What You Should Know About Group Therapy
Have you ever considered group therapy?
Group therapy is a great option for mental health treatment, but it’s one that’s commonly misunderstood. That’s a shame because it can be an empowering experience that more people should feel confident in choosing! We want to clarify the confusion about this type of treatment so more people feel comfortable choosing it as an option for their mental health needs.
People think of group therapy as a less appealing option than individual therapy, or one that you utilize when you can’t access any other kind of treatment. However, group therapy is itself a well studied, evidence-based modality that can be especially beneficial in helping you realize that you’re not alone.
Working with others who are going through similar experiences is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to go through life on your own, that other people understand what you’ve experienced and how you’ve processed it, and that your experiences can help other people too.
These are some of the most common misconceptions about group therapy, and the truth. Here’s what we think you should know about group therapy:
Myth: Group therapy is awkward
Group therapy can be a little bit awkward, of course, like any kind of therapy. Being vulnerable with anyone else can be kind of awkward. However, group therapy doesn’t ask you to just jump right into being vulnerable in the first five minutes of getting there.
Your therapist understands that it’s really intimidating to come into a group of new people and share intimate details of your life, so in group therapy you’ll build up to that. Often, in group therapy settings, there will be some sort of instruction or educational piece, and then time for group discussion so that there isn’t just endless sharing.
Myth: Group therapy is not confidential
Group therapy is just like any other type of therapy, so it’s confidential. This will be covered at the beginning of your group therapy sessions, when your therapist explains the rules and expectations for the group.
Confidentiality is very important, especially in the group setting, and keeping confidentiality builds trust in the group and in the process of therapy itself. The expectations will be laid out at the start of the group so everyone knows what's allowed and what’s not, which will hopefully put your mind at ease.
Myth: I have to talk to benefit from group therapy
One of the great things about group therapy is that you don’t actually have to talk to benefit. Having others who are willing to share allows you to absorb their life experiences and their wisdom, even if you’re not ready to talk. If you’re shy or uncomfortable talking to the group at first, you can just listen to the others talk and learn a lot from their experiences until you feel ready to share.
Myth: Group therapy is less effective than individual therapy
Group therapy isn’t less effective than individual therapy, it’s just assumed that it is. Research shows that it’s just as effective as individual therapy, and that it can even be more efficient than one on one counseling. That means that for some people, they can get the same benefits or even more from group therapy than from individual therapy alone.
This can be for a number of reasons, but one theory is that being able to apply what you’ve learned in a group and teach it to others helps synthesize the information and builds confidence in your new skills, empowering you to use them in the future.
