Question

When developing and implementing an adult support group, the following important guidelines should be considered: how the group is organized, how the format of each group session is structured, and what the short-and long-term outcomes of the group are. Consider the following three adult support groups: an HIV/AIDS support group, grief group for elderly, and a domestic violence support group.

What similarities do you see, and how do these similarities suggest guidelines for developing these groups?

Answer 1

The similarities between these two groups are that they can present psychological weaknesses, due to the uncertainty of their future in the face of their problems.

This is because, people with HIV, due to the impossibility of cure, may fear a future of suffering, disability, prejudice and hopelessness. It is important that the guidelines for the support of this group are based on information about the possibility of living well even with the disease, through appropriate and correct treatment.

A support group for the elderly who are facing grief, may be composed of people who feel they cannot go on with their lives, there is nothing left for them and everything they know is ending, dying. This group can be very distressed and fearful in need of guidelines that alleviate their concerns, distract them and show how they can contribute to society in various ways.

Finally, the support group for victims of domestic violence, can be composed of people who are ashamed, afraid of suffering some kind of prejudice and without the certainty that they will not be raped again. In that case, the guidelines should be geared towards raising these people's self-confidence and showing that there are people who love them.