Brain Aneurysm Foundation Support Group Manual Support-Group-Manual_17 | Page 9

Meeting Length/Format
The ideal meeting length is typically 90 minutes, which allows for some
socializing at the beginning and end of every meeting. Following is a
typical meeting format:
15 minutes: An update by the facilitator with news from the
Brain Aneurysm Foundation, including all upcoming
webinars and events.
30 minutes:   The formal educational session
(best to limit this to 30 minutes).
30 minutes: Opportunity for questions and discussion
among group members.
Refreshments
Any meeting goes better with some food; consider providing some light
refreshments at your meetings. Many hospitals will provide coffee/tea and
cookies free-of-charge, or you could ask local merchants for donations, noting
that you will acknowledge their generosity at the meeting.
Advice and Help
Keep in mind that facilitating a support group is a learned skill. Please contact
[e-mail] if you would like to talk with an experienced support
group leader for advice and help.
Try not to be discouraged if things don’t always go perfectly — everyone who
has been affected by a brain aneurysm knows that life does not always go
according to plan! The most important thing to remember is that the people
who attend meetings are very grateful that you are there, that you care about
them, and understand what they are struggling with. You will find that this is a
personally gratifying experience, and will soon have very loyal and committed
participants who will help build and maintain the momentum of your group.
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