"Membership of groups ... gives us a sense of social identity."
"We are social animals who live and have evolved to live in social groups. Membership of groups, from football teams to book clubs and voluntary societies, gives us a sense of social identity."
- Professor Alex Haslam, University of Exeter
Support groups
Support groupsThey serve a very useful purpose in providing both well informed advice and companionship with people who understand the trials and tribulations of living with the effects of a brain injury.
There's been a lot of research into the benefits of the support group dynamic, both with the ‘facilitated’ group and the less structured ‘peer’ group. The strength comes from the shared struggle to adapt to a new lifestyle, from inevitably finding that someone in the group has experienced your difficulty as well and frequently is able to suggest a way to deal with the consequences. The humour is never far away, but most importantly the support and empathy is there: the glue that holds the group together.
Support groups currently meeting in Auckland
The Traumatic Brain Injury (‘TBI’) Group
Caters for clients with brain injury, both men and women.
- Meets: 11am – 12pm, 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month
- Location: Headway House, 207 Manukau Road, Epsom
The Men's Support Group
- Meets: 7.00pm – 8.45pm, 1st Monday of each month
- Location: Headway House, 207 Manukau Road, Epsom
The Spouses' and Carers' Evening
- Meets: 7.00pm – 8.45pm, 1st Wednesday of each month
- Location: Headway House, 207 Manukau Road, Epsom
The Auckland Women's Group
- Meets: 10.00am – 11.30am, 3rd Thursday each month
- Location: via Zoom, online meeting
Plus:
- Meets: 10.00am - 11.30am, 2nd Wednesday each month
- Location: Headway House, 207 Manukau Road, Epsom
North Shore Women's Group
- Meets: 10.00am – 11.30am, 1st Thursday of each month
- Location: Albany Community Hub, North Shore City
West Auckland Group
- Meets:12-1pm, 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month
- Location: New Lynne Community Centre
West Auckland Non TBI Group
- Meets: 1.30 – 2.30pm, 4th Wednesday each month
- Location: New Lynn Community Centre