I found these chapters to be interesting as I’ve been a volunteer before with youth supportive groups and it was helpful to get an academic perspective on the topic. The author discusses the personality of the leader of the group and how critical it is to the efficacy and overall cohesion of the work. I have noticed this is very true. “Fit” really is important in working with children. While training certainly helps develop skills, kids can “smell" a leader's authenticity. Children/young adults know when adults are comfortable in their skin and this also will help them be comfortable too in the group setting, creating the safe space they need to interact and get the most out of their time. This is also where modeling comes in (which Shectman had discussed is a critical part of the process of creating a safe space.)
Modeling was an intervention that was very integral to our training at the Grief Counseling Groups and something that facilitators wove in from day 1 until the last session/termination. For example, when we would start our first counseling session, I might tell my kids that I was feeling nervous and was having butterflies in my stomach (with the younger ones)..normalizing the feeling. Later in sessions, I would give healthy examples of how I processed my stress/sadness citing how I would journal, create art, bake, etc… helping pave the way for other young adults to find the courage to follow my lead and find their own ideas/voice.