Leading a Support Group

Why are support groups important? How are they formed, run and ended? How can untrained personnel develop a basic capability in running support groups? Psychological support is now known to be a significant counter to the psychological and physical effects of stress and life pressure. Support may be provided in various forms but the support group is both efficient and powerful. It is suitable in healthcare, education, and elements of industry and commerce. However, professionals in these sectors will often hold back from offering support groups because of lack of training and experience. This book is designed to overcome this problem. It is written for professional people who can see a value for support group work within their organization and working life but hesitate from lack of experience. Presented in a conversational style, the book serves as a tutorial outlining the benefits of support groups and the essential aspects of forming, beginning and then running a support group. It also provides practical examples and case discussion with a focus on the problems and queries that a novice leader might encounter. Leading a Support Group is an excellent resource for a wide range of professionals that includes nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians, clinical psychologists, health psychologists, social workers/care worker supervisors, teachers and human resource personnel.