SAFE Focus Group is a voluntary support group which utilizes guidelines developed by SAFE Alternatives Program. I, Darbi Scott, am the facilitator of a SAFE Focus group based in Southern Arkansas. This support group focuses on identifying, verbalizing, and tolerating feelings, rather than on underlying issues. Additional emphasis is placed on group interaction by using verbal communication and developing interpersonal skills and learn new positive coping mechanisms. Participants will learn to give and take in constructive feedback. The group is a 12 week program full of support groups, assignments, and activities to help begin the road to recovery. The group will give a safe environment for members to talk about personal issues surrounding their self injury. The weekly assignments will allow members to dwell deeper into the underlying issues behind their self injury. An example of an assignment topic is "What anger feels like to me". In groups, members will be asked to discuss hard topics. Groups may also include learning anger management strategies, roleplays, as well as art and music therapy.
SAFE Alternatives believes:
* There is only pain, not relief, with self injury. Self injury negatively affects all aspects of a person's life- physical, mental, emotional, and social.
*There is no compromise with self injury. The goal is complete abstinence.
*Self injury is a choice, and therefore each person is capable of making different and better choices.
*Because injuring is a choice... only the one who injures can keep themselves safe.