Understanding Group Therapy: What to Expect

This article looks to introduce group therapy, what a participant could expect when joining a group, and the types of benefits that group therapy offers that other types of therapy do not.

What to expect in group therapy?

To state the obvious, group therapy involves a group of people who undergo therapy as regular participants in a group discussion. Groups often meet for an hour or two each week and are made up of between five and fifteen participants and one or more psychologists.

Some participants, or patients, may be attending individual therapy or counseling at the same time, while some will only participate in the therapy available through the group. Groups are structured and facilitated by psychologists to look at one problem common to all participants. These could be depression, social anxiety, obesity, substance abuse, or chronic pain.

The focus areas could also look specifically at improving social skills and helping those struggling with anger, shyness, loneliness, or low self-esteem through their attendance at the group therapy. Group therapy is also useful for those who have experienced the loss of a close family member.

What benefits are available?

It may sound strange to think that sharing psychotherapy sessions with a group of people you are only meeting for the first time will be beneficial but remember the group members are not strangers for long.

As you share and discuss matters the people in the group quickly move from strangers to people you know and are likely in a position to support, as they can support you.

This is often the surprising reward. The group acts as a support network and safe space for individuals. Members of the group can help one another come up with particular ideas to improve seemingly impossible situations or challenges, and they can hold you accountable as you journey through this difficult chapter of your life.

By regularly speaking about and listening to others about various problems, you gain a perspective from which you can understand your problems better. As an example, proportionally few people seeking mental health care will admit or speak plainly about the difficulties they face.

By not sharing you can become isolated, and it may feel like you are the only one struggling with this problem. The truth is that you are not alone. Group therapy participants often experience relief in hearing others discuss struggles similar to what they are dealing with and being able to benefit from the lessons they have learned in their journey.

The fact that each person is an individual with different personalities and experiences means that we each look at situations in different ways. This means that in a group of people sharing, each person can bring a different perspective to a particular problem and the person dealing with it can benefit by incorporating various ideas into a strategy for dealing with it.

Professional facilitation.

Members of a group are a valuable source of support, but there is a difference between a group of friends helping one another via self-help and support groups and formal group therapy sessions. Having a group facilitated by an experienced and professional psychologist with the ability to teach group members effective and verified methods to approach and manage specific problems is immensely valuable.

Is group therapy right for you?

Your doctor or counselor may be able to find more information about group therapy in your local area. Hospitals and medical centers are often involved in a range of groups.

Consider these points when picking the right therapy group:

Find out whether the group is an open or closed group. Closed groups are those where all the group members start group therapy at the same time. For example, they may all be part of a twelve-week course.

An open group is one where a new participant can join at any time. While both types of group therapy have their advantages, when joining an open group there will be an adjustment period where you get to know the members and they get to know you. Joining a closed group may involve going on a waiting list.

How big should the group be?

This is a good question to discuss with your psychologist. While small groups may offer more time to focus on each individual the bigger group brings a greater diversity and number of perspectives to bear.

Are group members similar?

Research shows that groups are more effective when members share similar challenges and function at more or less the same level.

Will group therapy be enough?

Both individual psychotherapy and group therapy have their advantages which a person may want to benefit from. Some people attend both types of therapy at the same time. Often those attending individual psychotherapy who feel their progress has slowed find that joining a group kickstarts a new chapter of personal growth.

Need further information?

Coming to understand the needs and requirements of group therapy can be a significant journey. If you are looking for additional help to properly understand this and make a good decision, browse our online counselor directory or contact our office at Beverly Hills Christian Counseling to schedule an appointment. We would be honored to walk with you on this journey.