OUR SUPPORT GROUPS ARE SAFE PLACES
if you attend here are your
rights
1. You
have the right to remain silent
2. You have the right to confidentiality
Members
of the support groups will be asked not to share what you say to others outside the group identifying you personally as the
source of the information. In addition, you will not be required to share any information with the DBSA-Dallas.
If you decide to do so it
will only be used for the stated purpose.
3. You have
the right to be heard
Members will not be
allowed to interrupt, talk over you, hold side conversations
or monopolize the meeting.
4. You have the right to be accepted.
Members will not judge you for having a mental illness, personal problems or for
past behaviors. Rather they will listen empathetically and attempt to comfort and encourage you.
5. You have the right to be treated with respect.
Members are not allowed to make personal attacks, call names or to express
themselves in an harsh, abrupt, offensive, or rude manner.
6. You have the right to your own opinion
Others
may offer you advice if you want it but they may not impose their ideas on you using such phrases as you "should"
. We talk about ourselves, letting others know how we have been helped by making "I" statements. Members have
the right to have their own beliefs and opinions respected. We do not argue, criticize other people’s beliefs.
Members are allowed to share about their faith or Higher Power, but only insofar as it has helped them, not to persuade, preach,
dispute or convert.
7. You have the right to be
treated as peer, equal to all other members
No one is
above you. You are not anyone's patient or counselee. You will also not be forced into the role of therapist or crisis
counselor. If people have deep emotional issues,if they are unstable or suicidal you do not have to take responsibility for
helping them deal with their issues. The facilitator and not you has the ultimate responsibility of maintaining
the safety and positive atmosphere of the group.
8. You
have the right to get sound professional medical advice.
Members
will not be allowed to make specific medical or professional treatment recommendations. For this reason we try to avoid talking
about medications and dosages.
9. You have to right listen
to appropriate words and topics.
Members express their suffering
or trials but they will not expose you to graphic descriptions of matters that might adversely affect the mental and emotional
health of other members.
10. You have to right to communicate your concerns about the
groups, group members or facilitators.
The best option is to bring the matter up with the facilitator after
the meeting. We try to do our best and we invite input.
