Dealing with Support Groups

I hear you saying, _Sky, that there are two basic purposes in many Support Groups--to encourage another person and let them know you know how they are feeling, often because you have been there. Then there is support in the form of "when I had the problem you just described (know someone who had this problem), this is what worked for me (or them)--I hope it will help you."

Most of us can let people know that we know how they have been feeling. People appreciate this kind of understanding; it says "you are or may be hurting but you are OK." Many people have acquired knowledge in different ways about how to deal with psychological/interpersonal problems. Help coming to you from them may be especially appreciated whether the knowledge comes from life experiences or from professional training or experience.

I strongly agree with _Sky and others who value help in either form--i.e. heart-felt sympathy or empathy and wisdom about how human pain is caused and relieved. These are great skills that everyone can learn, i.e. active listening (Chapter 13) and Self-Help methods (this and thousands of other books). This forum can help you learn all this stuff--just ask for understanding or ask for practical knowledge.

drclay