Moderator Reflections on the Support Group
Going into the May 2024 support group, I had very little idea of what to expect, both from myself as a moderator and the participants. Sure, I knew what was expected of a moderator and what I was to do in that role, but I found myself curious. How would I react compassionately to the participants? Would they appreciate the support I provided, even if it was simply in a chat box? How would the participants respond to each other? Serving as a moderator resolved all of my questions. It was an absolute privilege to support these 14 survivors as a moderator.
Sometimes supporting survivors meant replying to their comments or questions in a Zoom chat box, verbally responding to their reflections as I led an ice breaker or vocabulary word, or commenting on their post in our private Facebook group for participants. My mentor, Erin, regularly reminded me throughout my moderator experience that simply being a witness to the spiritual abuse, trauma, and pain each survivor had been through would mean a lot to them, and my job was to focus on listening well, reflecting back what I was hearing, and reminding them that I believed what they’d walked through. I know the support I provided wasn’t always perfect or complete, but I hope it made a small difference in each survivor’s healing and recovery process. Through my fellow moderators–Jerald, Heather, Claycie and Nikki–I also learned so much about what genuine empathy, compassion, and care looks like. Each of these people have been through so much personally, and yet taught me so much about compassionate support of survivors through the way they interacted with each support group member.
My experience as a moderator also showed me the power of solidarity among survivors. Bringing 14 complete strangers into a Zoom meeting for 2 hours each week is a bit daunting. What if they don’t get along? What if nobody talks? What if the material or conversation doesn’t resonate with them? Within the first few minutes of that first group meeting starting, I knew that we had a group that would be a huge support and demonstration of solidarity in one another’s healing. Each group member shared stories, responded to Nikki’s presentation in the Zoom chat comments–often replying with words of encouragement and solidarity to a fellow survivor–and showed up with their vulnerability, stories, questions, and concerns. I am so proud of each survivor and the ways I witnessed each of them bravely share difficult parts of their stories, support one another, and continue on their long path of healing.
I’m so thankful to Katherine for extending me the opportunity to serve these survivors as a moderator, and cannot recommend these support groups enough. Nikki is an incredible facilitator that demonstrates a keen awareness of survivors’ needs and challenges, while providing helpful recovery tools and techniques in a compassionate, trauma-informed way. I hope to see these support groups offered in the years to come, as they are an invaluable source of recovery and healing.
