The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation offers a support group to
serve those who are affected by OCD. It is
a safe place for participants to give and receive emotional and practical
support and encouragement. No one ever
has to feel alone. Being with a group
whose members understand what you are experiencing is healing and empowering. The
degree of participation is up to each individual. Some attendees elect to sit
and observe before getting involved, while others welcome the opportunity to
share openly their experiences or those of their family member with OCD. Our
goal is for you to leave having learned more about OCD and its symptoms and how
others have learned to live with their OCD, going on to be productive members
of society.
Our support group is not a replacement for professional
counseling or psychiatry. Rather, it offers an opportunity to those afflicted
with or affected by OCD to connect with others in a caring community. Are you interested?
The OCD Support Group for Adults
WHO CAN
ATTEND? Anyone 18 years or older who has been
diagnosed with or suspects they have OCD or a related disorder, is a family
member or helps support someone with OCD.
NOTE: If you are a nursing/college student wanting to observe a
meeting to satisfy course requirements, you must call Ashley
at 904-994-8551 to schedule a time to attend.
PURPOSE
The purpose of
this support group is to educate, inform, support, and instruct members about
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which includes but is not limited to
setting personal goals, learning strategies for relieving symptoms, sharing
success stories, working together for mutual benefit, providing support to the
family system and/or significant others, and promoting the common good of all
members regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, color, or religious
affiliation. The support group is peer
led.
WHEN and WHERE:
1st Thursday of each month 7:00pm-8:30pm
River Point Behavioral
Hospital
Cafeteria (in back of the
main building)
6300 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida
32216
Please come to the front/main door of
the hospital. The receptionist will direct you to the cafeteria where our
meetings are held. There is
plenty of well-lit parking.
GENERAL SUPPORT GROUP GUIDELINES
PURPOSE: Support Groups are meant
to be a safe place for individuals to share their experiences with OCD. The rules we provide below are for the safety
and well-being of all members.
GENERAL RULES AND
MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Everyone has the right to be treated with
respect and dignity. As such, no
one will be ridiculed or criticized for sharing their personal concerns.
Members are welcome to help each other with
their goals outside of the group setting.
However, everyone has the right to privacy. Nothing discussed in these support
groups should be shared with family, friends or the general public. These support groups are confidential.
No one is under any obligation to discuss his
or her concerns. Opening up to
others is by choice not mandate.
This means a member can choose not to comment even if asked a
question.
Attending these support groups is also by
choice. Members may come and go as
they please. We do not keep track
of attendees although attendees may choose to give their e-mail address in
order to receive monthly reminders.
Their information will not be shared with anyone or any group.
Support group members will not mention the
names of their health care providers (including physicians, therapists,
and office personnel), nor should they make negative comments about them.
Dating among support group members is
discouraged.
The OCD Foundation of Jacksonville cannot make
recommendations about diagnosis and treatment nor refer members to
specific treatment providers, and the leaders cannot be available for
telephone consults or discuss a member’s treatment with his/her physician
or therapist.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
GROUP LEADER: The leader will maintain decorum and provide a safe place for all to share.
If for any reason a group session must be
cancelled, the leader will do everything possible to notify group members who
have shared their addresses of his/her need to be absent. The only exception would be an
emergency.
The leader will conduct him/herself in an
ethical and dignified manner.
The leader cannot be available for telephone
consults nor discuss a member’s treatment with his/her physician or
therapist.
The leader will do his/her utmost to promote
the general good of the group and its members individually.
