SUPPORT GROUPS
Feelings of isolation and disconnection are common when dealing with caregiving duties, illness, and death and dying. Support groups create an opportunity for those facing similar challenges to come together and share experiences, knowledge, and wisdom. Both support and practical information is gained through attending. It is not necessary or required that participants speak out in order to benefit from attending. Some may choose passive engagement through being present to listen to others. The patient will still receive a sense of healing. A licensed professional who has the primary function of creating and maintaining a warm, inviting, and non-judgmental atmosphere will facilitate all groups. Listed below are some common benefits participants experience:
Benefits
– Realizing you are not alone – Having a space to express feelings
– Obtaining helpful information – Practicing and/or improving social skills
– Finding hope – Reducing isolation and confusion
– Helping others – Affordability
Open vs. Closed Groups. Which should I attend?
The format of an open group is different from that of a closed one. Open groups are sometimes referred to as ‘drop-in’ or ‘ongoing’ groups. Group participants attend ‘at will’ or as they feel the desire. Meetings occur regularly for an indefinite period in this kind of format. Drop-in groups theoretically do not have a set minimum or maximum number of members necessary for the group to take place. However, practical considerations such as room space, seating availability, etc., do create limitations on many can participate in any given session. In Well-Being Services, an upper limit of 12 is set for various reasons, the main one being the need to allow anyone to share during the 90-minute session.
Closed groups, sometimes referred to as ‘theme specific’, or ‘time limited’ have another type of format and serve a different purpose. These groups run for a specific length of time. Common lengths are 6, 8, and 10 weeks. There are minimum and maximum limits to the number of participants who attend these sessions. These groups work best when there are between four and 12 participants At Well-Being Services, the minimum number of participants to hold a closed group is generally five and the maximum 9.
It is important for members to make every effort to attend each session as the design and content of a closed group depends on this. Many times, there is a focus topic and agenda along with material and exercises as part of each meeting. Facilitated closed groups tend to have both a focus and an agenda as well as handouts and exercises. However, there is flexibility in the agenda. Ultimately, the group dynamics and participants’ needs determine whether the planned agenda will be replaced by more immediate group concerns.
Essentially, the function and the focus of the two types of group as well as the ‘take away experience’ for attendees is distinct. Closed groups are psychologically safer because of structure and familiarity. Members get to know each other and have the opportunity to form stronger connections than the members of a drop-in group. Sharing often becomes more intimate, which leads to more profound insight and emotional release. Highlighted in the below tables are a few of the benefits and limitations unique to closed and open groups:
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BENEFITS |
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DROP-IN GROUPS (OPEN) |
CLOSED GROUPS (TIME LIMITED) |
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· Group Culture continually changing · Access to greater variety of resource and skill · More creative in terms of discussion content · Opportunity to work on initiating and ending contacts · Can work issues of adaptability
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· Consistent and predictable · Psychologically safe · Greater sharing and connecting · Greater insight from psycho-education material provided · Integration of topic focus through exercises |
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LIMITATIONS |
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DROP-IN GROUPS |
CLOSED GROUPS |
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· Unstable and lack of focus · Time management issues, not enough time to share · Repetitive narratives and introductions · Alliances may develop resulting in formation of sub groups · Immediate needs of group members harder to balance.
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· May be too rigid resulting in conformity leading to ‘group think’ · Limit range of discussions and sharing · Less able to practice and process reactions to change and unpredictability · Less opportunity to work with endings and ‘good-byes’
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