support groups - professionally facilitated or peer-led?
You're right. If it's a professionally facilitated group, it needs to be led by someone that knows how to facilitate a group. It seems like many surgeons either have a nurse or a dietician facilitate the group and they may be really good at their jobs but know nothing about how to facilitate a support group. I'm guessing that's not something you learn a lot about in nursing school, right?
I also agree that the lecture type groups don't seem to provide much real support. It almost seems to me like they should have two different groups. One for education on different topics and one for emotional support.
It is possible to balance education and support in one group, though. When I was a social worker, I used to facilitate anger management groups and they were what we referred to as psycho-educational groups, providing both education and support to clients. For a WLS support group to be like that, you'd need someone that knew a lot about WLS and knew how to facilitate a group. Like a mental health professional that was also educated about WLS issues. I wonder why so many support groups are not facilitated by mental health professionals?
I also agree that the lecture type groups don't seem to provide much real support. It almost seems to me like they should have two different groups. One for education on different topics and one for emotional support.
It is possible to balance education and support in one group, though. When I was a social worker, I used to facilitate anger management groups and they were what we referred to as psycho-educational groups, providing both education and support to clients. For a WLS support group to be like that, you'd need someone that knew a lot about WLS and knew how to facilitate a group. Like a mental health professional that was also educated about WLS issues. I wonder why so many support groups are not facilitated by mental health professionals?
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I didn't know that you used to be a social worker, Kelly!
The group our hospital offers is facilitated by a psychologist. Unfortunately, like many psychologists, he isn't really big on the "counseling"/"support" aspect. Even more unfortunately, he doesn't seem to even LIKE working with obese people! The SW that used to do the second support group was the opposite extreme... there was very little structure to her group.
Him having a PhD, however, seems to be more important to the WLS program than having someone who has a master's degree, the requisite group leadership skills, AND an understanding of -- and passion for -- people undergoing bariatric surgery and changing their lives.
Lora
The group our hospital offers is facilitated by a psychologist. Unfortunately, like many psychologists, he isn't really big on the "counseling"/"support" aspect. Even more unfortunately, he doesn't seem to even LIKE working with obese people! The SW that used to do the second support group was the opposite extreme... there was very little structure to her group.
Him having a PhD, however, seems to be more important to the WLS program than having someone who has a master's degree, the requisite group leadership skills, AND an understanding of -- and passion for -- people undergoing bariatric surgery and changing their lives.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Yep, I was a social worker in my other life. I quit that job due to health problems about eight years ago. I still miss it sometimes. It was stressful sometimes of course but I was never board and it was always challenging and I just really loved it. I was the program cooridinator for a violence prevention/intervention program for teens. We worked with both the teens and their parents. Part of my job was facilitating groups as well as supervising the other counselors that facilitated groups.
I don't even get why someone that didn't like working with obese people would take that job! That's like when you come across teachers that don't like kids or nurses that don't like being around sick people. They're out there but I can never figure out why.
Of course I don't think it matters if the facilitator has a PhD or a master's degree or whatever as long as they have some sort of qualifications and can do the job. And I'm guessing it doesn't matter to most of the patients, either. A lot of people don't even know the difference between a social worker and a licensed professional counselor and a psychologist and whatever.
I don't even get why someone that didn't like working with obese people would take that job! That's like when you come across teachers that don't like kids or nurses that don't like being around sick people. They're out there but I can never figure out why.
Of course I don't think it matters if the facilitator has a PhD or a master's degree or whatever as long as they have some sort of qualifications and can do the job. And I'm guessing it doesn't matter to most of the patients, either. A lot of people don't even know the difference between a social worker and a licensed professional counselor and a psychologist and whatever.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I attend a pro facilitated group, which I like. We start out by introducing ourselves and telling about any NSV we had in the month. The facilitator (my surgeons dietitian ) will toss out a topic, or ask if anyone has a specific question they want addressed. Last month we had a couple of pre ops, so there was lots of discussion about the hospital experience, strictures, the things we encounter during the first 3 or 4 months.
This same dietitian along with the NP from the surgeons office do a quarterly, how to eat out meeting as well. It's fun to have a group of people, who share dinner, and learn how to feel empowered when ordering.
This same dietitian along with the NP from the surgeons office do a quarterly, how to eat out meeting as well. It's fun to have a group of people, who share dinner, and learn how to feel empowered when ordering.
Oh, the how to eat out one sounds fun! Do you go out to a restaurant for that one? That would be really fun and you'd learn a lot and, oh, I just really like the idea.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Kelly -
Yes we go to different restaurants for the 'how to eat out' Last months was Italian. So they try to choose things that perhaps a post op might feel is now 'off limits' The surgeon's support team really pushes the anything in moderation.
I live in a rather large metro area (Denver CO) and they move around the city in an attempt to make at least 1 dinner a year 'close by' but you are welcome to attend any of them.
I actually do like the after care my surgeons office has.
Yes we go to different restaurants for the 'how to eat out' Last months was Italian. So they try to choose things that perhaps a post op might feel is now 'off limits' The surgeon's support team really pushes the anything in moderation.
I live in a rather large metro area (Denver CO) and they move around the city in an attempt to make at least 1 dinner a year 'close by' but you are welcome to attend any of them.
I actually do like the after care my surgeons office has.
I just love that idea. Seems so much more helpful than sitting in an office hearing a lecture about how to eat out.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I am in three support groups. 1 is the same one you are in that you are talking about (which you already know) and the other two are professionally run. I like all three groups a lot. I think the groups do a good job of letting people talk about what they need to talk about. The peer facilitated one stays a lot more on topic though and it might be because it is on the phone and you can't see the faces of the people in the group. Also the phone group is better in my opinion because it is so much smaller. In both of the professional run groups that I attend there is always at least 20 people. And the same 3 people kind of tend to take over the meeting by talking whether it be on topic or off topic.
The three groups give me different things that I need. My surgeons nutritionist and the physical trainer is very knowledgable so we get very good info from that one. The other one covers a wide variety of topics. The phone support group I feel like can be more personal because it is so small.
Those are my experiences!
The three groups give me different things that I need. My surgeons nutritionist and the physical trainer is very knowledgable so we get very good info from that one. The other one covers a wide variety of topics. The phone support group I feel like can be more personal because it is so small.
Those are my experiences!
Height - 5'8 - SW - 292/ CW - 177.6 /GW - 150 - BMI - 27.1 - 114.4 lbs lost!
"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore" Vincent Van Gogh
"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore" Vincent Van Gogh
the group i attend is held 2 time per month. the first session of the month is a topic/educational and faciliated by the nutritionist with support blended into it. the second session is more of a straight up support group facilitated by a therapist however it really allows for peer-support and productive dialogue. a nurse is at both sessions and at the end of the sessions if there were any medical related questions or issues that arose that can be addressed by the nurse there is time fo that. there is also time for individual questions for the nurse at the end.
i really found the groups to be on target and helpful. they have been both educational and support for me. I also found that when people in the group provide incorrect inforamtion, the faciliator is all over it and ensures that we get the correct info in order for us to leave better educated on the truths rather than the myths.
i only started attending two months ago and am so happy that i did, and greateful to have both options all in one group.
i really found the groups to be on target and helpful. they have been both educational and support for me. I also found that when people in the group provide incorrect inforamtion, the faciliator is all over it and ensures that we get the correct info in order for us to leave better educated on the truths rather than the myths.
i only started attending two months ago and am so happy that i did, and greateful to have both options all in one group.
I really, really like that idea. I think it is a great way to address both needs, education and support. I'm also thinking that the educational session might be more useful for those that recently had surgery but after a while, especially if you'd been going to the educational sessions regularly, you might not need more education but the other group that focuses more on support could still be very useful for you.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
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