Support groups bring together people who have navigated similar challenges. These gatherings are not the same as group therapy, which involves a small group of individuals receiving counseling from a licensed therapist. Support groups are typically free, run by a peer or unregulated facilitator, and may meet in person or virtually. The groups provide support, inspiration, and can build a sense of community and safety for individuals suffering from losses or illness.
Learning from others' experiences can help people navigate bureaucracy more effectively and gain practical tips. But support groups, unlike professional counseling, are not bound by confidentiality laws. Though they often rely on principles of trust and understanding, information shared in these gatherings may not stay private.
Though the idea of benefiting from peer experience dates back centuries, Alcoholics Anonymous, founded in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, is typically considered the first modern support group. It remains one of the most common and well-known support groups today, alongside Narcotics Anonymous.
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Gathering—virtually or otherwise—with people going through a similar experience or navigating the same disease can make someone feel like they're part of a larger community. Participants can receive and offer support, and potentially learn tips that could improve their quality of life or lead them to other resources.
Group therapy, facilitated by a licensed therapist, is typically covered by insurance or involves a fee. Support groups are often peer-led and usually come with no cost.
Meeting individuals who are going through similar life experiences or navigating similar health journeys can provide inspiration and be a benefit of attending in-person or online support groups.
Group camaraderie and peer support encourage people to continually connect through a support group and push participants to reflect, share, and find connection as they navigate through their lives.
The groups are typically run by someone with the same illness or set of experiences and can provide clear, practical knowledge about navigating healthcare resources, bureaucracy, and more. Since they function on trust, however, there are no legal confidentiality prohibiting people from sharing what's discussed. What's more, group leaders may not be uniformly trained or certified.
Beyond connecting with patients with similar experiences, support groups can also become centers for advocacy and for sharing research advances and medical experiences, including potential side effects from novel therapies or clinical trials.
Sexual assault survivors that had gathered on a Facebook support group were shocked when administrators suddenly changed the group into one for sharing erotica. Its members were trolled, and ultimately, it was unclear whether its creators had planned for this shocking shift or if the group had been hacked. (Some users may encounter a paywall.)
That's according to a 2020 meta-review of 27 studies. This large analysis found that Alcoholics Anonymous had between 22 and 37 percent abstinence numbers as compared to other treatments that had figures of about 15 to 25 percent. AA was founded in 1935, in Ohio, and depends on peer connections and consistent meeting availability. (Some users may experience a paywall.)
This in-depth podcast covers many aspects of grieving and support. One aspect it discusses is that people may naturally feel a connection with others who are going through similar experiences and may want to build community that way, including pursuing romantic relationships. Such liaisons may be off-putting to some participants and that's why some groups prohibit dating other support group members.
Many groups are findable via search but only members can see their content. Others are "secret"—meaning an existing member must invite you to become part of it. But they're all free, remote, and potentially accessible 24/7. (Some users may encounter a paywall.)
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