The purpose of this article is to offer theoretical guidelines to socialworkers in Japan who have contact with self-help groups, though notnecessarily providing such groups with their support or help. The theoreticalframework focuses on two points: first, the conceptual differences betweenpeer-led self-help groups and professional-led support groups; second, thecharacteristics of a new type of professional known as “self-help supporters.”This paper then discusses the differences between self-help supporters andtraditional professionals. We hope that the insights provided by our researchwill help Japanese social workers to extend their practice so as to take thework of self-help supporters into account. While many professionals workingwith self-help groups in Japan are “therapists” (for example, doctors, nurses,and psychotherapists) and focus on individual sufferings or ailments, a socialworker concentrates on groups and organizations, social issues, and thesocial and environmental problems faced by the groups. Social workers couldgreatly contribute to the development of self-help groups if they act asself-help supporters.