How Start a Support Group

Overview

Many Americans need support groups to address problems as varied as finances, depression, family issues, grief, divorce, issues of sexuality, green living, missing a parent who is serving at war, religious issues, and crisis support. Sharing feelings in a support group helps people relieve stress and regain control of their emotions. Starting a support group can help the community by providing a place where people can get support from others who understand the situations they face.

Step 1

Decide on the type and size of support group you want to create. Seek local funding or donations from businesses or sponsors for basic start-up needs, such as paper to print brochures and the cost to distribute them. Also, make decisions about how to set memberships fees or weekly dues for the support group. Also talk with friends, relatives and people in your community about volunteering to help start and run the group. Hold a training meeting for the volunteers.

Step 2

Check local newspapers and online listings at local news websites for space available to rent or a room to use in a church, synagogue, mosque, community center or other organization for the support group meetings. Also, ask community leaders, friends and relatives if they know of suitable places for rent or at no cost that could house the support group's meetings.
Look for a space that has natural light to create a cheerful environment. You'll need a room large enough for member meetings. Also look for space with off-street parking for security and privacy. Look for a meeting space that is centrally located in town to ensure it is easy to reach for all potential members. As you scout these sites, bring along people with knowledge of support groups and/or real estate to check out the facilities before a lease is signed.

Step 3

Recruit a volunteer with career experience in psychology or a local professional counselor to moderate the support group meetings. Create a list of guidelines for behavior for the group, such as be polite to all members, do not raise your voice, do not cut off someone else who is speaking, do not use foul language, and nurture the humanity of other members. Print copies of the guidelines and distribute them at each gathering of the support group.

Step 4

Seek volunteers who can create and maintain a website for the support group. Also get the word out about your group with a letter to local church leadership, service groups, social service agencies and the counseling department of local colleges. Hand out cards with contact information about the support group to friends, relatives and community members. Copy shops can create inexpensive business cards for this purpose.

Step 5

Publicize the support group by putting notices in local newspapers and posting notices on bulletin boards in supermarkets, at libraries, community centers and convenience stores. Always ask permission from management before posting a notice in a public place. On the notice, list information such as a contact email address and telephone number; the time, date and location of support group meetings; and a description of the group's purpose. This same information should appear on the website.