Group Therapy: The Who, Why, What
When we hear someone is attending “group therapy”, we may be surprised to learn how many different definitions this phrase can take on. As with individual therapy, there are many reasons one may be inclined to join, and there are a variety of mental health-related issues one may choose to focus on. Group therapy allows clinicians to work with multiple clients at once, not only allowing for real-time processing of old dynamics but also increasing access to care overall.
Who can benefit from group therapy?
Sitting with a group of other people who can relate to you as you share your experience is truly impactful. Although groups typically focus on a specific issue, it is common for co-occurring struggles to come up throughout. Treatment approaches will vary across groups and can be tailored to a wide-range of challenges or desired outcomes, including:
Anxiety
Practicing Mindfulness
Conflict Avoidant
Healthier Relationships
Healing Parental Wounding
Sexuality
Depression
ADHD
Substance Use
Life Transitions
Grief and Loss
PTSD
Cultural Trauma
Parenting
Social Skills
Why participate in Group Therapy?
Blazing a trail in the field of existential psychology, Dr. Irvin Yalom made significant contributions to the growth of group therapy, publishing a book in 1970 called Theory and Practice of Group Therapy. Here, he outlined 11 factors that frame the therapeutic group experience:
Groups instill hope, reminding us we can go through hard things and come out on the other side as we see others do the same.
The universality of our human experiences reminds us we are not alone.
Group is a place to share advice, learn from one another, and impart information.
Group members hold altruism, genuinely want each other to win, and help each other build confidence.
The group itself becomes like a family, with “parents” and “siblings”. It has its own set of dynamics, allowing corrective recapitulation to occur as old wounds are healed through new resolution.
Social techniques learned inside a group can be taken outside into daily life as we become more aware of our own thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Group members are all at different stages in their development, while simultaneously progressing together as a whole. Mirroring, modeling, and other imitative behavior highlights the adoption and implementation of new coping strategies by members.
Interpersonal learning increases one’s awareness of their own strengths and working edges.
Group cohesiveness cultivates a sense of belonging, leading us to feel safe opening up and the implementation of long-term change.
As we move through our emotions and experiences held deep within, sharing within the group releases us to catharsis.
Life continues to go on as the group does, meaning that existential factors such as death, finances, and loss will come up. Group members will be supported as they work through their feelings and accept what is outside their locus of control.
What kinds of Group Therapy is out there?
Because these principles may be applied to a wide breadth and depth of experiences, there are many types of groups, and no “wrong way” to approach it. Some of the most common types of groups include:
Mindfulness Groups
In a mindfulness group, the therapist will ask members to pay attention to their own mind, body, breath, and surroundings. They’ll be reminded to stay inquisitive and kind with themselves, not aiming to control their awareness in anyway. While a mindfulness group may set goals, the focus of the experience will be on the journey rather than an end result or outcome.
Psychoeducational Groups
Psychoeducational groups center around providing members with education on a specific issue or topic, and then teaching them coping mechanisms to work through said issue in everyday life. Members are able to dig deep into their symptoms, and develop an understanding of how to better approach their life because they gain background information on their struggle.
(CBT) Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Groups
Cognitive-behavioral groups demonstrate to members how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interdependent of one another. As members decrease limiting beliefs, their negative behavior will as well.
Skills Development Groups
Skills groups are designed to provide members with a concrete set of tools to add to their mental health “toolkit”. This is in an effort to increase one’s overall range of coping and emotional bandwidth, with the intention of leading to more positive choices and satisfying interpersonal relationships.
Support Groups
Support groups are for people who are going through a similar transition or circumstance, sharing their experiences in an effort to move forward with the mutual support of those who know what it feels like to be in their shoes. Members are challenged to work towards their goals as they navigate their own way of being in the world. These may include Relapse-Prevention and Mutual Self-Help groups.
And my favorite…Process Groups
Process groups invite members to look at how subconscious feelings around early life experiences may be guiding their actions in the present. The clinician will often focus awareness on current interactions at play in the room between members and also with the leaders, relating them to overarching themes and ideals connected to their own perception of self. The social norms of being polite or not interrupting go out the window in these groups. The major guideline members agree to is to put thoughts and feelings into words. These groups can be so freeing because all the members agree to not act out in the group (no touching or contact outside of the group to preserve the safe container.) Yep, there will be no exchanging numbers because the point of the group is to be able to verbally explore ANY topic in lieu of acting on it. For example, telling another member that you wish you could be friends and exchange numbers and that you are upset at the stupid leaders for having such dumb boundaries.
Process groups are truly profound and insight incredible personal change. Putting everything into words really reiterates the PAUSE button before acting which is HUGE in having healthy relationships and productive conflict resolution skills.
There are a plethora of groups in the world, and so many people who benefit from them. Whether you join a group to learn more about a topic or feel less alone, there is something to be gained from putting yourself out there and just being willing to give it a go! Why not try it?