David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Importance & Benefits of Support Groups
by Sonja Dupor, Panicked Chick Blog
Friday, July 10, 2009
When I first started participating in my current employment workshops, I didn't think much of it. I wasn't enthusiastic about it at all. To be honest, I didn't want to do it but I had no choice. I tended to shy away from groups especially when I didn't know the people in those groups. I was very reserved and my negative feelings toward group activities of any kind were compounded by my panic attacks and agoraphobia.
It was hard in the beginning as I'd spent years actively avoiding large groups or meeting new people, even in college. I hated group work of any kind, especially if I was getting graded on it.
I've been attending my employment workshops since late March and I finally feel at ease. The women I've met are simply awesome. The workshops have, since the beginning, been more about personal development and support than employment because these things need to be addressed first in order to feel confident and ready for employment. Also, there wasn't a lot of pressure and that appealed to me.
In the last three months, I've noticed how much I have changed, and for the better. Without realizing it, the workshops have served as counseling sessions. You talk to other women who may be going through the same things you are or have been through it themselves and it brings you closer. Sometimes people forget how important it is just to be able to talk to someone. And sometimes it's more helpful to talk to a stranger and I found that out when I first began seeing a therapist in high school. I wanted to talk to someone who didn't know me but could understand where I was coming from. That's one of the greatest benefits of therapy and support groups.
A couple of days ago, a couple of women and I decided to work on a project together. We had an idea for a book that we'd like to write about our experiences and recoveries. That's one thing we all had in common in this employment program. We all had/have barriers to employment and this particular workshop was only open to women who have suffered violence in their lives. We're all still in the process of recovering and together we are making sure that we move forward.
Without this support group, I would have continued to shy away from everything that scared me. But now I feel like I've woken up and am actively engaged in changing my life for the better.
And all thanks to a wonderful group of women and the courage that lay dormant within me.
by Sonja Dupor, Panicked Chick Blog
Friday, July 10, 2009
When I first started participating in my current employment workshops, I didn't think much of it. I wasn't enthusiastic about it at all. To be honest, I didn't want to do it but I had no choice. I tended to shy away from groups especially when I didn't know the people in those groups. I was very reserved and my negative feelings toward group activities of any kind were compounded by my panic attacks and agoraphobia.
It was hard in the beginning as I'd spent years actively avoiding large groups or meeting new people, even in college. I hated group work of any kind, especially if I was getting graded on it.
I've been attending my employment workshops since late March and I finally feel at ease. The women I've met are simply awesome. The workshops have, since the beginning, been more about personal development and support than employment because these things need to be addressed first in order to feel confident and ready for employment. Also, there wasn't a lot of pressure and that appealed to me.
In the last three months, I've noticed how much I have changed, and for the better. Without realizing it, the workshops have served as counseling sessions. You talk to other women who may be going through the same things you are or have been through it themselves and it brings you closer. Sometimes people forget how important it is just to be able to talk to someone. And sometimes it's more helpful to talk to a stranger and I found that out when I first began seeing a therapist in high school. I wanted to talk to someone who didn't know me but could understand where I was coming from. That's one of the greatest benefits of therapy and support groups.
A couple of days ago, a couple of women and I decided to work on a project together. We had an idea for a book that we'd like to write about our experiences and recoveries. That's one thing we all had in common in this employment program. We all had/have barriers to employment and this particular workshop was only open to women who have suffered violence in their lives. We're all still in the process of recovering and together we are making sure that we move forward.
Without this support group, I would have continued to shy away from everything that scared me. But now I feel like I've woken up and am actively engaged in changing my life for the better.
And all thanks to a wonderful group of women and the courage that lay dormant within me.
