ACCOMMODATING SOCIAL ANXIETY
During the session, anxiety can prevent people from listening attentively, connecting with others, or feeling emotionally safe. Over time this stress may lead to avoidance, causing people to skip sessions or drop out of the programme, which in turn may increase the likelihood of relapse. Recognising that group settings are not equally effective for everyone is crucial for designing more inclusive treatment programmes. Here are some adjustments that can help accommodate those dealing with social anxiety – they require little in the way of resources, but can have a significant impact on participants who otherwise feel isolated or overwhelmed.
Mix individual and group counselling: Offering private therapy in addition to group sessions allows participants to build confidence in a more controlled environment before joining group discussions.
Encourage but don’ t require sharing: Letting people decide when and how they contribute reduces pressure and helps build a sense of psychological safety.
Set and reinforce boundaries: Reassuring participants that what is shared in the group stays in the group – and backing that up with consistent facilitation – can reduce fears around confidentiality.
Train group leaders in mental health awareness: Facilitators who understand anxiety-related behaviour can better support participants, such as by offering alternative ways to engage( writing reflections, using art, or small breakout discussions).
Educate the group on anxiety: When programmes include information about mental health conditions like social anxiety, it normalises the experience and helps others in the group respond with empathy rather than judgment.
By acknowledging the challenges that social anxiety creates and adjusting treatment programmes to meet people where they are, providers can help ensure that no one is left behind in recovery. Recovery should be about growth, not fear – and that starts with creating spaces where every participant feels safe, heard, and respected.
Vanesa Partlová has an MSc in investigative forensic psychology and is a recovery worker at WithYou
A PIECE OF THE ACTION
ACTION is fighting the corner for local alcohol care teams, says Leyla Golparvar
The Alcohol Care Team Innovation and Optimisation Network( ACTION) is a subscription-based quality improvement network sitting under the College Centre for Quality Improvement at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. ACTION was launched in 2021 initially to work in collaboration with the NHS Prevention Programme and the alcohol care teams( ACTs) that had received funding to start – or further develop – a team. The network is now independent and open to all ACTs and staff working across alcohol-related services.
The purpose of the network is to facilitate the development of ACTs and quality improvement, and we do this through a supportive peer-review model and a range of learning and education events that enable networking and sharing of best practice between services. In the review model, ACT members undertake a comprehensive review cycle based on a set of standards that were developed in line with national guidance and to be applicable to a range of different ACT service models. This review model includes:
• Self-review: Provides services the opportunity to reflect on the quality of care provided, marking themselves against the standards and gathering feedback from surveys and documentation
• Peer review: Provides a platform for promoting and encouraging best practice, network and constructive communication. Peer-review teams are made up of four to five people, including professionals from different services and people with lived experience.
• Local report: Services receive a detailed report, highlighting good practice and areas for development and recommendations for this
ACTION also facilitates learning programmes that are shaped by our ACT members. These range from informal peer support sessions – such as our lead nurse and band 3 and 4 practitioner forums – to structured sessions delivered in our monthly community of practice webinar programme. We also facilitate an annual in-person and ad-hoc webinars responding to developments and challenges affecting ACTs.
Why ACTION? It supports quality improvement within ACTs and demonstrates a commitment to development and training of staff, maintaining and developing an engaged workforce. It also allows ACTs to demonstrate their worth and quality of service to commissioners, ICBs, hospital colleagues and people who use the service, by meeting nationally agreed standards. ACTION can also act as an advocate for additional development and resources and help with sustainability of services
WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY‘ We have used the report in our alcohol steering group meeting and with the local commissioners. Operations director is also utilising the report to evidence the benefits of the ACT in the hope to achieve permanency within the trust’
‘ The teaching sessions have helped with induction for our new staff and for them to have more awareness about the complexities of being alcohol specialist nurses; it has proven to be a good source of knowledge and support’
‘ We were apprehensive about completing the review cycle but loved the experience and used it as a benchmark to show how far we had come and acknowledge the hard work already completed and achieved. The team loved it as we could evaluate all we had done in one piece of work and was good to have comments from other professionals.’
If you’ re interested in joining your ACT to the network, or if you’ d like more information about ACTION including what we do, subscription fees and membership, you can email us at ACTION @ rcpsych. ac. uk or visit our website at https:// www. rcpsych. ac. uk / improving-care / ccqi / quality-networksaccreditation / alcohol-care-teaminnovation-optimisation-network
Leyla Golparvar is deputy programme manager at the Royal College of Psychiatrists
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