- 1). Find other members for the support group through friends whom you know who have struggled with depression or online sites such as craigslist. Ask them what they're looking for in a support group and if they're able to listen and be supportive without trying to "fix" people's problems.
- 2). Discuss timing and location with the other group members. Meeting once a week can be a good length of time between sessions, although once or twice a month may work better for people's schedules. Less than once a month may not be often enough to be effective. If you're not able to meet in person or often enough in person, you can also talk online through email or chat rooms. Unless you have a counselor or other trained professional who is helping lead the meetings, it will probably work best to have everyone take turns leading or have a round robin atmosphere, giving everyone a chance to ask questions and be able to direct the conversations.
- 3). Meet with the group members in person or online and write down some of your goals for the group. This could include:
--Talking about your personal issues in a supportive environment.
--Hearing about how others have dealt with similar issues.
--Discussing side effects of professional treatments.
--Improving daily life. - 4). Use some kind of tactile activity to help people focus during the group. It can be different for everyone, for example, knitting, doodling or using clay or a stress ball. Having something to do with your hands, especially if you're feeling anxious or depressed, can help you stay focused on the group.
- 5). Remember that this is not a substitute for professional care, and if anyone is experiencing suicidal feelings, she should contact 911 or her doctor at once.
previous post