VACAVILLE — The aging process can be difficult for any number of reasons that include physical changes in the body and having to deal with the loss of loved ones and friends.

Sometimes a person needs someone to talk with about these or other issues. That’s why the NorthBay Healthcare and Wellness Psychology Practice has organized a senior support group.

“In this area there is a demand for a support group,” said Eric Niemeyer, a clinical psychologist at NorthBay Healthcare, where he’s worked for two years.

Niemeyer attended the University of California, Davis and received his doctorate in clinical psychology from American School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco.

The local program is a 12-week support group for people 60 or older. The sessions are limited to six people in the group.

“But I don’t want to use age as a criteria for excluding people, because people experience different things at different ages,” Niemeyer said.

“I think the smaller size helps so everyone has a chance to share and make connections,” he said. “It seems that six is the right number for a nice balance to share.”

Attendees sit in a circle in one of the offices at the Center for Primary Care in Vacaville. A group also meets at the Green Valley Center for Primary Care in Fairfield. People share with the group if they feel comfortable.

Many times, Niemeyer will come to the group with a topic to discuss. For example, he had a session during the holidays where the group talked about stresses of the holidays or anything else they wanted to bring up.

Niemeyer talks with people individually before setting up the group to see if they are comfortable in that kind of setting or if they prefer more one-on-one sessions.

“I want to make sure the group is right for them, because for some people they need the bereavement group,” he said.

Before anyone gets started, he will create a goal for them to accomplish in group sessions. There will be three sets of 12 sessions throughout the year. Each session lasts an hour.

“People get support for a lot of reasons, from changes in physical function, overall support because they are new to town and feel like they just aren’t connecting with people,” he said.

The group does have a few rules the people are asked to follow, like not having outside contact with each other.

“People can form subgroups within the group,” he said.

If the group sessions turn out not to be a good fit, he asks the participant to share with the group why they are leaving, but if they want, he can share with the group for them.

Participants are also asked to commit to at least one 12-week session.

“If they want to leave they can or we can transfer them into individual sessions,” Niemeyer said.

So far they haven’t had anyone leave group sessions.

Group members are asked to sign a confidentiality form so no one can discuss what others talk about within the sessions. This is to help maintain everyone’s privacy. And they are asked to address the group with only their first names; no last names.

“That helps with privacy,” he said.

The group sessions are also open to people who are caregivers for their older parents.

“At 70 you deal with different issues than at 80 years old,” Niemeyer said.

Services are billed through the patient’s insurance and a co-pay usually applies. Cash payments are also accepted per session if insurance doesn’t cover it.

“If you haven’t done group it’s kind of scary but if you think we can help you, then take that step and reach out,” Niemeyer said.

For more information on group sessions, call 646-6534.

Reach Susan Hiland at 427-6981 or [email protected].