Finding Healing Together
Be empowered to facilitate healing groups in your language, anytime and anywhere
Anchored in Hope is our new app-based small group program used entirely within the THI Mobile App. We developed this format based on our proven healing group book-based program, Healing the Wounds of Trauma: How the Church Can Help. It features a more streamlined video-based training experience and everything you need to become a trained facilitator and lead a group is included!
Download the THI Mobile App
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The Anchored in Hope program has been developed by Christian church leaders, mental health professionals, subject matter experts, and educators to support churches and individuals who struggle with issues surrounding suffering. Using mental health best practices and the transformative power of Scripture, people are led to an understanding of their heart wounds and a deeper understanding of God’s love for them during pain and suffering. Because healing best takes place in community rather than isolation, the program is designed to connect people in small groups where the healing process can begin. In this setting, participants engage in times of personal reflection, group activities, exercises, and discussions related to key topics to help them along their healing journey.
The intended audience for the Anchored in Hope program is adults over age 18. The program’s goal is for participants to move from a place of disconnect with God, their communities, and even their own identity, to a place of reconnection—a healing of the vital relationships in their lives. We desire for participants to continue their lives with renewed trust in God, healthy relationships with others, and restored hope and courage as they understand who they are in the eyes of God. -
You can become a group leader by completing and passing the video-based training in about 2.5 hours. Training can be done asynchronously or in a group setting.
As a facilitator, everything you need to lead a group is included–no additional materials needed.
The program helps you to lead meaningful small group discussions based on stories and examples from the Bible.
Lessons are delivered in an audio format to the group with on-screen prompts for the leader that provide instructions for every discussion, activity, and exercise.
The program is available in several languages.
The interactive lesson format encourages every person to participate through creative activities involving art and music.
Free and easy to use.
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Download the PDF.
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One of the many benefits of the way we developed the program is that it equips those who have a heart to help to be an effective facilitator. After passing the training in the app, all of the material the facilitator needs for each lesson is included. However, there are expectations and competencies we’ve identified to guide you as to who you invite to be a leader.
EXPECTATIONS OF AN ANCHORED IN HOPE LEADER (expandable section)
1. The leader will invite people to Anchored in Hope small groups (with 6–12 participants in a group).
2. The leader will choose a meeting place.
3. The leader will decide when to meet and monitor the start and end times of meetings.
4. The leader will have each Anchored in Hope group complete all seven lessons.
5. The leader will have each group listen to one lesson each meeting and will not have a group complete more than three lessons in one day.
6. The leader will facilitate discussions during the meetings using the questions in the app.
7. The leader will lead the group through the exercises and activities provided in the app.
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The leader will invite people to Anchored in Hope small groups (with 6–12 participants in a group).
The leader will choose a meeting place.
The leader will decide when to meet and monitor the start and end times of meetings.
The leader will have each Anchored in Hope group complete all seven lessons.
The leader will have each group listen to one lesson each meeting and will not have a group complete more than three lessons in one day.
The leader will facilitate discussions during the meetings using the questions in the app.
The leader will facilitate discussions during the meetings using the questions in the app.
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Trustworthy and wants to help other people
Not overwhelmed or preoccupied with their own issues
A good listener
Respects confidentiality
Respectful of other people
Able to organize others to meet together
Has become familiar with the app and understands their role throughout the small group.
Does not preach or lecture but knows how to ask questions and let people in the group respond. Uses the participatory learning principles (“Ask, Listen, and Add”) in facilitating discussions.
Allows time for people to process their thoughts and feelings during the lessons but does not allow the sessions to run overtime.
Does not try to answer questions if they do not know the answers. Realizes when someone needs more help than they can offer. Has a list of people to whom they can refer group members for more help.
These lists and additional information are included on pages 28-29 in the Anchored in Hope Leader’s Guide
Get Started
Introduce Anchored in Hope to your church or organization
If your audience is unfamiliar with THI, it may be helpful to provide context for its mission and purpose.
Resources you may use include:
Mission
To help the Church address the effects of trauma and loss with resources that integrate biblical and mental health principles.
Disclaimer: THI does not train people to become mental health professionals. Its programs and offerings are not a replacement for individual or group counseling. THI’s goal is to equip lay people of the church or community to create safe spaces to help people start or continue their healing journey.
Overview of the Anchored in Hope program
We created a presentation slide deck that provides the information people need to understand the Anchored in Hope program. If your audience is familiar with the THI book-based program, you may want to spend time on the differences between Anchored in Hope and the book-based program. Slide #4 helps point out these differences.
You will need to complete the leader training and create an account on the THI website to access this presentation.
Testimony video
Hear from church and ministry leaders about the transformation they’ve experienced in their communities as they piloted the program.
Host an Anchored in Hope orientation
The best way for a future group leader to learn about Anchored in Hope is to experience it. We suggest you hold an orientation session that allows people to experience some of a lesson’s content and methodology by engaging in group discussions, individual reflection time, and activities. The program library on the Trauma Healing Institute website has helpful documents, presentations, and video links to help you prepare and craft the agenda for your orientation session. Page 30 of the Anchored in Hope Leader’s Guide includes three suggested options you can use to plan your orientation.
Support your group leaders
Leading a first group
It can be intimidating to lead a healing group for the first time—that's why we’ve created easy-to-use helps, promotional materials, and tutorials on the THI website. We recommend starting with the Anchored in Hope Action Plan.
Creating a Community of Practice
We learned from a recent survey that one of the top needs of facilitators is for a space to connect with other facilitators. One of the most effective ways this connection starts and grows is through a Community of Practice (COP)—a group who helps people suffering from trauma. This may include mental health professionals, administrators, funders, and group facilitators.
Once trauma healing is underway in an area, organizing a COP and gathering regularly will help to improve skills by sharing best practice, increase the effectiveness of ministry, and provide strength and encouragement in the work. Be sure to add your COP gatherings to our Events page so that people searching for one can find it.
THI Group Leader Support
We’re here to support group leaders, too! From the first step of downloading the app through the completion and reporting of a group (and everything in between), leaders receive emails from us on what to do next, and what resources are available to help them. We also provide new resources and updates through our email newsletters and opportunities to connect through webinars and events.
Reporting
As a critical piece to our funding, we require Anchored in Hope facilitators to report their small groups to THI. We’ve made this easy by building this reporting function into the app. If you want to see a report of group leaders associated with your organization, make sure the leaders list your organization when they set up a group in the app.
