Grayson created for organizing support groups. GOAL works on different levels, said Grayson, whose support group is the oldest in the country. For those who've been through an intensive treatment program, it serves as a relapse prevention program. For newcomers, it may not only be the first time they've found others who understand what they feel and what they've been through, it also may be the first time they're introduced to behavioral concepts. The three-part meetings begin with people sharing their feelings and opinions about a chosen topic.
Meetings end with socializing, to build group strength and cohesion.
We believe all three parts of the meeting are critical. The first part allows a sharing of feelings and ideas of general concern to everyone. Goal planning keeps the meetings focused on what everyone can do to help themselves, and socializing helps bring everyone closer, which is crucial, since members will need to depend upon the others for support in accomplishing goals. OCF's Duffy also conducted a support group workshop during which she listed the specific functions a group should have. First comes identification.