5 Reasons Why Community-Based, Peer Support Groups Work Better

The support groups I lead are community-based and peer-led. Community-based means that they happen in the community, the neighborhood where we live, instead of at a non-profit or social services agency. Peer-led means that the group organizer identifies as someone who shares a common experience with other attendees. An example of another community-based peer support group is an AA (NA, Al-Anon, etc.) meeting.  

For almost two years, I led groups as an "expert", not as a peer survivor, at a non-profit agency. These were psycho-educational groups where attendees were screened for mental health challenges (and more) before they were allowed to attend.  As the leader (and a paid staff person at this agency), I was actively discouraged about being honest about my own history as a survivor.   

So, I've seen both sides. 

And there's a BIG difference. 

Update: August 2019- I am updating and expanding this pamphlet into a book! Head here for more information.

{Guest post} Thoughts on Observing A Support Group

Shante' Speed is a public health education student at North Carolina Central University: "I have been interning with Ms. Elizabeth Johnson to better improve my own knowledge of how past abuse affects the health and wellness of women. I will be graduating in December as an entry-level health educator." 

~~~

I started this internship to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a health educator in the real world. Ms. Elizabeth assigned me various tasks to improve my overall knowledge and understanding of how abuse affects survivors. As part of my internship, I was given the amazing opportunity to silently observe Ms. Elizabeth Johnson’s peer-led sexual abuse survivor support group sessions, over the course of eight weeks. 

This specific survivor support group consisted of eight women, all from various backgrounds, professions and age groups; despite their differences there was never any division among the group or a time where the ladies could not understand or relate to what each other was going through or experiencing.  I always felt welcomed and like a part of the group as I silently agreed, laughed or sympathized with each experience or emotion shared. I grew more inspired with each group as the women would trustingly share their vulnerabilities and have them reciprocated in a positive way. Each group session was unique but I especially loved how the ladies were always able to give one another encouragement, motivation and even advice. I was able to see transformations in each of the ladies over the eight weeks, an example of this is how these wonderful ladies were often able to joke and laugh together about progressions that they have made or about situations that at one point would have made them cry. They would share their struggles from week to week and whether or not it was related to their past abuse they could all relate through commonalities in their own lives. 

I do not identify as an abuse survivor but many times I was able to find my own commonalities with this group of women related to trust issues, uncertainty, and setting personal boundaries. This made me more aware of the fact that even though we all go through different experiences and have different struggles, regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic background; we are all trying our best to get through life and we all learn as we go, no one is perfect. Observation of a support group taught me that the most important part of being a health educator is to genuinely care and respect any population that you work with. 

Another thing that made this experience invaluable for me as a health educator is that this group reminded me to not be so quick to judge others or their actions because they may literally be doing the best that they know how or can at that time with what they have. Yes, being a health educator means being professional but you must also be able to relate to others, be relatable and understand how they feel--not judging the people you work with is very much a part of that! I can honestly say that each survivor, including Ms. Elizabeth, has taught me that being a health educator is not always about finding a solution and fixing a problem, sometimes it is about just listening and being there for others and asking them what they need or want from you so you can better help them to improve their health. 

Ms. Elizabeth has taught me that being a health educator is so much more than the seven roles and responsibilities and that I am able to help improve the health of those around me in non-traditional ways. We cannot understand or know what someone has been through or is going through by simply looking at them from the outside. By allowing me to observe these group sessions these ladies have given me insight and awareness that I could never get from any book or classroom. 

Note from Elizabeth: my next sexual abuse survivor support group begins in January 2017. It will be free, open to female survivors of sexual trauma and held in Durham. Click here to let me know of your interest.

Thoughts on the close of another support group

“Elizabeth has a gift for teaching us. I have tried to overcome trauma (on my own) and failed but coming to Elizabeth has given me courage and hope to keep working on it.”

— Ebony age 38

Last night, I closed the chapter on my fourth and final sexual trauma survivor support group of 2016. It was a glorious, triumphant ending. (See flowers below). There were eight women at the start and eight at the end. A few were absent at this final evening but none dropped out, drifted away or vanished without a word as sometimes can happen.  

"Support groups can be an important place to start and build on our skills speaking our stories." - Allison

Support groups are quirky little communities. Good support groups are intentionally small and invite a volleying of vulnerabilities led by someone who has been there before.  Support groups aren't official "healing" as might happen with a therapist or even mandated group therapy as can be required for someone's treatment program. But healing does often happen.

“I love that this is therapy-but it’s not! That may be appealing to someone who has never been to therapy (like myself!)”

— Catrina age 29

At a time in our history when people are virtual with others all day long, support groups are a throwback to sweeter times, when support was shared across a kitchen table in someone's home. Sometimes we don't need extensive time one on one with someone. Sometimes all we need is love, in frequent doses by people who get us. That's what we get in good support groups.

My next support group is for domestic / family violence survivors and/or survivors of partner abuse. It starts Tuesday November 8 in Durham. The group is free and open to female identified folks only. Click here for details.