Supporting ourselves and others

1. Supporting ourselves and others Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

2. Let’s draw…. • In this exercise, we will spend time thinking about how we are feeling at the moment, whilst drawing (yes, I know it’s a long time since you did you any drawing!! Me too!) • Just spend ten minutes or so enjoying your self with the paper and coloured pencils, and let your mind roam while drawing • Try to draw something (it doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else) which represents how you are feeling right now Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

3. Now-share you drawing with a partner • How did you feel while you were doing that? • Does it look like you expected it to? • Do you like what you see? • How do you feel now? • Have your feelings changed at all? Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

4. Stress • A state of physical and/or psychological arousal • Often brought about by a perceived threat or challenge • May be expressed differently by different cultures Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

5. Activity • Take a few moments to write down five things that help you relieve stress and feel calmer • Share these methods with the rest of the group Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

6. Coping with Stress • Coping is a way to prevent, delay, avoid, or manage stress • Coping mechanism categories: • Changing the source of stress • Changing the view of the situation • Tolerating the stressor until it passes or becomes less troublesome Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

7. Who can support you in your work as a volunteer educator? • You may have a close friend or partner who is a good listener and who is willing to support you (someone you feel safe with and who will be there for you) • You may work in a place where experienced staff are accessible and with whom you can share your thoughts and experiences • You may belong to a voluntary organization where someone may be interested in your involvement as a volunteer educator • You may know a GP, community nurse or other health or social care professional to discuss and share your role and work with • You may like to think about sharing your telephone number, email address, so you can help support each other • Consider arranging for one to one support and group discussions, with time set aside after meetings, to reflect and support each other Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

8. Brainstorming • What main attributes and skills should a volunteer educator have when offering support/ working with people in their community? • Spend 5 minutes brainstorming and writing down those characteristics which are likely to be required. Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

9. A possible list of attributes • Good Listening skills • Patient • Caring attitude • Trustworthy • Approachable • Non judgmental • Empathetic Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

10. Listening skills • Give total attention when one person is speaking, (eye contact, stillness, attention, body language) • Avoid interruptions and giving advice (very tempting – however, this may stop their train of thought) • Hearing what has been said. When the speaker has finished, repeat what you think they have meant • Avoid offering solutions (even if you have been in a similar situation yourself. It may not be a good solution for others. It may also stop their train of thought) I’ve taken out a bracket after ‘yourself’ • Remember silence is okay! (Especially if someone is gathering their thoughts to make sense of what they are trying to convey. Silence is also useful when someone is upset – it conveys acceptance of their feelings – for example of grief – rather than disapproval) Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others

11. Sympathy and empathy: what is the difference? •  Sympathy – implies feeling sorry for someone – not always a useful emotion or helpful to the other person • Empathy – implies understanding by being one step removed from a situation. This enables more constructive and appropriate help and support, and removes some unhelpful emotions that could cloud your judgment Module 2 Slides for Section 2.4 supporting ourselves and others