Continuum between Relational and Therapeutic Models of Self-help in Mental Health: A Qualitative Approach.

Continuum between Relational and Therapeutic Models of Self-help in Mental Health: A Qualitative Approach. Am J Community Psychol. 2019 Oct 06;: Authors: Petrini F, Graziani E, Caputo MA, Meringolo P Abstract Self-help groups are generally described as "group[s] composed of individuals who meet on a regular basis to help one another cope with a life problem" (APA, 2019). Yet, it is challenging to find a univocal definition of self-help groups. Scholars usually use different labels to highlight various features of self-help groups, suggesting the need for further inquiry regarding commonalities and differences. The level of professional involvement is one of the most disputed factors influencing whether a group is considered to belong to the "self-help family." The present qualitative study aimed to understand how professional support in Tuscany, Italy can influence the organizational choices of these groups (place for meetings, admission criteria, timing, etc.), as well as the personal beliefs of members. The study included 17 self-help groups. During 13 focus groups meetings, 92 participants were interviewed; then, we individually interviewed 19 facilitators and six additional key informants from mental health settings. We used a grounded theory approach, and we discussed the emerging models with participants at a public event. Results show the emergence of two theoretical models to define self-help groups, not to be interpreted as ...
Source: American Journal of Community Psychology - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Am J Community Psychol Source Type: research