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Characteristics of a Good Support Group

Events can happen in your life that can leave you feeling hopeless and alone. You may lose a loved one, develop a disease, an addiction, a mental condition or you may go through a traumatizing event. When these life-altering events occur, you do not have to go through them alone because there is most likely a support group already in place to serve your need.

  1. What Support Groups Are

    • Support groups are a group of people who meet to exchange information, provide one another with emotional support and learn new strategies to deal with whatever is the focus of the support group. Support groups exist to support people facing many challenges including financial planning, fighting addictions, grieving losses, fighting illnesses and living with disabilities. Also, support groups help people who have gone through a similar traumatic event. For example, war veterans may have a support group to deal with the trauma of war. Groups may meet weekly or monthly and run for a set period of time or indefinitely. Support groups meet in many different types of locations including hospitals, places of worship, libraries, community buildings and individual's homes. There are even support groups that meet by telephone or online. Some groups have a heavier focus on emotional peer support and empathy while other groups have a focus on exchanging information.

    Good Support Group Leader Characteristics

    • In some cases, a professional (for example, a drug counselor may lead an addiction support group) will lead a support group and in other cases, the group may have more of a peer-to-peer focus and a facilitator will lead the group. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a good group leader knows how to engage participants and counter group resistance. The leader should know how to allow the group to follow its own course and not dominate the direction of the discussion. The leader should also follow the rules of the group and encourage others to do the same. The leader should be someone with experience or expertise with the situation so they can provide strategies to prevent hopelessness and negativity when they arise. A good group leader will be familiar with public and private resources that may be helpful to participants and be able to direct them to these resources when needed.

    Good Support Group Characteristics

    • What an individual is looking for in a support group may vary, but there are characteristics that are universal to a good group no matter what the motivations of the members are. A good support group will have up-to-date and reliable information available to members. It will have regular meetings and a strong confidentiality policy. The group should have a point of contact who responds quickly and reliably to requests from members. Good support groups will also have contact with experts that deal with the purpose of the group.

    Choosing the Right Support Group

    • When choosing a support group, consider what need you are trying to fulfill. Do you want information from a professional or a safe place to share emotionally sensitive discussions (peer counseling)? Does the group include only members who share your situation or are family members who do not share your situation in the group? Do you prefer a smaller or larger group?

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