Depending on the nature of your problem, group therapy can be an ideal choice for addressing your concerns and making positive changes in your life.
If you’re considering psychotherapy, several options are available. One of those options is group therapy. Depending on the nature of your problem, group therapy can be an ideal choice for addressing your concerns and making positive changes in your life.
What should I expect?
Group therapy involves one or more therapist who lead a group of roughly five to max 15 patients. Typically, groups meet for an hour or two each week. Some people attend individual therapy in addition to groups, while others participate in groups only.
Many groups are designed to target a specific problem, such as depression, obesity, panic disorder, social anxiety, chronic pain or substance abuse. Other groups focus more generally on improving social skills and addressing social phenomenon within specific communities and or demographics, helping people deal with a range of issues such as being a single mom, being a dad, being a veteran or an educator, or even being a Sr. Pastor or ministry leader. This could also include addressing issues that may come from working with or being in these specific demographics; such as PSTD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder),anxiety, anger, shyness, loneliness and low self-esteem. Groups often help those who have experienced loss, whether it be a spouse, a child or someone who may have even died by suicide.
Benefits of group therapy
Joining a group of strangers may sound intimidating at first, but group therapy provides benefits that individual therapy may not. Psychotherapist and Mental Health Professionals as a whole say, in fact, that group members are almost always surprised by how rewarding the group experience can be.
More than support
While group members are a valuable source of support, formal group therapy sessions offer benefits beyond informal self-help and support groups. Group therapy sessions are led by one or more psychotherapist with specialized training, who teach group members proven strategies for managing specific problems. If you’re involved in an anger-management group, for instance, your psychotherapist will describe scientifically tested strategies for controlling anger. That expert guidance can help you make the most of your group therapy experience.