The Why and How Recipe for beginning a successful Aphasia Support Group

Why should you begin a support group? Not every community has the ability or resources to begin a communication group. However, every community has the resources to begin a support group. What is a support group? The definition of support group:

A group of people with common experiences and concerns who provide emotional and moral support for one another.

Connecting people with common experiences and concerns – aphasia – takes one person. There are key ingredients in a recipe for establishing a successful aphasia support group in your community. The following are the ingredients:

Recipe for Individuals who are interested in beginning a group:

• At the beginning stages you may start with yourself, a healthcare professional and two individuals with aphasia. Involving a health care professional such as a Speech-Language Pathologist and/or Social Worker will give you the accessibility to find and invite others with aphasia or family group members. It is important to consider personalities and interests, and their desire to improve. Or if you know of several individuals that would make a great group, invite them.
• Arrange a meeting at a location that is easily accessible and aphasia friendly.
• The purpose of the meeting is to connect. Keep it social, informative and supportive.
• Continue regular meetings. How often the group meets during these beginning stages should be set by the attendees, yet frequently enough to create a routine.
• Once the individuals have begun to form a core group, they will be interested in growing and meeting others.
• As you add more individuals to your meetings, always focus on the emotional and moral support by sharing experiences and providing education. Occasionally bring in professionals to provide information and answer questions, but the key ingredient is the opportunity for each person with aphasia to share their experiences with others in the group.

Recipe for Health Care Providers (please follow all privacy rules and regulations):

• It is your responsibility for identifying which individuals you could bring together that will compliment each others communication abilities. At the beginning stages match 3 to 4 individuals that are interested in meeting others with aphasia, their personalities and social interests, and their desire to improve.
• Arrange a meeting, whether within the work environment or outside of the clinic setting, such as a coffee house or quiet restaurant which is easily accessible and aphasia friendly.
• The purpose of the meeting is to connect them. Keep it social, informative and supportive.
• Continue regular meetings. How often the group meets during these beginning stages should be set by the attendees, yet frequently enough to create a routine.
• Once your individuals have begun to form a core group, they will be interested growing and meeting others.
• As you add more individuals to your meetings, always focus on the emotional and moral support by sharing experiences and providing education. Occasionally bring in professionals to provide information and answer questions, but the key ingredient is the opportunity for the person with aphasia to share their experiences with others in the group.
• Keep the focus on the definition of a support group: a group of people with common experiences and concerns who provide emotional and moral support for one another. As the group grows you will be able to add more meetings, be more creative with agendas, but always remember the focus – a time to address personal thoughts, needs and the opportunity to communicate.

Written by Dominique P. Harrington, M.S., CCC-SLP
Aphasia Clinic/Group Coordinator
Nashville, TN
2010