Successful Facilitating: Intake Interview (Summer 2007 Newsletter)

Contributed by Jerry S., Facilitator to multiple L.I.F.E. Groups

When someone wants to enter a L.I.F.E. group, an intake interview is conducted to ensure that the individual is where they need to be, and to familiarize them with how the group works. It is important to make sure the group can meet the needs of the candidate. Established group member welcome newcomers with less hesitation when a candidate comes prepared to take recovery seriously. Participants accept the facilitator's intake Interview as a sort of initiation. Also, the newcomer feels more comfortable taking that initial step through the door to enter their first meeting. Newcomers feel frightened, overwhelmed, and timid. This intake interview can reduce everyone's fears to a manageable level.

During the intake interview, the facilitator should start with their own story. The story should include: First time exposure to porn or other sexual experience, shameful feelings, needing help, finding a L.I.F.E. group, the start of their journey to present day. This will help the newcomer relate to the facilitator by hearing that the facilitator has been where they are now, and the newcomer will gain hope through the facilitator's testimony and time in recovery.

The facilitator can explain the dynamics of the meeting, information about the resources used, and how the meaningful contribution is used each week to help yourself and others. This will give the newcomer insight into the meetings.
During the intake interview, if the newcomer is comfortable, they can share a bit about their addiction. This allows them to open their heart a bit, voice the problem(s), practice being vulnerable and feel a bit of relief even before their first meeting. It also gives the facilitator a chance to guide the newcomer about what is OK and not OK to say in a meeting (i.e. no graphic details, confidentiality, "said here stays here", etc.).

The Intake interview has been a wonderful tool in helping the meetings to remain safe for all participants.

Do you conduct an intake interview similar to this? What other topics do you cover? Share your thoughts now, click Comments below.

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Jerry S. is a successful facilitator who facilitates operations of 6 L.I.F.E. Groups including a spouse’s group, organizes retreats, OPEN meetings, one day seminars, marriage seminars and other events for the L.I.F.E. groups in his city.

Updates (Summer 2007 Newsletter)

Upcoming Conference. We are excited to attend the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference this September! Every two years, this important event gives L.I.F.E. the opportunity to meet thousands of counselors and pastors, and this will be our fourth time there. We were among the first exhibitors to openly address the subject of sexual addiction, and hundreds have visited our dougle booth over the years. Many have expressed their appreciation for the work of L.I.F.E. Ministries during the three previous conferences, and it will be great to see these old friends. While sales of L.I.F.E. Guides at this event have grown each time we’ve attended: getting the issue of sexual addiction and the L.I.F.E. Ministry program in front of these attendees is critical to our growth. There will be about ten of our staff and ministry leaders present to meet and greet the attending pastors and counselors. If you are able and would like to make a financial contribution to help cover the costs (like printing of brochures, preparation of booth, transporation of booth, etc.) of this conference, please call Headquarters at (866) 408-LIFE or visit www.freedomeveryday.org/aacc.

Where are Bob and Johna? They are focused on the upcoming American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference. Their column will appear in the Fall newsletter. Please keep L.I.F.E. in your prayers as we make all the preparations to attend this outreach opportunity.

XXX Church. The crew at XXX Church is successfully entering college campuses and other venues. If you recall, they released a co-branded L.I.F.E. Guide series to offer a tool of recovery along with their awareness efforts. For more information about XXX Church and their message about the destructive nature of pornography, please visit www.xxxchurch.com.

New resources. We are close to releasing two new resources. The first is the Orientation Guide for Men; a booklet designed to effectively educate and integrate newcomers to L.I.F.E. Groups. The second new resource on deck is the L.I.F.E. Guide for Young Women. Look for more information and availability on each of these soon.

Successful Facilitating: Strong Relationships

Contributed by Jerry S., facilitator of multiple L.I.F.E. support groups

Being a growth oriented facilitator involves not only moderating a group each week, but becoming a relational Christian. Strong relationships in the Christian community will develop resources for the facilitator and creates a referral source. Your future members from the community will approach these referral sources needing help with their own sexual integrity.

I recommend developing strong relationships with Christian Counselors, Senior Pastors, Church staff and lay leaders. This may seem difficult to some facilitators, but if God has called you to counsel in addiction, these relationships will only benefit His kingdom.

One may find it easy to meet and introduce themselves over lunch. Pick one day per week and invite a different member of the Christian community to lunch. When calling to invite them, tell them that you facilitate a support group in the area and that you would like to take him or her to lunch. If they hesitate, let them know that you simply want to introduce your ministry and answer any questions without taking up a lot of their time. Make it known that you want to be a "resource" for them...not a burden. During lunch, tell your own story. Share how your own recovery from sexual addiction has brought you to this point and what a support group has meant to you.

Those that you already have contact with or an established relationship with, make yourself available to pray with them about confidential issues. Whether it is for a member of their congregation, a client, themselves, or someone else hurting – offer to be a part of their prayer team. E-Mail them that you just prayed for them or prayed for a specific issue that concerns them. A hand written note has a positive effect.

Keep these relationships informed by providing them with copies of your newsletter, tell them about new resources like the “Sexual Addiction and the Church: Facing the Fire” DVD, and give them access to ministry resources that you already have. Offer to loan out DVD or CD sets that explain more about the ministry to keep them in the know.

If your group hosts open meetings, invite these referral sources so that they may experience what you are doing first hand. They may be reluctant to come, but continue inviting them anyway.

If you have a call to counsel in this ministry, establishing relationships in your local Christian community can impact more lives, create resources for you, and further connect the different ministries in His kingdom.
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Jerry S. is a successful facilitator who facilitates operations of 6 L.I.F.E. Groups including a spouse’s group, organizes retreats, OPEN meetings, one day seminars, marriage seminars and other events for the L.I.F.E. groups in his city.