Leading a Support Group

This book is intended as a guide for people in the caring professions, organizers of self-help movements or those in some kind of personnel work to help them set up and run a basic support group. It refers specifically to support groups, as distinct from therapy groups and personal learning or personal growth groups. The first part of the book aims to explain why support is useful to people in stress or distress and why this support is often best delivered with a group approach. It includes several extended examples of support groups in different settings. The main aim of the book is to teach the basic principles and practicalities of leading a support group and the book is written in a conversational style. The following sections deal with the preparation of the leader, the preparation of group members and working out a "contract" by which the group will run. The authors then give guidance on the practical aspects of setting up a group and bring the reader to the point of having conducted their first meeting. The central chapters give guidelines for leadership during the ensuing life of the group and how the final meeting of a group can be conducted.
The final chapter sets out a broad framework for evaluation of the group.