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What Kinds of Support Groups Are There?

There are several types of support groups available for people suffering from OCD. Some groups are professionally assisted, highly structured and therapeutic in nature. Other support groups are informative and provide a supportive, informal empathetic environment for people coping with OCD. They are often led and organized by people who suffer from OCD.

Professionally Assisted Support Groups

The first type is the professionally assisted support-group. This kind of group is organized and run by a mental health professional. It is actually group therapy. The therapist runs the group and members pay a fee per session. It is usually held at the therapist office and may or may not be underwritten by insurers. It is an extension of the individual therapy sessions.

Mutual Support Groups

The second type of support group is the mutual support group. This type of group is run by an individual or individuals who are OCD sufferers. Usually, these individuals have recovered from their OCD and are presently managing their symptoms. In these meetings, participants discuss specific topics, such as medication, symptoms, cognitive behavior therapy, etc. The goal of these support groups is informational, not therapeutic. Guest speakers including mental health professionals are invited to speak on a specific topic of interest to the group. Mutual support groups usually are held at a public facility, such as a local school or church. There is usually no fee for mutual support groups unless there is a fee for the room or for refreshments.

Twelve Step Groups

The third kind of support group is the twelve step group.  There is a network of Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous (OCA) groups throughout the United States. These groups are run by the members of the group in the same manner as the original 12-step group, Alcoholics Anonymous. A listing of these groups by location is available on the OCA website at http://members.aol.com/west24th, or by calling the OCA National Headquarters at (516) 739-0662.

G.O.A.L (Giving Obsessive Compulsive Another Lifestyle) Groups

The fourth kind of support group is the G.O.A.L (Giving Obsessive Compulsive Another Lifestyle) Group. The original G.O.A.L. group was started by a psychologist and an OCD sufferer in 1981. The purpose was to prevent relapse by continuing to have sufferers work on exposure and response prevention therapy in a group. A G.O.A.L group is professionally assisted. This means that there is a therapist present at every meeting, but his/her job is merely to provide technical information; it is the members themselves who actually run the group. The OCF national office sells a manual and a video about G.O.A.L. that outline how to organize and conduct this type of group. Please call the OCF at (617) 973-5801 to purchase this video and manual.