Chapter 8:​ Self-Help Groups

Purpose of self-help groups

“Self-help groups constitute one alternative to coping alone by assisting members to meet their specific needs through the understanding and help of others who have had similar experiences”

A Variety of Purposes​

• Self-help groups exist for a variety of purposes​

• May be small and grassroots in affiliation or part of a larger national organization.​

• Examples include: 12 step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Ex-offender support groups, and groups such as Mended Hearts for those recovering from heart surgery.

Characteristics of a self-help group

• Members share common conditions, experiences, and/or problematic situations​

• Mutual assistance​

• Shared leadership​

• Self-governing and self-regulating​

• Non-hierarchical​

• Self-support​

• Optimism regarding ability to change and/or improved coping techniques​

Types of Self-Help Groups​

• Katz and Bender Classifications​

• Powell Classification​

Katz & Bender Classification​

• Focus on self-fulfillment or personal growth​

• Focus on social advocacy​

• Focus on alternative lifestyles​

• “Outcast haven” or “rock bottom” groups​

• Mixed focus (two or more of the above categories)​

Katz and Bender have formulated the following classification of self-help groups:

• Groups that focus on self-fulfillment or personal growth; e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery

• Groups that focus on social advocacy; e.g. welfare rights organizations, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) “can be both on behalf of broad issues, such as legislation, the creation of new services, change in the policies of existing institutions and so on; or it can be on behalf of individuals, families, or other small groups.”

• Groups whose focus is to create alternative patterns for living; e.g. gay liberation and certain religious cults, such as the Moonies.

• Groups of mixed types that have characteristics of two or more categories e.g. Parents Without Partners

“Outcast haven” or “rock-bottom” groups. Katz and Bender define this type as follows:

These groups provide a refuge for the desperate, who are attempting to secure personal protection from the pressures of life and society, or to save themselves from mental or physical decline. This type of group usually involves a total commitment, a living-in arrangement or sheltered environment, with close supervision by peers or persons who have successfully grappled with similar problems of their own.

Powell Classification​

• Habit disturbance organizations​

• General purpose organizations​

• Life style organizations​

• Physical handicap organizations​

• Significant other organizations​

Powell classifies self-help groups into the following five categories:

• Habit disturbance organizations: These organizations focus on a specific and concrete problem. e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous, SmokeStoppers

• General purpose organizations: In contrast to habit disturbance organizations, general purpose organizations address a wider range of problems and predicaments. e.g. Parents Anonymous (for parents of abused children)

• Lifestyle organizations: These organizations seek to provide support for, and advocate for, the lifestyles of people whose members are viewed by society as being different (the dominant groups in society are generally indifferent or hostile to that difference). e.g. Widow-to-Widow Programs, Parents Without Partners,

• Physical handicap organizations: These organizations focus on major chronic diseases and conditions. Some are for people with conditions that are relatively stable, some for conditions that are likely to get worse, and some for terminal illnesses. e.g. Make Today Count (for the terminally ill and their families)

• Significant other organizations: The members of these organizations are parents, spouses, and close relatives of troubled and troubling people. Very often, members of significant other groups are last-resort caregivers. Significant others contend with dysfunctional behavior. Through sharing their feelings, they obtain a measure of relief. In the course of sharing, they may also learn about new resources or new approaches. E.g. Al-Anon

Why Self-Help Groups are Beneficial​

• Individual members have an internal understanding of the problem and are able to help others​

• High motivation to help self and others​

• “Helper Therapy Principle”- psychological rewards for helping​

• Combat social isolation and gain a sense of belonging​

Hepworth and Larsen summarize some of the benefits of a self-help group for members:

• Having a reference group wherein one shares common problems or concerns with others and is accepted by them.

• Gaining hope based on the knowledge that other members have experienced similar difficulties and are coping (or have coped) successfully with them.

• Confronting problems head-on and accepting responsibility for them as a result of confrontations by other members.

• Putting their problems in perspective and applying knowledge and skill derived from the experiences shared by others.

Borman found five therapeutic factors of direct service self-help groups:

• Cognitive restructuring: Members develop a new perspective on themselves and their problems.

• Hope: Members develop hope that their life will get better as they see the lives of others with similar problems improve.

• Altruism: Members feel good about themselves for helping others.

• Acceptance: Members feel they will not be rejected or blamed for their problems.

• Universality: Members become aware that they are not alone in having the problems they face.

Linkage with Social Workers

• Awareness of self-help groups in community; worker makes referrals​

• Knowledge of group functioning​

• Serve as consultant in group formation​

• Assist in arranging a meeting place​

Maguire has provided a partial list of the ways in which a professional can assist a self-help group:

• Help arrange a meeting place.

• Help locate funds. Refer members to the group.

• Arrange or provide training of members and leaders.

• Accept referrals from the group.

• Help provide credibility of the group within the professional community and within the community.'

Starting a Self-Help Group​

Questions:​

• Is there a national organization?​

• Self-help groups often evolve as circumstances warrant rather than by careful planning​

• Involvement of future group members depends on nature of the problem​

If a national organization does not exist, then it may be necessary to start from “scratch.” The following kinds of questions need to be answered:

• What are the goals of the group?

• What kinds of services should be provided to meet the goals?

• What are the criteria for membership?

• What are the costs; for example, will dues be charged?

• Where will the group meet?

• How will potential members be contacted?

• What are the procedures for joining and leaving the group?

• What kind of organizational structure should the group have?

There are four primary forms of online self-help support networks:

• chat rooms

• bulletin boards

• e-mail

• listservs

Online Self-Help Support Networks

• Computer overcomes some of the more traditional barriers to group attendance​

  -No local group​

  -Transportation difficulties​

  -Lack of time​

  -Child care ​

  -Limitations of severe disability​

  -Rarity of condition​

• Websites that include interactive message boards and chat rooms​

• Email discussion groups and listservs​

• Newsgroups​