ABSTRACT
The interactions between group members and group leaders contributes to the power and effectiveness of support groups. Support group members share their stories, thoughts, feelings, goals, struggles, and accomplishments with each other. Successes, validation of experiences, and support from others with common experiences are uplifting and reaffirming to the support group member. Desirable patterns of support group interaction include sensitive and careful listening to what other group members say, communication of empathy between group members, and high levels of member to member interaction. It is desirable to have low levels of leader to coleader and leader to support group member interactions.
