Assignment Prompt & Instructions
**files (1)**
– ## NUR650CLwk1response.pdf
**## NUR650CLwk1response.pdf**
Group Meeting
Megan Findlay
St. Thomas University
Nur650 Psych Mgmt IV
Professor Casandra Melton
March 18, 2026
Group Meeting
I have attended a trauma support group with the Victim Service
Center of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. I observed the group on
Tuesday evening March 17, 2026 virtually. I selected this organization
because their mission is targeted towards serving those who have
experience trauma and victimization. The Victim Service Center of
Central Florida is a nonprofit organization that offers counseling,
advocacy and crisis services for people affected by violent crime, abuse
or other traumatic events. Established in the year 2000, this organization
aims to provide counseling services and community support for
survivors on their path towards healing (Victim Service Center of
Central Florida, 2024). Clients are eligible to participate if they have
experienced trauma (such as domestic violence, sexual assault, etc.) and/
or victimization. The group I saw had roughly eight people in it. The
ages of those who signed up seemed to span from early 20s to mid-50s
or so, and there was a fair mix of men and women with diverse cultural
backgrounds. Generally, this group focus was to create a safe
environment space for sharing trauma, peer support and model healthier
coping with trauma.
In general, I thought the group did an adequate job of supporting the
needs of those experiencing it. With a comforting presence, the
facilitator made for a supportive and safe environment in which
members appeared to feel free to open about personal experience. And
one therapeutic factor stood out, and that was universality. Many
members said that hearing others discuss their own experiences made
them feel less alone. Some participants expressed relief that others
understood what they had experienced, and it was evident. Another
curative factor I saw was instillation of hope. Some longtime members
of the group discussed progress they were making in their recovery.
Listening to those experiences seemed to offer encouragement to newer
members who were earlier in their own healing process. These types of
interactions are frequently a critical component of effective group
therapy as they encourage participants to feel validated and motivated
towards continued recovery (Corey et al., 2021).
This style of group leadership appeared to work. In addition, the
facilitator led the conversation while still enabling members to speak
freely and without pressure. The group had clear expectations about
confidentiality and respect for others. During the meeting, one
participant became emotional while discussing their experience. The
facilitator responded in a supportive way by validating the person’s
feelings and giving them time to collect themselves before continuing
the discussion. Overall, this approach helped ensure a supportive
environment of the group.
For me personally, it was a very meaningful experience. Seeing the
group interact informed my understanding of how potent peer support
can be during trauma recovery. It emphasized the importance of
establishing a safe and supportive space for discussing difficult
experiences. From my perspective, I would recommend this group to
future clients when they seem ready because it offers emotional support
and a sense of connection with others working through trauma.
Reply from Dailys Prado Bravo
Dailys Prado Bravo
St. Thomas University
NUR 650
Dr. Melton
March 2026
Support Group: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meeting
The support group observed was Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). I
attended a virtual AA meeting via Zoom on February 20, 2026, at 2:00
PM. I chose this meeting because of its accessibility and because AA is
one of the most widely used support groups for individuals with alcohol
use disorder, which is highly relevant to psychiatric practice. Alcoholics
Anonymous was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith
and has since grown into a worldwide peer-led fellowship focused on
helping individuals maintain sobriety through shared experiences and
mutual support (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services [AAWS], 2021).
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, which
makes the program highly inclusive. The group I observed included
approximately 6-8 participants, primarily adults between the ages of 25
and 65, with a mix of males and females and diverse ethnic
backgrounds. The overall goal of the group is to promote sobriety,
provide emotional support, and foster accountability among members.
From an objective perspective, the group appeared effective in
meeting participants’ needs by providing a safe and supportive
environment where individuals could openly share their experiences
without fear of judgment. Members were engaged and respectful,
contributing to a sense of cohesion within the group. Research supports
that peer support groups such as AA can improve recovery outcomes and
reduce relapse rates among individuals with substance use disorders
(Kelly et al., 2020). Two therapeutic factors that were clearly evident
included universality and instillation of hope. Universality was
demonstrated as participants shared similar struggles with alcohol use,
helping to reduce feelings of isolation. Instillation of hope was observed
when members discussed their progress in recovery, reinforcing the
belief that sustained sobriety is achievable.
The leadership style was peer-facilitated, structured, and supportive
rather than directive. Group norms such as confidentiality, respect, and
allowing each member time to speak were consistently maintained,
which contributed to an effective therapeutic environment. There were
minimal patient management issues; however, one participant became
emotional during their sharing. The group responded appropriately by
offering support and allowing the individual to express their feelings
without interruption, demonstrating strong group cohesion and empathy.
Personally, I found the experience insightful and meaningful. It
enhanced my understanding of the value of peer-led interventions and
the role they play in complementing clinical treatment. Observing the
group reinforced the importance of empathy, shared experiences, and
community support in recovery. Based on this experience, I would
recommend AA to future clients struggling with alcohol use disorder due
to its accessibility, supportive environment, and evidence-based
effectiveness (Kelly et al., 2020).
**## NUR650CLwk1response.pdf**
Group Meeting
Megan Findlay
St. Thomas University
Nur650 Psych Mgmt IV
Professor Casandra Melton
March 18, 2026
Group Meeting
I have attended a trauma support group with the Victim Service
Center of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. I observed the group on
Tuesday evening March 17, 2026 virtually. I selected this organization
because their mission is targeted towards serving those who have
experience trauma and victimization. The Victim Service Center of
Central Florida is a nonprofit organization that offers counseling,
advocacy and crisis services for people affected by violent crime, abuse
or other traumatic events. Established in the year 2000, this organization
aims to provide counseling services and community support for
survivors on their path towards healing (Victim Service Center of
Central Florida, 2024). Clients are eligible to participate if they have
experienced trauma (such as domestic violence, sexual assault, etc.) and/
or victimization. The group I saw had roughly eight people in it. The
ages of those who signed up seemed to span from early 20s to mid-50s
or so, and there was a fair mix of men and women with diverse cultural
backgrounds. Generally, this group focus was to create a safe
environment space for sharing trauma, peer support and model healthier
coping with trauma.
In general, I thought the group did an adequate job of supporting the
needs of those experiencing it. With a comforting presence, the
facilitator made for a supportive and safe environment in which
members appeared to feel free to open about personal experience. And
one therapeutic factor stood out, and that was universality. Many
members said that hearing others discuss their own experiences made
them feel less alone. Some participants expressed relief that others
understood what they had experienced, and it was evident. Another
curative factor I saw was instillation of hope. Some longtime members
of the group discussed progress they were making in their recovery.
Listening to those experiences seemed to offer encouragement to newer
members who were earlier in their own healing process. These types of
interactions are frequently a critical component of effective group
therapy as they encourage participants to feel validated and motivated
towards continued recovery (Corey et al., 2021).
This style of group leadership appeared to work. In addition, the
facilitator led the conversation while still enabling members to speak
freely and without pressure. The group had clear expectations about
confidentiality and respect for others. During the meeting, one
participant became emotional while discussing their experience. The
facilitator responded in a supportive way by validating the person’s
feelings and giving them time to collect themselves before continuing
the discussion. Overall, this approach helped ensure a supportive
environment of the group.
For me personally, it was a very meaningful experience. Seeing the
group interact informed my understanding of how potent peer support
can be during trauma recovery. It emphasized the importance of
establishing a safe and supportive space for discussing difficult
experiences. From my perspective, I would recommend this group to
future clients when they seem ready because it offers emotional support
and a sense of connection with others working through trauma.
Reply from Dailys Prado Bravo
Dailys Prado Bravo
St. Thomas University
NUR 650
Dr. Melton
March 2026
Support Group: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meeting
The support group observed was Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). I
attended a virtual AA meeting via Zoom on February 20, 2026, at 2:00
PM. I chose this meeting because of its accessibility and because AA is
one of the most widely used support groups for individuals with alcohol
use disorder, which is highly relevant to psychiatric practice. Alcoholics
Anonymous was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith
and has since grown into a worldwide peer-led fellowship focused on
helping individuals maintain sobriety through shared experiences and
mutual support (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services [AAWS], 2021).
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, which
makes the program highly inclusive. The group I observed included
approximately 6-8 participants, primarily adults between the ages of 25
and 65, with a mix of males and females and diverse ethnic
backgrounds. The overall goal of the group is to promote sobriety,
provide emotional support, and foster accountability among members.
From an objective perspective, the group appeared effective in
meeting participants’ needs by providing a safe and supportive
environment where individuals could openly share their experiences
without fear of judgment. Members were engaged and respectful,
contributing to a sense of cohesion within the group. Research supports
that peer support groups such as AA can improve recovery outcomes and
reduce relapse rates among individuals with substance use disorders
(Kelly et al., 2020). Two therapeutic factors that were clearly evident
included universality and instillation of hope. Universality was
demonstrated as participants shared similar struggles with alcohol use,
helping to reduce feelings of isolation. Instillation of hope was observed
when members discussed their progress in recovery, reinforcing the
belief that sustained sobriety is achievable.
The leadership style was peer-facilitated, structured, and supportive
rather than directive. Group norms such as confidentiality, respect, and
allowing each member time to speak were consistently maintained,
which contributed to an effective therapeutic environment. There were
minimal patient management issues; however, one participant became
emotional during their sharing. The group responded appropriately by
offering support and allowing the individual to express their feelings
without interruption, demonstrating strong group cohesion and empathy.
Personally, I found the experience insightful and meaningful. It
enhanced my understanding of the value of peer-led interventions and
the role they play in complementing clinical treatment. Observing the
group reinforced the importance of empathy, shared experiences, and
community support in recovery. Based on this experience, I would
recommend AA to future clients struggling with alcohol use disorder due
to its accessibility, supportive environment, and evidence-based
effectiveness (Kelly et al., 2020).