Group Therapy
We waste so much energy trying to cover up who we are, when beneath every attitude is the want to be loved, and beneath every anger is a wound to be healed, and beneath every sadness is the fear that there will not be enough time.
— Mark Nepo
Group therapy offers more than you think.
I love group work! Many people aren’t as enthusiastic as I am about group therapy, and I want to have more people join me in my enthusiasm.
Most people don’t understand the value of group therapy and cannot imagine themselves taking part.
Some believe that working in a group won’t be as beneficial as receiving the personal attention experienced in individual therapy.
For others, the thought of a group makes them anxious.
While there are some for whom group therapy would not be appropriate, I firmly believe that many people could not only benefit, but make more significant gains in their health, happiness, and well-being in a group environment.
Group therapy offers many benefits.
Working in a group creates a sense of belonging. We need others. We are social beings. As you hear others share their stories, you discover that they have similar problems and experiences, leaving you feeling less alone in yours.
There is so much wisdom that comes from the group. More people meeting you with kindness, respect, and nonjudgment has a more significant impact and is profoundly healing. You expect those things from your therapist. It’s their job. Right? But to receive those same things from your peers is often, in my opinion, even more transformative.
You can “do your own work” by witnessing someone else’s. It can be difficult for us to see our thinking patterns, behaving, and relating that interfere with our happiness and well-being. When we see or hear someone else struggling with similar issues, it’s as though we are looking in the mirror, but it’s not so glaring.
Group therapy offers a supportive environment with a potential, ongoing support network. There’s comfort in numbers. What is discussed in the session is confidential. Speaking to people going through similar experiences or hearing someone tell your own story helps you feel less isolated and therefore more supported.
In a relatively short period, group work offers profound results and growth. With clear, kind, firm group boundaries in place, group members learn to rely on honest feedback from others as they confront their negative beliefs and thought patterns. Those critical aspects of you cannot hide in others’ company.
You practice and develop healthy coping and relational skills that benefit you in all of your relationships. Group therapy aims to help you see yourself and your behaviors more clearly than you can personally and sometimes more clearly than you would in individual therapy.
When, how much, and if you share is your choice.
Yes, group therapy is scary, especially if you’ve had negative classroom or group experiences in the past. As the leader of the group, it is my job to ensure everyone’s safety.
We create safety within the group by designing guidelines, as well as encouraging participation. Before beginning the group, I ask all members what they want to get out of the group.
The group will go through its stages of development as individual personalities become known and experienced.
How you relate and interact is part of the process. You might be uncomfortable at times. You might feel right at home. Your voice and your experience are as important as anyone else’s.
Making a connection with others brings about healing.
Overcome your negative thoughts about group therapy and try it. Seeing others with similar struggles helps you learn ways to overcome your struggles.
It is my job as facilitator to balance the needs of the individual and the group’s needs.
Members of a cohesive group feel warmth and comfort in the group and a sense of belongingness;
they value the group and feel in turn that they are valued,
accepted, and supported by other members.
– Irvin D. Yalom
Contact me today to learn more about current group offerings and to sign up for the one that meets your needs.
Please Note: All groups are closed (no drop-ins) and typically run for 6 – 8 weeks.