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Clergy's Knowledge of Self-Help Groups in a Large Metropolitan Area

1988; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 16; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/009164718801600104

2328-1162

Leonard A. Jason, Daniel Goodman, Nathaniel Thomas, Georgeann Iacono, Danièl Tabon, Amy Baxter,

Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics

Religious leaders were surveyed concerning their attitudes toward self help groups. Of the 154 respondents, 70% had made at least one referral to a self-help group, and the religious leaders had generally positive feelings toward these groups. Although the religious leaders fell that self-help groups would be helpful with many of the problems brought to them by their congregation members, for only 59% of those problems did they know of specific self-help groups to which referrals could be made. A consultation session was provided for a sample of the religious leaders who had never made a referral to a self-help group. Following consultation, an increase in activities involving self-help groups was observed. This study suggests that mental health professionals can play a unique role in providing community gatekeepers, such as the clergy, with information and resources about self-help groups in their communities.