Two groups help members with life's challenges

Transitions Support Group
Although some individuals look forward to warmer winters and trading snow-covered driveways for sandy ones, Liz Cupo hopes another reason seasonal residents anticipate returning to the area is to sit in a circle and talk.

Cupo, a licensed mental health counselor, facilitates the Transitions Support Group — one of Longboat Key’s weekly support groups.

The group offers an outlet for individuals dealing with a life change, such as losing a longtime job, the death of a spouse or other “real-life issues.”

Cupo also asks the group big-picture questions about the meaning of life.

“This group is really for people of all different backgrounds and situations,” Cupo said. “But, somehow it works. Members can relate to each other and their issues in some way, and they show support for each other.”

The group kicked off its meeting season Nov. 4. Transitions meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, November through May, at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road. The group meets seasonally, because the bulk of its members live on the Key part time.

Although the three-year-old group’s meetings are housed inside of a church, Cupo stresses that the group is not religion-focused, and the group welcomes all individuals.

For Cupo, the 90 minutes of conversation between herself and the group’s 10 members is when relationships develop and bonding occurs.

She hopes the group members see fellow participants as close friends.

“Transitions is truly a supportive support group,” Cupo said. “The meetings are a welcoming place of members that just care about each other, and that’s a nice feeling.”

Shifting Sands Support Group
MiMi Horwitz, a former nursing administrator who has worked with patients ranging from newborns to elderly, has always enjoyed taking care of others. She majored in nursing in college and minored in counseling.

Now retired, Horwitz has been tapping into her passion for helping others mentally, rather than physically.
Horwitz facilitates the Shifting Sands Support Group. Meetings address difficult life situations while also giving group members a social circle of friends, Horwitz said.

Shifting Sands meets from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays, in the Ruth Cushing Room at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The 10 to 15 attendees of the support group also sometimes go to dinner and a movie after sessions.

“Going to support group meetings gives people opportunities to meet other people, to go out for dinner or just talk about things happening in their lives,” Horwitz said.

But, most importantly, being a member of the support group gives individuals a platform to tell their stories, privately.

“We can talk about anything,” Horwitz said. “Whatever is said in the group stays in the group. The trust level is wonderful. If that trust was ever broken, we might as well forget the whole thing.”

Horwitz said the group has seen a steady number of meeting attendees. Shifting Sands may start offering an additional meeting to accompany growing membership, beginning in January.

Group members embody the support system’s mission — providing a listening ear for individuals dealing with difficult situations.

“The group discusses what life is all about,” Horwitz said. “Life goes smoothly for a while and then all of a sudden a crisis can occur. Then, things straighten out, and another sandstorm hits. Life is about shifting sand and dealing with changes.”

Schedule
Shifting Sands Support Group

When: 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays

Where: Ruth Cushing Room at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Contact: 383-6491

Transitions Support Group

When: 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, November through May

Where: All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road

Contact: 383-8161