Research Article

"A Group of ME's"

This article pertained to individuals who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Fatigue is the most common symptom of MS. Fatigue management is found to be very effective for MS patients. There has been much research on fatigue management, but the focus has been on the perceptions of occupational therapists, not the participants. This study wanted to look deeper into the learning process that supports change in fatigue management. A qualitative case study method was used to explore how participants learned from the group process and how the group process supported participants in managing fatigue.  The main findings were that the group process facilitated learning and that the learning was supported by relationships, comparisons, interactions, and comparisons to others.

In reflection, I found the section “Group Process as Learning” to be very interesting. “Participants talked about how being in group helped them feel less alone in their illness experience, and that it also supported learning. Knowing the other members had similar problems not only made participants feel better, it supported them in trying new strategies to manage their fatigue”. As we’ve learned through our whole groups class, sometimes we just need to know that we’re not alone, and that there are people out there going through similar situations as ourselves. They say there are strengths in numbers, and healthcare is no different. I think it’s awesome that clients began to try new strategies because of the support of their other group members. A believe a special bondage was created between these group members. The other members became their ultimate support. I have experienced this kind of bondage with my “purple” group. Going through occupational therapy school for a year certainly made us close, but I feel like ever since we’ve been connected on a deeper level through the group process, that our bondage is now at an all-time high through laughter, tears (real tears), and just deepness on an emotional level. This article and groups class makes me so thankful to be a part of occupational therapy. I look forward to viewing and participating in multiple group sessions in the very near future!

Preissner, K. L. (2013, January 1). "A Group of Me's": Adult Learning through Group Process: The Experiences of Participants in a Teleconference Delivered Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue Management Program. ProQuest LLC,

12 Step Meeting! :)

On March 5^th, 2018, I had the privilege of attending a 12 step Al-Alon meeting at Woodland Presbyterian with two other classmates. This meeting was specifically for individuals who have family members that struggle with substance abuse and other psychological conditions.

The role of the leader was to keep the group flowing at an optimal level while also providing wisdom in relation to the group session. I found the group leader to be very approachable and kind. There were times when she would open the floor for discussion for a certain topic, and then close the topic at a specific point to make sure the group completed all objectives for the day. The leader also made sure that any group member that didn’t get to speak, had an opportunity at the end, if time permitted.

I found the group leader to be very relatable, this correlated well with all of the group members. The leader was very open about her own personal experiences, this gave confidence to other group members to speak up. Participation was very high in this group session.

The environment was very welcoming. I could tell that all group members were very comfortable. Some members had coffee and snacks. I never once felt tension between any group members. I believe the group session could have lasted for hours, if there had not been a time limit. All members seemed to enjoy the environment.

I considered the group session to be very therapeutic, not only for the members, but also for myself. Due to how authentic the group leader was, it was easy for members to open up about what they have been going through in relation to the different topics that were being discussed. Not only were members being realistic about their struggles and fears, but other members were also giving great advice on how to address these struggles and fears. I would say that the age range was between 30-70 years old, with about 30 group members. This created a wide range of experiences and, also much wisdom to go along with it.

I would consider this to be a support group. One of the major themes that I noticed from this group was sponsorship. A sponsor is a person who you trust to mentor you through a situation that they have experienced, they are also considered an accountability partner, just with a more mentor role. I believe we can all use sponsors in our lives at one point or another. From when I first walker into the session, it was very clear that the leader and members were all there for each other, and were prepared to show support for everyone in the room. There were a good number of slogans that were shared during this session, but the one that stuck out the most to me was “Take what you like, leave the rest.” Overall, I found the experience to be wonderful and I look forward to participating in many more group sessions at Greenhouse ministries.