Primetime Living 11.26.25 - Flipbook - Page 10
10 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, November 26, 2025
HEALTH
Online
Support Groups
Help when you need it
By Margit B. Weisgal, Contributing Writer
T
here are times when you need help. It’s that simple. You can ask your primary
care physician for a recommendation or friends. Most of the medical systems
have therapists on staff, and they will focus on different issues. Those who have
gone through the search have firsthand experience and can speak knowledgeably about
the pros and cons. And friends will be supportive.
“Group therapy is
as effective as
individual therapy,
and more efficient.”
— American Psychological
Association (apa.org)
You will also have to decide if you
need/want individual therapy or group
therapy. Finding a therapist is getting
easier, but you may have to try out a few
before you find a good match. According
to Psychology.org, a website that matches students and resources, “Online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy.”
So don’t let face-to-face be a barrier.
The website for magazine Psychology
Today provides a search program to find
a therapist. Friends have used its search
program successfully, and it has proved
valuable for them. You can see a photo,
the therapist’s specialty, a little about
them and contact information. You may
need to read many biographies to find
one you like.
An effective alternative is to do group
therapy. “Group therapy is incredibly
beneficial because it puts clients simultaneously in the role of ‘helper’ and
‘helped,’” says licensed therapist Ted
Winkworth. “Helping others through their
challenges is an incredible boost to our
self-esteem and identity, and group therapy provides that opportunity in a way
that individual therapy can’t.”
The Center for Mindful Psychotherapy
lists 10 benefits of group therapy. Visit
the website (https://mindfulcenter.
org/10-benefits-of-group-therapy/) for
additional information.
1. Support and Encouragement
2. Different Perspectives
3. Social Skills
4. Shared Experiences
5. Cost-Effective
6. Skill Development: stress management, emotional regulation,
and coping strategies.
7. Accountability
8. Reduction of Stigma
9. Modeling
10. Immediate Feedback
If you decide therapy can help, here
are some steps to take.
• Identify Your Therapy Needs
• Check Therapist Credentials and
Specialties
• Consider Cost and Health
Insurance Reimbursement Options
• Read Reviews and Get
Recommendations
There are a lot of different reasons
people need therapy. The Cleveland
Clinic has a good article (https://health.
clevelandclinic.org/do-i-need-therapy)
on this subject, listing 12 reasons why
people seek out a therapist. It then goes
on to discuss the stoppers, why people
don’t go to therapy.
One local place to check out is
Hopewell Cancer Support. It has gotten rave reviews from people who have
used its services. Its support groups
are professionally facilitated and provide
camaraderie and support from others
who truly understand life with cancer. It
has separate groups for those coping
with cancer and survivorship and those
for family, friends, and caregivers. Other
groups are for specific types of cancer.
And there are groups for families and
children.
Hopewell also has education work-
Online Support Groups
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