a challenge for a group setting since the group members will often be from different backgrounds, and it's up to the group leader to acknowledge that and be open-minded around them.
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader? I think that people dont just fit one category and they can be in multiple groups or relate to others in each group.
We are all different and no two experiences are the same.
Yet we can always find someone who we can relate to.
Thank you for your wonderful comment!
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@AnnaSilverberg
youre welcome
