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Next Steps is a CornerHouse project. Supported by:

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Next Steps Self Help Groups

The five Next Steps groups focus on self help and supporting one another. There is also an older persons group for people of retirement age. All Next Steps groups are free and there is no need to book a place, you can just turn up. Although many people find it helps to come regularly, there is no need to commit to coming every week.

There are always two group facilitators present, who are not experts or therapists, but whose role it is to make sure that the meeting goes smoothly

Everyone finds joining a group difficult at first so people will understand if you are nervous or upset. Some people find it helps to ring and speak to the depression support worker before coming for the first time, or to come in and see us so that you have checked out how to get here.

Our groups are not the same as therapy, however people often find it therapeutic to have a time in their week where they can speak openly about their depression and feel understood - and to discover that they can also help others by listening in return.

There is no set agenda for the meeting, what is discussed depends on who is there and what is on people’s minds. It is usually a combination of general topics such as managing problems with sleep, and members talking through how things are going for them at the moment. About once a month we have a speaker at part of the meeting and we sometimes watch a relevant TV or radio programme.