"Is Group Therapy for Me?""What is group therapy and how does it work?"Group therapy is a highly effective treatment modality. A group has 5 to 10 members who meet weekly for about 90 minutes, usually for the whole semester. There is a facilitator who helps the group get started and helps members meet their goals for the groups. Members work together to determine what is discussed. Often these are concerns that are shared by all of the members. Groups are all about interacting with others, taking social risks, disclosing feelings, listening, working with issues as they arise in the group, and trying new behaviors. Group therapy can be a powerful, life-changing experience. Group therapy works by establishing a safe and trusting environment and a sense of “cohesiveness”; the feeling of being a part of a group with a shared purpose. This takes a few sessions to establish. Cohesiveness allows members to share themselves and be “real”, confront others as appropriate, and learn to resolve conflicts. Members learn by both speaking and observing. They develop awareness about their impact on others and learn to change the behaviors that create interpersonal problems. Self-esteem is also enhanced as members encourage, support and make suggestions to others. The new, healthy behaviors that members learn in the group are then transferred to their lives outside, making their relationships more satisfying. “Are there any requirements to be in a group?"A therapy group’s effectiveness comes from its cohesion. For this reason, it is imperative that group members make a commitment to attend every group session for the duration of the group experience. Chronically late or absent members inhibit the group. It is a fact that you get out of group therapy what you put into it. Therefore, the most important “requirement” is to be honest, open, and ready to participate. “There are so many people in a therapy group. Will I have enough time to talk about my issues?”Group therapy is more efficient than individual therapy because members benefit from the session even when they say very little but listen to others. When members participate by listening and observing, they realize that there are common concerns among the group and that these issues can be worked on together. Self-learning takes place when group members can observe how others handled similar problems. “How do I know that the other members won’t talk about things I say in group?”Confidentiality is essential in group therapy. Members are asked not to discuss anything that is said in group with anyone outside the group. Even contact between members outside of the group sessions is discouraged. To facilitate group effectiveness, group members should discuss their issues during group time. "I'm so shy; I’m afraid to talk in front of strangers"It may feel scary to open up in front of a group, but once the group has established a trusting, cohesive environment, members feel more comfortable taking risks. A skilled group facilitator will never allow anyone to be attacked or be pushed to do anything they are not ready to do. However, group therapy does provide the opportunity to experiment with new behaviors, and a skilled facilitator will encourage each member to participate fully. "Is group therapy as effective as individual counseling?"Group therapy is considered superior to individual counseling for many psychological issues. It is the treatment of choice for most interpersonal issues such as relationships with others, conflict, social anxiety, shyness, loneliness, self-esteem, etc. It offers benefits in social learning and skill development that individual counseling cannot. The interpersonal process in group therapy more accurately reflects real life. Group therapy provides an opportunity to benefit through both active participation and observation. It also allows members to give and get immediate feedback about real life problems and interpersonal interaction. The group is a valuable resource for understanding the impact you have on others, for information about how others have dealt with similar problems, and for learning new ways to relate to the people in your life. Do you want to:
Group Therapy can benefit you! How do I join a group?Everyone interested in a group experience should come to the center and identify to your triage counselor your interest in group therapy. Or, you can contact the group leader directly and let them know of your interest. People interested in groups will typically go through a screening that will ensure that your issues are a good fit for the group and that group therapy will be helpful for you. Also, it will give you the chance to ask questions about the group process. Call CAPS at (714) 278-3040 for more information. A list of current group offerings can be found here. |
