The Self-Help Support Group Directory 2011

Book excerpt: An easily searchable directory which provides descriptions, meeting information, and phone contacts for over 6,800 no-fee community support groups in NJ, broken down by group focus and county, as well as over 1,130 national, international, online, and model self-help groups with their descriptions and websites. The groups listed cover a broad spectrum of physical, mental and rare illnesses, addictions, disabilities, bereavement situations, caregiver & family concerns, parenting, abusive relationships, divorce, and many other stressful life problems. In addition to member-run self-help groups, the Directory includes NJ support groups run by professionals. This 692-page Directory also includes listings of all the NJ community helplines and psychiatric emergency hotlines, and over 400 NJ & National issue-specific toll-free helplines. This 26th Edition has a new section on ''Steps & Guidelines for Professionals Developing Self-Help (i.e., member- run) Support Groups, '' as well as the lay & professional considerations for ''Choosing a Support Group, '' ''How Self-Help Groups Help, '' ''Ways that Professionals Can Support Local Self- Help Groups, '' ''How the N.J. Clearinghouse Helps People Start Groups, '' and the lay person's ''Suggestions for Starting a Mutual Aid Self-Help Group.''