How to Run a Support Group
Overview
You may want to run a support group to fill a social need in your area. A support group for your particular interest, social issue, health condition or lifestyle may not exist, or if one exists it may not meet regularly. Step up to the plate and take charge of the situation by organizing a weekly or biweekly meeting yourself, for your peer group. Or perhaps you were recently appointed to run an existing group, or maybe you volunteered. Whatever the case may be, these tips will come in handy.
Step 1
Communicate the meeting schedule to participants. If the meeting time is set in stone and always at the same location and time, contact them about cancellations. Print out a meeting schedule or post it on a bulletin board in the meeting place. Create a free blog page or website page where the schedule could be posted, for existing members and for potential members.
Step 2
Arrive earlier than the scheduled time to check that the room is available and set up for your meeting. Verify that the room is a comfortable temperature, and it is properly ventilated, cooled or heated. Make hot coffee or tea, if it is appropriate and you have the water and appliances on site.
Step 3
Reiterate the meeting rules, including a reminder about confidentiality at the beginning of each meeting. Make it short and to the point, so the meeting time can be shared by all participants who wish to speak.
Step 4
Start the meeting with your own anecdote or a reading from a relevant book, journal or magazine article. This will prompt the discussion and put newcomers at ease.
Step 5
Facilitate the meeting by calling on regular members to speak next, if the group is quiet. Long-time members of support groups are open and willing to share, to get the conversation rolling.
Step 6
Serve bottles of water, or snacks if it is appropriate and with the group's budget. Ask group members to bring in food items for holiday meetings, anniversaries or special occasions related to the support group activities.
Step 7
Hand out literature and material to new people. Also provide hand-outs and resource sheets for existing members. Find free material to print and distribute at National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse. See the Resources section for a link. If your group uses a common book, try to get a group rate at a local bookstore.
Step 8
Keep your eye on the clock and move the meeting along. Try to give all members a chance to speak, and tactfully encourage those who tend to dominate the floor to give others a chance to speak. Make an announcement five to 10 minutes before the end of the meeting to give those have not participated a chance to talk before the meeting ends.
skill
3
tip
Encourage new members to introduce themselves, but do not force the issue.
When there is a long silence in the meeting, re-direct the deflated conversation to a new topic.
warning
Do not take on the responsibility of running the group if you cannot do it. It's OK to say no.
Do not let the meeting run over the scheduled time.
keyword
support group
Resources