Becoming a Leader

The role of the Help Yourself leader is to facilitate the 6-week, 2.5 hour per week Chronic Disease Self Management Workshops for groups of 12-15 people who have one or more chronic condition. Leaders always co-facilitate with another leader who has also successfully completed the leader training. No previous knowledge about chronic illness is necessary to qualify as a leader because all teaching is done from a detailed leaders manual. Marshall staff can assist when setting up and recruiting for a leaders training. To become a leader a person must attend a four day (approximately 6-hours a day) leader training. It is recommended that the trainee then lead a workshop as soon as possible after being trained (within 2–4 months).

Leaders must attend all 4 days and must successfully participate in two practice teaching activities to receive a Help Yourself Leader Certificate. Note that some trainees are not suitable as teachers. This will often be apparent during the practice teaching session. If this is the case, the Master Trainers may recommend that the program coordinator determine how such a person may help with another aspect of the program (e.g. recruitment or publicity, finding a site, etc.) or assign this person as the 3rd leader with an experienced leader who is patient, understanding and supportive. It is important that program coordinators pair strong leaders with those that are less experienced or weak as group facilitators.

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