What is group therapy and how can it add to my overall experience?
Let’s be honest; therapy is challenging. It requires you to be vulnerable, welcome discomfort, open yourself up to your most personal feelings, and work through them.
With one-on-one therapy being such an intimate experience, group therapy may sound daunting. But actually it has many benefits that individual therapy alone may not provide.
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which a group of people work through shared challenges under the supervision of a therapist. It is helpful for all kinds of challenges, including but not limited to: trauma, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Here are three benefits that group therapy can bring to your therapy experience.
1. Perspective
In a group, you're sure to meet all kinds of personalities from all walks of life, and all stages of treatment. The opportunity to learn from other lived experiences may help you unlock new ways to handle challenges that arise in your own life.
For example, someone with experience managing their PTSD may have helpful insights to share with someone just starting to learn how to manage their PTSD.
2. Togetherness
Dealing with mental health struggles can often lead to feelings of isolation and alienation. These feelings can make therapy difficult, especially if you feel like nobody else understands your experience.
Receiving support from like-minded people can offer a deeper understanding of your own struggles, as well as the struggles of others. Building trust in this way can help to reduce negative self-talk, and build self-esteem.
3. Accountability
In group therapy, peer pressure is more like peer support. By receiving positive feedback for positive actions, you're encouraged to continue healthy behaviors.
Having a sense of accountability with a larger group can help you grow and achieve your larger therapy goals.
Confidentiality & Safety
Just like in individual therapy sessions, taking part in a group therapy program requires the utmost confidentiality. Anything discussed within the group can not be shared outside of the group.
And while non-therapist members of the group are not subject to the same ethical constraints as licensed clinicians, members are usually required to sign a confidentiality agreement to protect the identity of the group members.
Belonging to a group therapy program ensures that all participants can talk about their struggles, opinions, and experiences without ridicule or judgment.
Finding safety amongst your group to voice your truest and most authentic thoughts and feelings can help you introduce setting healthy boundaries and communication into your life outside of therapy.
If you’re interested in group therapy, Resilience Lab offers multiple opportunities to find a group that fits your therapy goals. You can view our list of group programs here, or find an individual therapist by visiting resiliencelab.us/go.