The following rules enable the Options Groups to function safely.

Breaking the rules may result in contracts, reveiws, suspension or discharge.

1. What you see and what is said is confidential.
   
   
2. No harm to others, no deliberate damage to property.  Any criminal action or behaviour must be discussed in the community and may in some circumstances result in discharge.
   
   
3. Drugs and Alcohol
   1. No alcohol or unprescribed drugs to be brought in to the building
   2. The use of unprescribed drugs will hamper your efforts in the group and must be addressed in the community meeting.
   3. Members should aim to stop using illicit drugs prior to joining one of the Therapy Groups.
      
      
4. Medication
   1. Upon joining an Options Group, please tell the group what  medication you take, both prescribed and non prescribed.  You should also tell the group of any new medication you take.
   2. The expectation is that members stop any benxodiazepines/sedatives/hypnotics prior to visiting a Therapy Group.  This process should be managed in collaboration with your GP/mental health team; we will support you as you do this.
      
      
5. Any form of sexual relationship between community members is not permitted.
   
   
6. Members who do not attend for four weeks without contacting the group will be assumed to have left the group.

The groups also ask that you observe the following guidelines.

1. Options Group membership expressly implies a commitment to be present at all group activities.  In the event of any unplanned absence or lateness, please make every effort to ring the office in Oxford to notify the group before it starts and please do not leave the group before the end without having first arranged this with the group.
   
   
2. Making arrangements to meet or arranging contact (including email and phone) with other members outside the time of the Options Group, makes the work harder and makes it more difficult to discuss things in the group.  We strongly discourage this - if it occurs, please bring it to the next community meeting.
   
   
3. Self injury is frequently a longstanding problem and way of coping for members of the group, but this tends to lead to a vicious cycle.  Please discuss this in the community meeting and we will help you find other ways of coping.
   
   
4. Excessive use of alcohol and use of tranquillisers will hamper your efforts in the goup.  Please bring this to the community meeting.
   
   
5. Separation and 'letting go' are an important part of belonging to the Options Groups.  If you are intending to leave the group, please let them know and give four weeks notice.
   
   
6. Verbal aggression will be challenged in the group.