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Mental Health Section 5

Support and Self-help Groups

Support and Self-help Groups

Support and self-help groups can be great ways to meet and get support from people who are dealing with similar issues as you. Some agencies provide groups for all kinds of issues such as living with a chronic medical condition, being a survivor of domestic or sexual violence or coping after the death of a loved on. Sometimes, these groups can be less expensive and faster to get into than one-on-one counseling. Groups can also be an excellent compliment to receiving individual therapy.

What is the difference between a support group and a self-help group?

Support groups are often lead by a professional facilitator and follow a therapy model. These groups might be closed, meaning that everyone must be screened into the group and new people aren’t added. Self-help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, don’t really have a facilitator and are lead by peers. You’re often allowed to drop-in to a group without being screened first. Of course, both can be really beneficial and give you a lot of support.

I don’t really want to share my problems with a group of strangers. Can I trust them?

Of course it can always feel uncomfortable telling a bunch of people you don’t know about your problems. The great thing about support and self-help groups is that most of the people in them may have gone through the same or similar thing you have. That means they will be likely to relate to what you’re feeling and tell you what things worked for them.

What is a 12-Step Meeting?

A 12-step meeting is based on the format of Alcoholics Anonymous. Each “step” is a different goal or challenge that an individual works while she is in recovery for her substance abuse. For example, the first step for Alcoholics Anonymous is that each person “admits they are powerless over alcohol – that their lives had become unmanageable.” Other groups, such as Marijuana Anonymous or Overeaters Anonymous have based their recovery steps on similar purpose with the goal of dealing with their addictions.

I went to a 12-Step Meeting and couldn’t relate. Why would another one be any different?

Most 12-Step meetings deal with issues that are difficult to deal with on your own. In fact, you shouldn’t have to. Because they’re open to whoever wants to drop-in, each group is going to be made up of different people. That means every group will be a little different. Try another meeting or two before you decide you can’t relate to them.

Group Therapy

I went to a local mental health agency seeking individual therapy - why did they want me to be in a therapy group?

Many agencies are offering groups now because they are effective and because they are cheaper and more efficient. If you feel you need individual therapy, talk to the agency staff. Many people benefit from both types of therapy, and many benefit from group therapy only. Group therapy may seem scary at first, but you will probably find that you become comfortable quickly and gain a lot from the fellowship and support of the other members of the group.