Folks often think of therapy or counseling as one person, or perhaps a couple or family, interacting with a licensed mental health professional in an office or via telehealth.
What about therapy that involves a group? What comes to mind when you hear/read the words “group therapy”? If you’re basing your image on portrayals in pop culture, your response to that question could be a bit scary.
What is group therapy?
When you boil it down, group therapy is 3 or more people who are not from the same family unit gathering, either in person or virtually, for a specified amount of time to have a discussion/experience facilitated by a licensed mental health professional. Therapy groups may be open, meaning anyone can join or exit at any time, or closed, where a specified group of people meet and others are not able to join once the group has been formed. Groups may vary in size, often dependent on the type and purpose of the group.
Some therapy groups are educational, allowing multiple people to gather and gain information about a specific topic. These groups often tend to be larger and include less discussion than other types of groups. Other therapy groups may focus on providing time for group members to discuss and process experiences, allowing for much more discussion amongst the group members.
Learning specific skills, such as ways to cope more effectively with anxiety or skills to help you be more assertive in your relationships, may be a focus of a therapy group. Group therapy could also be focused around a specific topic which affects all the group members.
Many therapy groups include a combination of these aspects.
You may be wondering why someone would choose to participate in a group therapy experience.
What’s so special about group therapy?
Practicality
Some folks are drawn to group therapy based on practical logistics. Group therapy appointments generally occur on the same day/time of the week, offering a regularity for therapy that may not be accessible otherwise. Often, group therapy is a time-limited commitment that is pre-determined before you begin. You know what you’re getting into timewise. Group therapy may also be a more accessible option financially because the price per session is generally lower than individual sessions and you may feel that you receive a good value for your money with the focused nature of some therapy groups.
Relationships
Therapy groups often provide a sense of connection with others – recognizing ‘I’m not the only one struggling with this.’ In a skills-focused group, you may have opportunities to practice what you’re learning with other group members. The interactions within a group therapy setting can also allow for healing of some of the hurts you may have experienced in other relationships.
The Power of a Group
Group therapy provides a unique experience to join with others and experience the power of hope. At times, you may be the one in need of hope that things can be different, and experience that hope through other folks involved in the group. At other times, you may be able to offer that hope to your fellow group members. It’s a phenomenon where somehow the individual group members become something bigger than the sum of the parts when they come together in the group setting. Participants in group therapy can gain knowledge, skills, healing, connection, and hope through their involvement.
Taking the Next Step
As I write this post, I’m preparing to lead a Virtual Women’s Support Group, open to all adult women in NC. If that’s you, and you’re feeling the pressure of expectations (yours or others’) that come with being a woman, consider joining this group.
We’ll be meeting virtually on Thursday evenings for 6 weeks, beginning February 17, 2022. Put on your comfy clothes, grab your favorite (non-alcoholic) beverage or snack, and spend an hour connecting with other women and taking care of yourself.
There will be time to be intentional with decompressing from the day, time to share your struggles as you feel comfortable, and opportunities to determine how you might want to use the concepts from our time together in your daily life. Get more info here, and then let me know you’re interested so you don’t miss your spot in the Virtual Women’s Support Group.
Michelle F. Moseley is a licensed clinical mental health counselor providing telehealth services in the state of North Carolina. She specializes in providing support for folks who struggle with feeling they are “too much”, yet worry they are not enough. She works from a trauma-informed perspective, and believes that ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and to feel heard. Learn more about Michelle by visiting www.MichelleFMoseley.com or following her on Instagram – @therapy_with_michelle
**A previous version of this post has appeared in the Health and Wellness section of The Sanford Herald.**