ABSTRACT
Controversy continues about whether mental health and medical professionals and self-help groups can productively collaborate or are inherently antagonistic. This survey of 426 groups, from the state of California in the United States, the largest and broadest ever conducted, indicates that over 80% of groups already have professionals working with them in a wide variety of roles and that members generally believe that as long as the professionals do not attempt to co-opt or dominate the group, professional expertise adds to the effectiveness of the group. The least positive views regarding the involvement of mental health and medical professionals were expressed by those 12-step “Anonymous” groups that address substance abuse problems. Distinctions between medical versus non-medical groups, 12-step versus all other groups, and 12-step groups for substance abuse versus all other problems have 280proven useful in analyzing the data. Some broad issues regarding the definition and nature of the self-help group phenomenon are raised.
