If you are facing a stressful life change or a major illness, you don't have to face it alone. A support group can help. 

Support groups bring together people who are going through or have previously gone through similar experiences. Support groups provide a unique opportunity for people to share personal feelings and experiences, coping strategies, or first-hand information about treatments or diseases.

For many individuals, a health-related support group may fill the gap between medical intervention and the need for emotional support. A person's relationship with doctors or other healthcare providers may not provide enough emotional support, and a person's family and friends may not fully understand the impact of a disease. A support group among people with shared experiences may function as a bridge between medical and emotional needs.

While talking to a group of people may sound intimidating at first, group interventions provide benefits that individual therapy may not, often becoming a rewarding experience. Group members share what they are experiencing and can assist each other with specific ideas for improving a difficult situation or life challenge.

Dr Stephanie Sieberhagen helps the group by providing a safe, supportive and confidential setting to address issues. You will get to know fellow group members better and learn to trust them. The groups work together to think about problems and how they can best be resolved or managed. In other words, you will not have to try and solve everything on your own.

In many cases, talking and listening to others helps you put your own circumstances into perspective. While you may sometimes feel like you are the only one going through a particular problem, hearing others discuss what they're going through offers the opportunity to give and receive support.

Stephanie's support groups are generally focused on, but not limited to the following topics:

• Gender
• Diabetes
• Parenting

Please note that sessions are charged at medical aid rates.