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When planning a group by yourself, you will have more autonomy over the planning

process. However, if you are co-facilitating a group, it will be important to find ways to

each fully participate in the planning and facilitation processes. In order for co-facilitation to be effective, it is important to pair up with someone with whom you feel comfortable and with whom you can create a positive group environment. You will spend a great deal of time with this person, and you want to know that you can trust each other to offer a wonderful group experience.

If your program has the capacity to use a co-facilitation model for groups, it is ideal for

many reasons. The following list highlights some of these benefits (adapted from the

research outlined in Hepworth et al., 2010):

• You have two people to follow what is going on in the group during each session. • Each facilitator brings their own qualities and skills to groups as well as their

own background and personal perspectives. This can help the group feel like a

good fit for a wider audience of members.

• Co-facilitators also interact within the group setting, which can serve as a model

for other group members of positive communication and problem-solving skills.

• Facilitators can give feedback to each other on their facilitation skills and style. • Having two facilitators also means that a group session may

not have to be canceled if a group leader falls ill or has a personal emergency.

• If a group member needs to take a break

from the group, one group leader can check on that person while the group continues.

However, having co-facilitators is not always possible for many reasons as it requires more time, effort, and people to offer groups. Choosing to have one or two group leaders should be based on your agency’s capacity. Offering groups with one leader can also be very effective following the same principles included in this manual and other group-focused resources.

Assuming you will have co-facilitators in the group, the question becomes, “How do I de- velop a sound relationship with another facilitator (who I may or may not get to choose),

and learn to work together seamlessly in a group setting?” It is a process that takes inten- tion, time, and effort, and it starts well before the group actually begins.

It can be useful to set a specific meeting day and time for co-facilitator meetings

prior to the start of group. These may be weekly during the group.

This will avoid becoming too busy to find a time to meet regularly during the

group process.

Helpful Hint!

Here are some tips based on suggestions in Toseland’s and Rivas’ An Introduction to Group

Work Practice (2011):

• Co-facilitators should meet regularly to plan for the group and discuss group is-

sues as they arise throughout the group process.

• When co-facilitators meet during the group process, it is helpful to discuss each

session. It is useful to discuss what went well in the session, what they did well in

working together, what difficulties arose during the session, how they will work

together during the next session, and how the group is progressing. Assuming facilitators meet each week following the weekly group session, these meetings should also be used to plan for the following session.

• It is helpful to meet as soon after each session as possible, so facilitators will be

fresh and able to remember what occurred in the session. This also allows for more time to plan for the next session.

OCRCC has found the “Co-Facilitator Inventory” at the end of this section to be helpful in

pairing compatible facilitators for new groups. This tool is included at the end of this

section and is meant to be used by all group facilitators. Each facilitator fills out this tool for the Support Group Coordinator to keep on file. The Coordinator then uses the forms

to match facilitators based on particular skills, strengths, and facilitation styles. It is also useful for co-facilitators to discuss their answers to the inventory with each other when

they start planning their first group together. This discussion will assist in getting to know

each other and learning about each other’s facilitation styles.

This inventory can be especially challenging for new facilitators to complete as their style is not yet developed. However, it can help new facilitators think through how they might handle different group challenges and begin to think about an array of group situations. Though the inventory is intended for use with people who have facilitated groups before, you may decide to use it with new facilitators for this reason.

Participating in the group has...

“helped me grow and own this experience, instead of the

experience owning me.”

- Thomas