SUPPORT “PLUS” FAMILY AND LOVED ONES

Support Plus Groups provide emotional support by encouraging awareness and expression of emotion, empathic listening to others’ concerns, and active coping. Skill building, information gathering and practicing stress reduction behaviors are also part of the group experience. Confronting existential concerns is a key component of Support Plus Groups. Our goals include helping individuals gain an understanding of their situation as it relates to what is means to be human (which includes experiencing suffering and loss) as well as what it means to be a person with a unique history. 

Support Plus Groups are designed for adults with cancer and their significant others. We use the term “participant” to refer to people who use our programs. It is our belief that participant connotes a certain motivation to actively play a part in the healing process.  Wellness House offers groups for people with cancer and separate groups for significant others for two very important reasons. 

First, individuals appear to feel most supported when they are able to process their thoughts and feelings with others having the same life experiences. People with cancer want to connect with others who have cancer in order to feel less alone.  It is also more likely that another individual with cancer may have something useful to offer, by way of information, which could prove to be beneficial.  Members in the group can use the experiences of others to help ease the fears associated with not knowing what lies ahead for them. The same holds true for significant others when they are in a group of their own. Connecting with others who love someone with cancer and sharing the often reported experience of helplessness in not knowing how to help, can feel very supportive at a time when they are being called upon to provide most of the supporting. 

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