Social Confidence Groups 2.

Abstract

By 2013, approximately 96 students within a large tertiary institution in Aotearoa New Zealand had participated in 12 Social Confidence groups to overcome difficulties with social anxiety. This article reports the results of a small-scale study undertaken to investigate students' experiences of the groups to find out what they valued in the programme and what they did afterwards that was helpful, and to understand how they made meaning of social anxiety in their lives. Qualitative research methods including individual interviews and a focus group with five participants were utilised in this study, which was informed by narrative inquiry as it allowed for rich responses that could not have been captured within methods that give participants a "smaller voice." Through their experience of taking part in a Social Confidence Group and their own efforts, the participants in this study reported shifting from positions of "shame and hiding" to "whole-hearted" living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of New Zealand Journal of Counselling is the property of New Zealand Association of Counsellors and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)