A model for working with the group life cycle in each group session across the life span of the group

Birnbaum, Martin L.; Cicchetti, Andrew

doi:10.1921/0951824x.15.3.23

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Most survivor of suicide (SOS) support groups are open-ended, with members continuously changing; newly bereaved members join in and longer-term survivors often withdraw. While this structure may be a challenging one-requiring the smooth integration of beginning, middle, and ending transitional phases within each session (Birnbaum & Cicchetti, 2005)-it allows new members to enter the group quickly and to be motivated to share their "stories" sooner, as they listen to the level of openness of other, more "seasoned" members (Shulman, 2006). On the other hand, the ease by which newly bereaved members are integrated within the group may be at the expense of serving the bereavement needs of longer-term group members.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide Survivor Support Groups: Comings and Goings, Part I

Feigelman

2011

Illness, Crisis & Loss

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This two-part report examines important aspects of survivor of suicide support groups: some of the motivating factors attracting survivors to join these groups and why many withdraw as time after a loss passes. From a variety of data sources, including survey data collected from 462 parents losing a child to suicide, participant observation data (collected over a 7-year period from more than 200 suicide survivors observed at monthly group meetings) and from follow-up interviews with 24 respondents withdrawing from groups, we investigate the above questions. In this first part, we focus on motivating factors leading suicide-bereaved individuals to participate in support groups and explore several hypotheses associated with participation: conventional religious involvements, family size differences, perceived grief and psychological distress, and help received from bereavement professionals. The present study did not confirm the research-based expectation that support group members would be more distressed than their less active counterparts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%