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Benefits of Support Groups
* A safe haven for sharing true feelings; a non-judgmental atmosphere.
* A social outlet where you can make new friends.
* Information about reliable products and services.
* A place to learn coping mechanisms, saving you much trial-and-error.
* Advice on what lies ahead, so you can anticipate changes.
* Support for your sanity and confidence – you are not alone.
* Help in dealing with Family members.
* TLC from people who truly understand your situation.
What Makes a Support group Effective?
While any given group may or may not work for you personally, there are characteristics that make some Groups more effective than others. Keep these in mind as you explore your own choices.
A caring atmosphere and trust between group members
A comfortable mix of participants, so bonds can build
Clear structure and purpose; members know why we are there and what will happen
Agreement on group rules, including confidentiality.
A good facilitator
Many Groups rely on trained professionals, but the background of the facilitator is less important than their ability to devise and use an appropriate structure, identify resources, respect group rules and offer the empathy and concern that members need.
Types of Support Groups
Support Groups can be organized in any number of ways. Although effective Support Groups have similar characteristics, their organizing structures can be very different. It’s important to understand the different forms that Support Groups can take, so you can decide which best meets your needs.
Condition-Specific Groups. These Groups focus on a particular disease/disability/condition. They may be organized within a hospital structure, or by an organization such as The Spinal Cord Injury Network or the Alzheimer’s Association. They may be open to anyone interested in the condition, or designed for sub-groups, such as patients or Family members or a combination of both. The advantage of disease-specific Groups is that they offer access to excellent, up-to-date information on the condition as well as information about local resources.
Caregiver Groups. These Groups are founded on the shared experience that comes from being a Family caregiver, and all the emotions that accompany that role. Because the focus is on the caregiver—not the disease or condition—Caregivers can openly discuss their own difficulties. Caregivers so seldom take the time or find the place to talk about their own needs, so this type of group may be especially valuable.
Relationship-Oriented Groups. This approach focuses on the relationship of a caregiver to the ill or disabled person as the cornerstone. A group might serve parents of special needs children, children of aging parents, or spouses of the chronically ill. The special nature of the relationships that each member shares makes for conversations that bring relief and Support.
Family-Centered Groups. Closer to a therapy group than a Support group, family-centered Groups work with the Family as a whole, improving communication and striving to strengthen the entire Family as it copes with the illness of one of its members. In most cases, these Groups require the structure and leadership that comes from having a professional facilitator with special training.
Advocacy Groups. An additional current trend is for Support Groups to include some advocacy activities, or to connect with advocacy Groups. Following the influence of AIDS activist Groups and the response of Congress and other funders to organized campaigns for dollars such as breast cancer research, some Support Groups have taken on advocacy roles. This can be both a healthy outlet for frustration and energy, as well as a way to hasten research, educate the media about a particular issue, or influence legislation.
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