Is Group Therapy Right for You?
What is group therapy?
Exactly what it sounds like! Unlike in individual therapy, where it’s just you and your therapist, group therapy is a more social, community experience. While often not larger than 10 or so participants, group therapy can be a shift for those who have only experienced individual therapy. Rather than the entire focus being on your emotional experience, group therapy asks you to see your experience as a tool to connect with others.
That doesn’t mean everyone in a group will have the same experiences, but there will be a common factor that brings them together. The differences between each person’s experience helps us to learn more about ourselves and our experience through a new perspective, and strengthen our ability to connect with people with connected but different experiences.
While each group is a little different depending on the group’s objectives and the modality of the therapist leading the group but the basic structure you can expect is something like this:
You’re likely to start out with introductions; typically your name and what brought you to the group–but that may vary depending on the group facilitator.
Sometimes there will be structured activities: ice breakers, gratitude exercises, writing exercises, goal setting, or specific question asking activities.
And sometimes, the group will be more free structured, giving members the opportunity to have a free flowing share, where participants give updates on their progress from the last week or share new experiences.
What’s the benefit of group therapy?
Group therapy functions as a community. Your place there doesn’t have to be earned–you’re just welcomed, and encouraged to share what you’re thinking. This community offers you a space to listen to and connect with others who see you and understand you in a way that you may not be seen or understood in other areas of your life. Group therapy is meant to give you a chance to listen to others who know what it is you’re going through, and can meet you where you are.
Some things group therapy can help you with include:
Providing a space to explore what’s bothering you
Practicing your communication skills
Strengthening your social skills
Establishing a reliable support network
Practice those skills developed in individual sessions
Gaining interpersonal skills
Practicing expressing vulnerability
While individual therapy allows for many types of growth, one of the things we can’t do is practice the relational skills we’re learning in the room (with anyone other than our therapist). Group therapy gives you the opportunity to take those skills and practice them in a space that is safe and compassionate, but still allows for genuine relational practice.
When is group therapy not the right fit?
Do you struggle to share with others?
Group therapy isn’t the right setting for everyone. While some discomfort in the group therapy setting is common, there's a difference between a discomfort that you can work through and one that prevents you from being able to engage. Be honest with yourself about where you are–would you be willing to work through that possible discomfort? Do you think the benefits it would bring outweigh the discomfort and work it would take to get over that? Any answer is fine, as long as it’s an honest one. And remember, if you’re not at a point where group therapy is possible for you, you may increase your tolerance for sharing and being vulnerable through individual therapy work!
Are you in a crisis?
Group therapy, while wonderful for many other reasons, is not the best avenue for support in crisis. Within individual therapy you will be better able to address moments of crisis–such as thoughts of suicide or harming yourself–with the direct, individualized support of a one on one therapist. You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for professional support if your therapist is not available during these moments of crisis.
If you’re ready to start therapy, our therapists at Anchor Counseling New York can provide you with a safe and stable environment to empower your growth and healing. Our therapists are accepting new clients - schedule an appointment today to get started or check out our future group offerings.