A support therapeutic group for individuals questioning their belonging to LGBTQIA+ community

One of the facilitators is stressed as they are still in the questioning phase and exploring if they belong to the LGBTQ+ community, the struggle to find your truth is hard for some people. While the other facilitator belongs to the LGBTQ+ community their journey of finding their truth (their identity) was very smooth. When both facilitators (both therapists) happened to talk about pride month, gender, and sexuality, the conversion went really deep. Both facilitators realized there may be so many people who may be in the questioning phase, are there right people supporting them? Since we are in a heteronormative society many people will try conversion practices, that is a harm. For some questioning, phase is hard and sometimes may be frustrating due to maybe homophobia, biphobia, or transphobia. That can impact their mental health. Both facilitators received training from Mariwala Health Initiative on conducting “LGBTQ+ support therapeutic group sessions”. They are also taking supervision from the trainer as needed. Hence, both facilitators decided to conduct a support therapeutic group for people who are in the questioning phase with the right self-guidance (the facilitators will help them explore within) and prevent them from being a victim of conversion practices.

It is a newly founded support group, in June 2023

Open to all who are questioning their gender and sexual identity.

We want to facilitate reflective conversation among the participants, normalize what they are experiencing, find belonging in the group, and gain clarity on their journey. The activities used will be to help participants gain more insights about themselves. We hope to help participants feel okay about their questioning journey and help them build self-knowledge. We believe that people who are in questioning phase need safe and affirmative space and save them from being a victim of conversation practices. We intend to not label or guide them to know what is their sexual or gender identity, instead, we want to hold safe, reflective and affirmative space while they are in their explorative journey.

We have contacts of trusted professionals and primary responders who can help us in the intervention.

Serious mental health conditions

Step 1 - They have to fill up Google registration form.
Step 2 - Facilitator will connect with them on a consultation call.
Step 3 - Coordination of participants will happen on Email, call and WhatsApp.

Firstly, we will set the ground rules of the group, secondly we will be doing check in with their feelings with some warm up activities, thirdly, will sit in circle and facilitator will ask participants what are their thought processes today about the topic “questioning”, and then the conversation will continue among the participants, fourthly, cool down activities will be done where we will close the group with the intention that information from the group will be confidential and lastly after check in session will be closed. During the session one facilitator will facilitate the session and other facilitator will be a observer (container) the group.

1. Participants ensure they will not breach group confidentiality. (They will have to sign the consent confidentiality form).
   2. If participants have to get up, or use their phone for anything like such things they will inform the group and not break the space
   3. If any participants are romantically involved then they will have to leave the group, to avoid biases.
   4. All participants have to respect each other and listen carefully.
   5. Participants will not be allowed to join the group if they are later than 15 mins.
   6. “Respect to individual” is the group policy.
   7. If the person can be a potential harm to anyone group member then they will have to face the consequences and they will be removed from the group.

A sense of belongingness, hopeful about their journey, and validation to their feelings.