Harness the power of your lived experience: Become a support group facilitator! NAMI Vermont's support groups are welcoming and inspiring spaces for all to share their story in a judgment-free environment.
What's the Opportunity?
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Lead a support group! Create an empathetic and encouraging space to share experiences and impart wisdom. We have two trainings coming up this fall - learn more below!
All NAMI Support Groups are FREE 60- to 90-minute gatherings that follow a structured model to provide a judgment-free space where everyone has an opportunity to share and be heard. Most support groups have two facilitators to help ensure everything runs smoothly.
We offer two types of support groups: Connection Peer Support Groups and Family Support Groups.
Connection Peer Support Groups are Peer-led gatherings where individuals living with mental health challenges share their experiences and coping strategies and support one another in their recovery journeys.
Family Support Groups are gatherings where family members and loved ones of individuals living with mental health challenges share their experiences, impart wisdom, and discuss coping strategies, all with the aim of empowering, educating, and reducing stigma.
Who Can Be a Facilitator?
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Connection Peer Support Group (CSG) facilitators must be Peers (individuals living with a mental health condition).
Family Support Group (FSG) facilitators must be family members of individuals with mental health conditions.
All facilitators must be at a comfortable place in recovery (yours or your loved one's) and be able to lead a support group on a regular basis, as scheduled.
To be a successful support group facilitator, you need to respond to others in a non-judgmental way, be a good listener with an empathetic ear, and you need to be willing to talk about your experience with mental illness (your own or a loved one's).
What to Expect:
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Meet other dedicated and empathetic people, just like you!
Feel great about giving back to your community and drawing on your lived experience to help others.
Get all the materials and support you need from the NAMI Vermont office.
Participate in at least one support group to experience it firsthand. See current CSGs here and current FSGs here.
FREE two-day training provided by NAMI Vermont.
Commit to facilitating a support group at least once per month for 1 year.
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Facilitators choose their own support group schedules! Groups may meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, and can occur in person, virtually, or in a hybrid setting.
Ready to Make a Difference?
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Learn more about NAMI Vermont's Connection Peer Support Groups and register for training here!
Learn more about NAMI Vermont's Family Support Groups and register for training here!
Join us in fostering a community where stories are heard, experiences are shared, and everyone is empowered as they work toward recovery. Begin your journey as a NAMI Vermont Support Group Facilitator today!
