Why Should You Join a Support Group?
Written by Casille Kristol, MC LAC
five Benefits of being part of a support group:
1. The realization that you’re not alone.
According to Yalom in The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, individuals will “enter therapy with the disquieting thought that they are unique in their wretchedness, that they alone have certain frightening or unacceptable problems, thoughts, impulses and fantasies.” And while it’s true that each of us is unique and may have unique circumstances, no one is alone in their struggles and there are others that can and will relate to you.
2. The ability to give and receive support.
In a supportive group setting, members are encouraged to turn to each other for support, feedback and connection, and create a larger support network for themselves and others. Because the members can share how they’ve handled loneliness or overcome isolation, they then can offer hope, inspiration, encouragement, and sometimes suggestions to other members.
3. The ability to express yourself better
In a supportive group setting, you are made aware of your own feelings and needs and encouraged to express them. The other members to notice how they’re feeling throughout the session and to talk about it with the guidance of a trained facilitator.
4. The growth in how you relate to yourself and others
Groups provide the opportunity to see just how people relate to others in the moment, and how they relate to themselves. Often people don’t understand why their relationships aren’t working, and in the safe atmosphere of group, members can get honest feedback from others who care about them to one degree or another.
5. The creation of a supportive network and safety net
They’re also able to carry the groups’ support with them between sessions, making it easier to take risks, According to Ali Miller, MFT, “[I]f you know you can report back to a group of people who care about you and will listen to your experience, you tend to feel braver. Knowing someone will catch you if you fall emboldens you to leap. The group becomes the net”
Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels offers monthly support groups throughout the valley for caregivers of a child with cancer or another life-threatening illness, and we would love to have you join us!
East Valley – First Thursday of the month
Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 901 W. Erie St. Youth Room 11. Chandler, 85225
West Valley – Second Thursday of the month
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, 5555 W. Thunderbird Rd. Lower Level Conference Room 5. Glendale, 85306
Central Phoenix – Last Wednesday of the month
Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels, 340 E. Coronado Rd. Phoenix, 85004