Support Group Meeting Structure

In what manner does your Support Group operate? Mine is quite large (20 plus attendees weekly). We've had a problem though in that many of the mental healthcare professionals out there have been discouraging their patients from attending. It seems they are wary of the fact that we are self moderated; there is no professional which leads the group.

I actually prefer it this way. I feel it is easier to be spontaneous, and to be open as there is no fear of being scrutinized or lectured to. I've been attending 2 years now and it is part of my self care routine.

How are your groups structured and how is that working out?

My group seems very much like yours.
The group is a bit smaller though.
I also like it that way, it is a place where people understand
but it is a break from the structured type of therapy.

learning , or re-learning, to self-moderate is a critical skill that cannot happen if there is someone who thinks they know better than i do, what is good for me.

peer feedback may be hard to tolerate sometimes, but it certainly is genuine.
and self-observation in designated conditions is, after all, the natural way to learn.

We have a 'lead' a key holder who sets up and holds a bit of a leadership role (he's done so for years) but we generally take turns moderating. Some are more successful than others but it is important we make things equal opportunity. We are pretty strict on time limits anyway so that helps to keep from things running away.