Anatomy of a Successful Support Group

By
Chris Vertullo
Secretary of the OCF Board of Directors

In 2005 the Hudson Valley OCD Support Group in Poughkeepsie, NY is in its 9th year of existence. If success is measured by attendance averaging nearly 20 members, then this group is successful. If you do not have an OCD support group in your area, you could start one. I will share with you my strategies for establishing a group, so you can do the same in your locality.

The Vision and Inspiration

The idea for an OCD support group that included education about current OCD treatment methods and a supportive atmosphere for individuals with OCD and those living with effects of the disorder was my dream. Creating it was not as difficult as I thought. The support group is open to individuals with OCD and their families. There is no fee for this professionally assisted group. It meets from 6:30- 8:30 pm on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in a conference room at a hospital.

Facilitators and Meeting Structure

We have three facilitators. Two facilitators attend once a month on opposite Tuesday nights while the other one attends both sessions each month. The group meets together for the first hour with either a planned lecture or a scheduled topic of discussion. Lecturers and discussion topics chosen by the member have included cognitive and behavioral strategies and reviews of OCD resources, such as book, videos or taped TV programs. Diverse topics have included the use of humor, massage therapy, music and relation and mindfulness to reduce stress.

The second half of the meeting is broken into two groups, one for individuals with OCD and the other for the family members. Both groups have facilitators and they work on their special needs.

The group begins each time with short self-introductions centered on a theme, frequently not about OCD, to remind individuals that they are more than their disorder. We follow the conventional guidelines of group etiquette with only one conversation at a time. Group leaders come 10 or more minutes before the group starts. We generally begin and finish on time, and conclude with a short social over day-old goodies donated by a local pastry shop.

First Contacts: Getting The Group Started

To give birth to the group, I called nearly every therapist in my region, seeking volunteers who could offer their time and energy to a support group. I marketed the idea as self-advantaging: you will learn more about OCD and the individuals behind the disorder than you can imagine; you will become an expert in the treatment of the disorder; you will have more clients than you can treat. I learned quickly to accept no for an answer, thanked the many therapists who declined and asked if they were interested in any component of the support group on a one-time basis.

After about four months of asking and praying, I had three individuals who agreed to begin a journey with me. At the start I suggested that the therapists commit to six months, after that we would re-evaluate their contributions. The rest is history. One therapist stayed two years, another four years, and a third on is in his 9th year. Starting with three therapists and me was a good number, since we had backup coverage when needed.

Initial publicity resulted from offering a small conference co-sponsored by the local mental health association. We had a panel discussion with two therapists, one psychiatrist, an individual with OCD and a family member. Continued publicity channels include the newspapers, the mental health mailings and work of mouth. Serving both individuals with OCD and their families brings together a larger number of people. Although many topics of discussion centered on OCD, family members learn how to react to the disorder in a healthy way and have an opportunity to discuss their needs in the small groups.

The Rewards of Helping

The OCD support group is very lively, warm, and supportive of others. Some members have been participating for several years. They feel good helping others, especially new members as they recall how they felt when their OCD was out of control or they were new to the group. It is the members of the group that keep the professionals participating as facilitators.

The rewards of being group leaders far out weigh the duties of the position. Working with individuals with OCD and their families is very rewarding. People with OCD are bright, creative, and grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the disorder that cripples them when they do not have good cognitive behavioral therapy designed to fight the "OCD Monster".

Consider starting an OCD support group in your area if there is none. The rewards are definitely worth the time and effort you'll spend putting the group together.