Category: The Adolescents Programme

Practical Tips for Handling Silence and Creating Connections

When learning group facilitation skills practitioners often ask: “What if nobody responds when I ask a question?” It’s normal for parents to take some time to open up and share their thoughts and experiences, especially in group settings. This doesn’t mean they have nothing to say! It just means they may need a bit more support to feel comfortable speaking up. As a facilitator, your role is to create an environment where parents feel safe, respected, and connected.

Here are a few strategies to encourage parent participation in a group:

1. Before the programme starts, take time to meet with each parent one-on-one. This is an opportunity to get to know the parents, understand their goals, and start building rapport. It’s also a chance to lay the foundation for open communication during group sessions.

2. Early on, establish a group agreement, setting expectations for how the group will work together, support one another, and respect differing opinions and viewpoints. This can ease concerns around judgment and confidentiality, making parents more comfortable and more likely to contribute.

3. Use facilitation techniques from your Parents Plus training:
   • Try a group round where each parent shares their thoughts.
   • Use breakout rooms or small groups which are more comfortable for some parents.
   • Invite specific parents to contribute by using their name, e.g., “What are your thoughts on this, Lisa?”
   • Use the chat function for online sessions to give everyone a chance to share without speaking out loud.
   • Tune in to parents and pay attention to feedback forms—are parents feeling supported? Are they making progress? If needed, follow up between sessions.

While there’s lots we can do to support parents’ participation, it’s also important to remember that some parents will prefer to speak less, and that’s okay. As Parents Plus facilitators we can appreciate that respecting their comfort level is part of good facilitation. Finally, don’t be afraid of silence – it often gives parents the time they need to gather their thoughts before responding. A little silence is absolutely fine!

For more tips on facilitating group sessions or to enhance your group facilitation skills, explore the resources in our Parents Plus members area!

Karin Todd is a Parents Plus trainer and supervisor and is an experienced facilitator of our evidence-based programmes.  Her professional background includes youth and community work, service management and therapeutic family work.  Karin has a special interest in adolescent psychotherapy and in the family experience of parental separation and loss.  She currently works in a community-based setting as a family support practitioner.

Gill Moses and Eileen Brosnan from Parents Plus, recently facilitated a bespoke Community of Practice session with a group of practitioners from Better Finglas who were trained in and delivering the Parents Plus ADHD programme to families in their area.

The online ADHD Community of Practice session was specifically tailored to the topics and challenges for this highly motivated and skilled group of Finglas based practitioners. It was full of discussion, sharing of experience, reflection on core facilitation skills and troubleshooting – the 90 minutes flew by. 

Focus for this group:

• Content and structure for the post-programme follow-up group session offered to participating parents at 3 or 6 months after the 8 week programme ends. 
• Ensure the parents come back and get the opportunity to talk through their successes, continuing challenges and get onward signposting to any further support needed. 
• The importance of parent feedback
• Refreshed on the Solution Focused Practice model 
• Applying this approach to group work and the pre group individual goal setting sessions.

Feedback from the Better Finglas practitioners

• “Sharing of information for programme follow up sessions – it gave me a real fire in my belly to arrange the session for parents that had attended as I truly believe it will be very beneficial for them to reconnect.”
• “Really helpful discussions and information/tips supporting facilitation skills and challenges of delivery.”
• “To have a space to reflect and discuss our learning as a group.”
• “Knowing there are ongoing Community of Practice sessions and opportunities to check in with Parents Plus when needed.”

Better Finglas is an  Area-Based Childhood (ABC) programme for Prevention and Early Intervention, funded by the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth (DCDEIY), delivered through the Prevention Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) within Tusla. Bernardo’s is the lead agency for Better Finglas. 

A key aim is to respond to family support and parenting needs in their community. Having identified the need for families struggling to support their children around ADHD issues, many of whom were on waitlists for assessments and services, the team set about their first round of delivering the Parents Plus ADHD programme. This programme is suitable for parents of children with a diagnosis of ADHD, as well as for parents of children with symptoms of ADHD and/or who are awaiting assessment.

Book your place on a Community of Practice Session

The Parents Plus Adolescents Programme is an evidenced-based training is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge, skills, and techniques they need to help adolescents navigate the complexities of this transitional phase of life.

About the Programme Training: Adolescence, a time of significant developmental changes, can present unique challenges that require the understanding and support of trained professionals. At Parents Plus, we have developed the Adolescents Programme Training for professionals, an evidence-based approach focused on empowering adolescents, enhancing communication, and fostering strong relationships.

Programme Details: The programme comprises a comprehensive training package of active learning. It includes group activities, role-plays, video observation, and feedback sessions, ensuring that each participant receives hands-on experience and comprehensive insights into the programme’s methodologies. The next Parents Plus Adolescents Programme training is on the 26th June.

Key Benefits – Participating in this training provides several key benefits:

Skills Development: The training sharpens essential skills for professionals such as active listening, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

Evidence-Based Approach: The programme is based on extensive research and has proven efficacy in various settings, ensuring you are employing techniques backed by scientific evidence.

Improved Outcomes: The programme’s focus on strengthening relationships and promoting positive behaviour and communication ensures better outcomes for families raising an adolescent.

Ongoing Support: Post-training, participants gain access to ongoing supervision and support from the Parents Plus team, assuring continuous development and learning.

The Adolescents Programme Training from Parents Plus represents a great opportunity for professionals in the field. The training offers the chance to deepen your understanding of adolescent development, sharpen your practical skills, and be a part of a community dedicated to supporting families raising an adolescent.

The next Parents Plus Adolescents Programme training is on the 26th, 27th, 28th June & 1st & 2nd July 2024 (9.15am-1pm)

Learn more about the Adolescents Programme Training and how it can benefit your professional practice HERE.