So what’s the deal with ‘group therapy’? Is it just an inexpensive alternative to real therapy? A fancy term for a support group? Let’s be honest here. As hard as it is to talk about the heavy stuff privately with a counselor, why would you ever want to do it in front of a group of strangers?

As these commonly asked questions show us, there are many misconceptions regarding the value and purpose of group therapy. Some balk at the idea, assuming there is no benefit to baring one’s feelings in front of non-professionals. Of course, there are limitations to therapy groups. For some, especially those suffering from extreme social anxiety, the idea of participating in groups is too overwhelming to even consider. However, for many, the benefits of group counseling far outweigh the cons.

Therapy Groups Are Led by Mental Health Professionals

Unlike support groups or recovery groups like AA, therapy groups are led by mental health professionals who organize and coordinate the group, using their background in psychology and their personal therapy style to help members gain the most benefit from the experience. So in this way, groups offer many of the same benefits of individual therapy. And unlike individual therapy, clients have the benefit of working through their problems with a group of people (usually between 5 and 15) who were screened for the group to assure their suitability.

Therapy Groups Focus on Specific Mental Health Challenges

Most groups focus on a specific mental health challenge. For example, some therapy groups center on grief and loss, and thus all the members who join would likely be experiencing some form of grief. Other common group counseling topics are depression, anxiety, panic disorders, or interpersonal challenges. The point is, when you join a therapy group, you aren’t simply surrounded by a random assortment of strangers. Every person who has joined the group is there for the purpose of working through a problem similar to what brought you to the group. Often when you work with people dealing with similar problems, it fosters a sense of support, empathy, and togetherness. Listening to the experiences of others, under the guidance of a mental health professional, you see firsthand that your struggle is not entirely unique, that there are many in a similar boat who would like to find solutions to their problems, and that, in supporting each other, you can overcome your problems as part of a team effort.

Group Therapy Members Benefit From Each Other’s Life Experiences

In addition to offering a sense of unity, groups allow  (Johnson, 2019). If listening to the feedback of a counselor in individual sessions is helpful, imagine how much more you might benefit from listening to the wisdom and feedback of 5-15 others, each of whom are bringing to the room a lifetime of unique experiences and ideas for working through problems that might never have occurred to you (Johnson, 2019).

Working with other members allows you to use them as a type of mental ‘mirror’ (Orenstein, 2014). Through respectful communication, psychological exercises, and feedback, we learn just as much about ourselves as we do the other people in the group circle. Furthermore, participating in the group therapy process forces us to be vulnerable in front of others, to face the parts of ourselves that we might not like so much, not for the purpose of self-criticism, but to find proactive means of overcoming our challenges with the support of others who accept us, regardless of what we are going through. A deeper self-understanding aids us in our attempt to grow, to gain the emotional strength we need to work through future problems as well. (An excellent resource for anyone interested in further exploring the benefits of group therapy is the 2020 memoir Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life, by Christie Tate.)

No matter where you are in life, it’s important to remember the value of togetherness, of making yourself vulnerable and open to people who benefit from your experiences just as much as you benefit from getting to know theirs. If your life situation permits it, consider looking into local mental health groups, just to see if there are any related to problem areas that you might be facing. Getting in with the right group could very well change your life in a positive way. If you make a new group of trusted friends in the process, all the better!

Courtesy: Gwendolyn Brown, M.S..

Resources:

Ready to find your therapy group? Search the Jax Therapy Network and find therapy groups and counseling near you.