Intense Topics

Some of the topics and discussions that arise (planned or unplanned) within your group might be intense and might provoke a lot of emotions within the group.

Here are a few ways to be prepared for intense topics:

• Know your stuff. Having knowledge of the topic or an analysis of heavy issues means you will be able to ground yourself for the conversation and normalize any misconceptions that are presented.

• Know your limits in terms of conversations and topics you can comfortably handle. Be open and honest when you do not know about something that a participant has asked about. It is also important to lead people back to the topic at hand if it goes too far astray and to point out when a topic is beyond the scope of the activity.

• Rely on your co-facilitator to keep an eye on participants and to help you by taking over the part of the session you are leading if you get into an area where you do not feel confident.

• Call for breaks in the activity if and when needed.

• Use energizers to lighten things after a heavy discussion. Those that get people laughing are especially good!

• Follow-up with participants after if you think there are still some heavy or unresolved feelings.

• Have resources on hand in order to provide more information and direct girls to places where they can get help.

• Find someone with experience to lead this part of the workshop if you don’t feel comfortable facilitating a certain discussion yourself.