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Our Approach

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Solid Ground was created for adults whose earlier experiences are still affecting their lives.

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Some of our members grew up around alcohol or drug misuse, neglect, anger, family conflict or adults whose behaviour could change without warning. Others have spent years keeping the peace, looking after everyone else or hiding how much they are struggling.

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These experiences can make it difficult to trust people, ask for help, cope with disagreement or feel comfortable in an unfamiliar group. We have organised our meetings with that in mind.

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Understanding Where Our Responses Come From

 

Living through difficult or unpredictable experiences can change the way we respond to people and situations long after the original circumstances have passed.

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You may watch closely for changes in someone’s mood, think through every possible outcome or agree to things because saying no feels unsafe. You might shut down during conflict, struggle to trust people or deal with everything alone because relying on someone else has led to disappointment before.

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We do not treat these responses as character flaws. They usually developed because they helped us cope at some point in our lives. Understanding that does not mean we have to remain governed by them, but it gives us a more useful place from which to begin.

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You Decide What You Share

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You will not be asked to explain your childhood, describe traumatic experiences or give the group details you would rather keep private.

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If you want to speak, you can talk about what is affecting you now without telling the whole story of how it began. You can also attend without speaking and listen until you know the group better.

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Nobody will go around the room asking each person to contribute, and you will not be put on the spot. If you need a few minutes outside during a meeting, you can step out and return when you are ready.

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Peer Support

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Solid Ground is a peer-support group rather than therapy or a clinical service. It is run by volunteers with their own lived experience and an understanding of how difficult childhoods, addiction, trauma and unstable relationships can continue to affect adult life.

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When someone speaks, the rest of the group listens without interrupting, debating their experience or telling them what they should do. We do not analyse one another or try to solve each other’s lives.

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Sometimes people need advice or practical information, but we do not assume that is what they want. The person speaking can ask for suggestions if they would find them helpful. Otherwise, they are given the opportunity to talk and be heard.

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A Familiar Structure

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Our meetings follow the same basic structure each week so that members know what to expect.

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The volunteers open the meeting, explain how the group works and read a short piece connected to an experience many members will recognise. Members are then given the opportunity to speak, although nobody is required to do so.

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Sharing Meetings and Programme Meetings have different purposes, but the boundaries around confidentiality, interruption and unwanted advice remain the same.

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Respect and Boundaries

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The group works best when everyone understands what is expected of them. During our meetings:

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• What is shared in the room is treated as confidential.

• Members speak about their own experiences rather than judging or analysing someone else’s.

• Each person is allowed to finish speaking without interruption.

• Advice is not given unless it has been requested.

• Nobody is pressured to speak or answer personal questions.

• Phones are kept silent.

• Members treat one another, the volunteers and the meeting room with respect.

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These boundaries are there so that members can speak without being talked over, questioned or discussed outside the group.

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Our Volunteers

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Solid Ground is run by volunteers and is a ratified, not-for-profit community group.

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Our volunteers undertake training relevant to the people who attend and the situations that may arise during meetings. Their role is to explain how the group works, maintain its boundaries and make sure each member is given the same opportunity to take part.

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They are not there to diagnose members, provide therapy or make decisions on anyone else’s behalf.

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Coming to Solid Ground

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You may be used to keeping personal matters private, coping without help or telling people that you are fine when you are not. Joining a group will not necessarily feel easy simply because you know you need support.

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You can come along without a referral or appointment. During your first meeting, you can sit, listen to other members and take time to decide whether Solid Ground feels right for you.  We do suggest allowing six meetings before deciding one way or the other.