Support Groups
Support Groups are run by a mental health professional (i.e., Social Worker, Psychologist, Psychiatrist) and its purpose is to provide guided support. As with the self-help groups, they have an educational component, usually having to do with learning new coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and the like.
Self-Help Groups may function autonomously but support groups, by definition, are directed by a mental health professional. It is very important for a mental health professional to be present since emotionally-laden material is often discussed and someone with the appropriate training must be present to help process it. In addition, self-help groups can be held anywhere; support groups are usually held in a medical environment (i.e., hospital, medical office, etc.) and because of their inherent therapeutic nature, they are regarded as a form of psychosocial treatment.