Spørsmål og svar

A support group consists of 6–8 participants who meet regularly over time. When the group meets, everyone talks about whatever they personally need to talk about, and they exchange experiences with each other. Such groups are also called self-help groups, because each participant helps themselves through shared experiences with others.

First, you'll have an informal initial chat with us. During this conversation, you can tell us a bit about yourself and what you find challenging right now. We'll explain how the groups work, and together, we'll figure out if a support group might be right for you.

You'll then be invited to a start-up meeting, where you'll meet the 5–7 other people who will be in your group. Participants usually vary in age, gender, and the challenges they're facing. Our experience shows that people often recognise their own thoughts and feelings in others, even when they have very different backgrounds. We still make sure everyone feels a sense of similarity and belonging within the group.

The group receives shared training on how to work together, and you'll be introduced to three practical tools that will help keep the conversations meaningful and supportive for everyone. The facilitator joins you for the first regular meeting and will visit from time to time afterwards, to make sure everyone feels safe and the process is going well.

You can stay in the group for as long as you wish. If some participants want to continue after others leave, new participants can join, and the facilitator will help start you off as a new group.

Initially, the group meets weekly. Each meeting lasts about two hours, with a short break in the middle. As you get to know each other and when you feel comfortable in the process, you can choose to meet every other week instead.

Support groups are for anyone who is struggling and would like someone to talk to. Participants come to us with many different experiences, but some common challenges include: feeling alone in their difficult situation, lacking a sense of belonging, loneliness, depression, grief, social anxiety, restlessness, burnout, feeling lost, job-related stress, feeling like a failure, trouble "getting started" with life, negative thoughts, relationship breakups, and more.

Groups are also well suited for those who are supporting someone else in a difficult situation. Many relatives and caregivers need a safe place to talk about their own feelings and worries, and to practice taking care of themselves while caring for others.

The group is a space where you can speak freely and honestly. It's important that you don't know the other participants beforehand, so that you can feel completely free to share. If you happen to know someone in the group, we'll find a solution.

This service can suit most people, but you need to be able to fully take part. To take part in a support group, you must be able to talk about what feels difficult, once you've got to know the others and feel safe in the group. (It's completely natural if this feels difficult at first.)In a group, everyone both talks and listens, so it's also important that you can listen to the experiences of others. You're not expected to solve anyone's problems, just to listen and be present. Sometimes, others' stories will spark thoughts or reflections in you that you may want to share, and it may be very helpful to others if you offer a new perspective on a situation they've become blind to.

Support groups may work well alongside other therapy. However, if you're seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist, mention your interest in joining a group to them, or simply contact us directly to find out if it could suit you.

The minimum age for joining a self-directed group is 18. If you're turning 18 this year, get in touch; we'll see if the service might be a good fit for you, and you'll receive a consent form for one of your parents or guardians to sign

There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but we believe support groups can be extremely helpful for a lot of people! The approach we use is firmly anchored in research and proven methods. Participants say the groups give them a strong and important sense of belonging. They find themselves both receiving and providing support and care, and they feel more "normal," less lonely, calmer, and more confident in themselves. Many also say they become better at putting down boundaries in their everyday lives, and have become more open with others about how they're really doing.

A support group is a safe space where everyone is "in the same boat." All participants sign a confidentiality agreement protecting both the identities of those in the group and the information shared during meetings. Everyone receives training on how to work together to create a safe and supportive process.

f the idea feels scary, let's start by having an informal chat. We can talk about what worries you, explain more about what to expect, and together find a solution that feels right. Isn't it worth a try? If you join and later feel that the group isn't right for you, you can stop at any time after talking it through with the facilitator.

We start new groups continuously throughout the year, so you'll be placed in a group as soon as there are enough participants who seem like a good match. Most people are able to start within 2–6 weeks of the first informal conversation.  

We'll help your group find a suitable meeting space. The venue will be free and neutral – for example, one of the group rooms at Tromsø Library, a meeting room at the Red Cross, or at Ung Arena Headspace Tromsø.

If you choose a room at the library, the group will book it from week to week. If you prefer a location through an organisation, you'll book a regular room at a time chosen during the first meeting.   

There's no food or drink provided in the meetings, as we want your focus to stay on the conversation as much as possible. You're welcome to bring something to drink or a small snack yourself. Once the group is well established, you may also choose to meet at a café or have your conversations while going for a walk together.

We do our best to put together groups that will work well together. At the first meeting, we talk about possible challenges and how to handle them. Your facilitator will be present at the first regular meeting and will check in regularly with your group. They'll help make adjustments along the way and find solutions if something comes up. We also call each participant individually to make sure everyone is doing well.

Our experience so far is that groups usually run very smoothly, and conflicts are rare. The facilitators are quick to step in if needed. Most issues can be resolved through open conversations within the group, but if you feel the group really isn't right for you, it's always possible to switch to another one. 

We want everyone to feel safe in the group and to respect each other's need for privacy. The confidentiality agreement ensures that what is shared in the group stays within the group. This helps create a safe space where everyone can open up about their struggles.

This rarely happens, but if it does, you should contact our general manager, Lizett Ulrika Skottestad, or your group facilitator. They will step in quickly to provide support and guidance.