rals, who have defected from Muammar al-Qaddafi's regime appealed to their fellow officers Monday to join the revolt to hasten the end of Qaddafi's 40-year rule. Italian Foreign Ministry officials presented the generals, two colonels and a major to reporters in Rome three days after they fled Libya. One of the officers, Gen. Melud Massoud Halasa, estimated that Qaddafi's military forces are now "only 20 percent as effective" as what they were before the revolt broke out in mid-February, and that "not more than 10" generals remain loyal to Qaddafi. Former Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel Rahman Shalgam, who now backs the anti-Qaddafi rebels, told the news conference that the eight officers are "part of 120 officials who left and abandoned Qaddafi and are now out of Libya." Italy, Libya's former colonial ruler, long had close economic and diplomatic ties with Tripoli, but Rome was among the first Western nations to break with the regime and establish formal relations with the Libyan National Transitional Council, that is representing anti-Qaddafi forces. Gen. On Ali On read an appeal to fellow army officers and top police and security officials "in the name of the martyrs who have fallen in the defense of freedom to have the courage" to abandon the regime. The general, wearing stnd online debt relief throughWeb sites such as iVillage and Frugal Village. "An online support group offers validation to consumers who are struggling with the stress of mounting debts," says Dr. Shoshana Bennett, a licensed clinical psychologist in Danville, Calif., who has seen an increase in the number of patients who attribute much of their anxiety and depression to increased debt. "It offers a chance to be truly understood by others who are experiencing the same issue. Credit card debt support groups can offer coping skills from those who are going through this mix of emotions, and better yet from those who have conquered their debts." Center for Financial Social Work's Wolfsohn began offering online financial therapy support groups to consumers in December 2009, after being inundated with requests from consumers seeking help managing their credit card debt. "A lot of consumers feel helpless and hopeless about their debts but don't know who to turn to for practical and nonjudgmental financial advice," Wolfsohn says. "A financial therapy support group teaches them to be proactive rather than reactive, and shows them how to make changes while offering them support and motivation." Private, but public All of the online groups offer anonymity with participants typically being identified only by a first name. Members update groups regularly on their progress and share debt elimination advice and money saving tips. Rewards and incentives are also offered to keep members motivated. The Women in Red Racers have a reward system where every time a woman pays off $100, she puts a virtual smiley face next to her name. In Wolfsohn's group, members who achieve specific milestones with their debt and savings receive recognition and acknowledgement at weekly meetings. "The motto of our groups is education, motivation and support," Wolfsohn says. "One of the main components of our groups is the psychosocial aspect that helps people to change their attitudes and behavior toward debt. If you don't have self-confidence and good self-esteem, it can be hard to make significant changes in your financial habits and to feel worthy of having a better financial future." Consumers pay Wolfsohn a one-time registration fee of $10 and $8 per week to participate in the financial therapy support groups. Each week, members are e-mailed a different lesson with specific instructions, mini-exercises and motivational quotes designed to help them make the most of the group experience. Each weekly meeting is one hour and members agree to confidentiality around all issues shared. Participants can sign up for as many weeks as they'd like to attend. "Credit card debt is a very personal and private topic, but that doesn't mean it isn't one that can't be shared with the proper boundaries that allow participants to share and grow their wisdom and experiences," Wolfsohn says. "Members are sent exercises each week that help them identify their spending triggers, set goals, develop a net worth statement and more." Comfort found among strangers Christina Kelly of Long Island, NY, signed up for Wolfsohn's online support group hoping to finally take control of her family's finances. "Reeta gave us some great tools to create a pe