SUPPORT GROUP FOR PSORIASIS PATIENTS & FRIENDS
COME AND JOIN OUR SUPPORT GROUP
Introduction
The Support Group exists to meet the social and emotional needs of
patients afflicted with psoriasis who are receiving treatment at our
Centre. It is an extended arm of the work of the Medical Social Work
Department in that it helps to complement the one-to-one counselling
approach of the MSWs. The group functions on a voluntary basis where
it serves as a platform for discussion of psychosocial issues pertaining
to psoriasis and for purposeful activities that will foster experiential
learning of coping with psoriasis.
Objectives
The Support Group aims to :
- Provide social and emotional support to group members through
identification, acceptance and emphatic listening.
- Help members come to terms with the chronic nature of their skin
condition
- Inculcate a positive attitude towards the condition through group
participation in the activities
- Help strengthen the members' coping skills
Strategy
To Achieve these objectives, the Support Group:
- Organizes purposeful group activities which will help gain insight
into their problem and activities which will foster experiential
learning.
- Provides an environment for open sharing and discussion of thoughts,
feelings and problems so that they can learn from each other to cope
better with their condition.
Activities
Some of the activities organized are:
- Talks on food, insurance and nutritions etc
- Job information and presentation
- Testimonies and sharing experiences
- Hospital visits
- Writing your own biographies for publication
- Recreation activities e.g. line dancing
- Chit-chatting
- Pot-luck sessions
- Group outings e.g. picnic, chalet, high tea
- Relaxation techniques
- Discussion on coping with depression, anxiety and anger.
- Discussion on how to cope with work problems
- Discussion on personal issues and
- Work with family members
What to do in the support group gatherings
- Introductory games to get the people to know each other
- Followed by a focused group discussion on a topic related to
psoriasis
- Sharing of experiences and problems
- Coping with the skin disorder
- Feedback sessions
Ground Rules
- Everyone will be given the opportunity to speak
- We are here for each other. Keeping confidence is important
- Our only cause is to support and help each other
Finally
Call 90058264 for more information on Psoriasis Association of
Singapore and its support group.
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