Support groups Health Article

Conclusion

Group experiences can be very powerful in changing behavior and maintaining that change. The support group becomes part of the individual's daily life, and promotes healthy functioning by providing reminders about change and support when he or she is feeling down or is drawn toward old patterns. It also provides opportunities to own one's change by helping others. These factors contribute to the positive prognosis for most who participate in a group experience. However, a person could be harmed by a group experience as well. Much of this risk is dependent on the characteristics of individual members, particularly in support groups that operate without professional guidance. For example, if certain individuals dominate the group with their own agenda, perhaps at the expense of other group members, then the experience may have a negative impact on more vulnerable individuals.

See also Grief counseling and therapy

BOOKS

Giuseppe, R. and Galimberti, C., eds. Towards cyberpsychology: Mind, cognition and society in the internet age Amsterdam, Netherlands IOS Press, 2001.

Kaduson, H.G. and Schaefer, C. E., eds. Short-term play therapy for children. New York: The Guilford Press, 2000.

Yalom, I. D. The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. 3rd edition. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1985.