Brain injury does not discriminate. Usually invisible, it is a silent equal opportunity disability.
About support groups
A support group is where participants offer support to, and receive support from, each other, displaying empathy and understanding from shared experiences with brain injuries.
Some groups are intended for a specific audience, such as caregivers, teens, partners, etc.; most other groups are incredibly diverse. Participants range from first timers dealing with a new concussion to others dealing with chronic effects over many years.
Unless otherwise specified as a didactic presentation, seminar, or other format, everyone in the group is considered a peer. There is no single expert but a facilitator usually guides discussion to ensure everyone who wants to speak is recognized and has opportunity to contribute. It’s also perfectly acceptable if someone prefers not to share and simply listens.
Individuals are safe to say what they feel and think and to be accepted. Usually there is not one right or wrong way. What works for one person may not be right for everyone and what’s shared in support group, stays in support group.
TBI survivors and caregivers often have similar experiences and emotions. Emotions are neither shameful nor abnormal, they just are. Sharing them with others who understand can be liberating and comforting.
Support groups provide a way to talk through problems and look for possible solutions. The resourcefulness, creativity and perspective of others can be helpful when you feel stuck or need practical suggestions.
Finally, support groups are social events. Brain injury can bring isolation from job loss or physical limitations. Groups often feel like you’re meeting with friends, old and new, and having a pleasant experience. If a support group does nothing else, it provides a community connection to break the isolation so common after brain injury.
Objectives of a support group:
- Offer support through understanding and empathy
- Share insights about similar experiences
- Discuss problems using the combined wisdom of group members
- Celebrate good times and be there during bad times
Peer support works
“When someone really hears you without passing judgment on you, without trying to take responsibility for you, without trying to mold you, it feels damn good.
When I have been listened to and when I have been heard, I am able to re-perceive my world in a new way and go on. It is astonishing how elements which seem insoluble become soluble when someone listens.”Carl Rogers