The Veterinary Hope Foundation (VHF) virtual support group (“Support Group”) aims to provide a safe, confidential, caring space for participants to share and process feelings and experiences related to veterinary medicine with those who best understand—your peers. The Support Group is intended to be both educational and supportive in nature. Discussions may involve sharing individual thoughts and perspectives, honoring individual stories, and self‐care strategies. Themes and topics will be presented to guide each Group’s discussion. The Support Group and the Support Group Facilitator will not engage in rendering health or mental health services including psychotherapy for any individual or situation.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Group sessions will be led by a Support Group Facilitator and will last approximately 60-75 minutes. This is not a therapy group. This is not a substitute for psychiatric care or psychotherapy or medical treatment. The goal is to offer participants an opportunity to connect in a safe, confidential, and caring space and establish an ongoing conversation with peers. Themes and topics will be presented to guide discussion. It is a place to share thoughts and perspectives and to hear the thoughts, perspectives, and stories of other professionals. The outcome of participation is the formation of a small community of acceptance, respect and support of one another’s individuality and concerns. Although the Support Group Facilitator may be a licensed social worker, masters-level mental health professional, or a peer support leader, the Support Group Facilitator will not be providing health care or mental health services or otherwise offering services under the scope of his/her license, certification, or registration as part of the Support Group.
Support Group Facilitators are not acting as medical professionals in this role. No diagnosis, treatment, or recommendations or advice regarding any health care or mental health conditions will be offered. No client/therapist relationship is formed by your participation in the Support Group. The Support Group cannot be a substitute for or alternative to treatment when a medical or mental health condition is present. If you are in need of health care or mental health services, you should consult with a trusted health care professional.
VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP POLICIES:
Group participants are expected to uphold one another’s confidentiality and refrain from revealing the identity and the information disclosed by another participant during the Support Group. Participants may not record the Support Group or otherwise take photos, screenshots, or images of participants that are in attendance. Even with this policy, VHF cannot guarantee the privacy or confidentiality of conversations as they can be intercepted either accidentally or intentionally.
Please be sure that you have privacy and confidentiality when attending the Support Group. A quiet, private space that is free from distractions during the Group is ideal. If you choose to be in a place where non-Group participants can hear you, VHF cannot be responsible for protecting your confidentiality.
Group participants are asked to join promptly as the Group begins using both audio and video. Should the discussion cause discomfort, please feel free to mute your audio and/or temporarily disable your video or leave the session.
Group participants are asked to join all Group sessions. If you are unable to attend, please let VHF know as soon as you’re aware and not later than 24 hours in advance of the Support Group start time.
Group participants are not permitted to share the meeting login information or link with anyone.
Remember to share the floor and respect each participant’s thoughts, perspectives, and experiences.
Support Group Facilitators are not permitted to share their personal contact information with participants.
The virtual Support Group will be provided using Zoom. There are risks and consequences from use of virtual platforms, including, but not limited to, disruptions in service or other technical difficulties may occur from time to time. If a connectivity issue arises during a Support Group and it substantially disrupts the group process, the Support Group Facilitator may offer the opportunity to reschedule. Although reasonable effort is made to reduce confidentiality breaches, breaches may occur for various reasons.
You may discontinue participation at any time.
Should you violate these policies or jeopardize the confidentiality of the group sessions, VHF reserves the right to ask you to leave the group session and/or terminate your ongoing participation in the sessions.
LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY:
Although this is not a therapy group, the Support Group Facilitator may be a licensed individual and required to follow professional laws and regulations regarding the limits of confidentiality. Thus, VHF may use or disclose records or other information about you without your consent or authorization in the following circumstances if required by law:
Emergency: If you are involved in a life-threatening emergency and VHF cannot ask your permission, we will share the minimum information necessary to assist with the life-threatening emergency.
Child Abuse Reporting: If we have reason to suspect that a child is abused or neglected, Support Group Facilitators may be required by law to report the matter immediately.
Adult Abuse Reporting: If we have reason to suspect that an elderly or incapacitated adult is abused, neglected or exploited, Support Group Facilitators may be required by law to report the matter immediately.
Serious Threat to Health or Safety: VHF may use or share information if needed to prevent a serious/imminent threat to your or another person’s health or safety. We will share information only to persons able to lessen/prevent the threat and limited to information necessary to lessen or prevent the threat.
CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE and RELEASE OF LIABILITY:
Your signature below indicates that you have read this consent form in its entirety, understand it, and agree to abide by its terms. I unconditionally release and discharge VHF, its affiliates, agents, employees, board members, and the Support Group Facilitators from any liability in connection with my participation in the Virtual Support Group.