Do you feel like you can’t handle life’s challenges on your own? Are you struggling with depression, anxiety, or another mental health issue? Do you feel more isolated after living through the pandemic? If so, group therapy may be the treatment you need. Group therapy is a type of counseling that is done in a group setting. It is often used to treat mental health issues, addiction, and relationship problems. Group therapy can be very beneficial for those who are struggling with these issues. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of group therapy and how it can help you get the treatment you need.
Group therapy can be very beneficial for those who are struggling with mental health issues. In group therapy, you will be able to share your thoughts and feelings with others who are going through similar experiences. This can be a very helpful way to get support and understanding from others. Group therapy can also help you learn new coping skills and strategies for dealing with your problems. In addition, group therapy can provide you with social support and a sense of belonging.
If you are interested in finding a group therapy program, there are many resources available to help you find one that is right for you. You can ask your doctor or therapist for recommendations, or look online for groups in your area. Many online groups offer support and guidance. Group therapy can be an extremely beneficial treatment for those who are struggling with mental health issues. Psychotherapy groups are different from peer lead groups in the community. The most popular peer lead group is Alcoholics Anonymous. While these groups are extremely helpful, group psychotherapy can provide education, skills, and feedback in ways that other groups may not.
Group therapy may be better than individual counseling for a number of reasons. First, group therapy can provide a sense of social support that can be helpful for people struggling with anxiety, brain injury, or other mental health issues. It is so powerful to feel like you are not alone, for many that is the most difficult part of mental health struggles. Second, group therapy can be more affordable than individual therapy. Third, group therapy can provide a more diverse range of perspectives and experiences than individual therapy. Think about it, you have many more people weighing in on your relational problem, situation, or struggle. Fourth, group therapy can allow people to practice social skills in a safe and supportive environment. For these reasons, group therapy may be an effective option for people struggling with mental health issues.
“In examining 67 studies that compared formats, Burlingame et al. (4) found no difference between formats for “rates of treatment acceptance, dropout, remission, and improvement.”
Group therapy may have a special component in today’s increasingly isolated and divisive society. A huge asset of therapy groups is the opportunity to be honest with one another in a setting that is safer than outside of the group context as a therapist is present to assist with feedback and notice commonalities. Often in groups, we find that we have more in common despite issues that can divide such as race, class, gender, ethnicity, etc.
There are many resources available to those who need them. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-825). Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741. Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.aa.org/find-aa.
The pandemic has forced many of us to confront difficult truths about ourselves and the world around us. It can be incredibly helpful to do this work in a group setting, where we can receive support from others who are going through similar experiences. Group therapy is equal if not better than individual psychotherapy in terms of effectiveness, price, and access. There are likely groups available to you that fit your needs perfectly. If you’re interested in exploring group therapy as an option for healing, please contact us at New Life today.
We would be happy to discuss our offerings with you and help you find the right group for you. Here we specialize in trauma, biofeedback, and brain injury in our groups. Here is a list of our offerings.
Burlingame GM, Strauss B, Joyce AS: Small group treatment: evidence for effectiveness and mechanisms of change; in Bergin and Garfield’s Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change, 6th ed. Edited by Lambert MJ. New York, Wiley, 2013.
