There aren’t many people that get excited about the thought of going to group therapy. Someone could rightfully ask, “Why would I choose to sit with a bunch of strangers, when I could just go talk to my individual therapist?” I’m not going to argue that people shouldn’t go to an individual therapist—that’s helpful too. However, research has shown that there is power in group therapy.
Learn to Hear and to Be Heard
Part of it is exposing oneself to a group of people (a massive act of vulnerability) with the aid of a therapist, who can help the rest of the group respond with empathy and compassion. Not only does the person sharing learn that it is ok to trust others, but the listeners learn how to hear difficult emotions and experiences from their peers in a safe, compassionate way. Think of the effect compassionate, nonjudgmental listening can have on each group members’ personal relationships.
See Yourself More Accurately
People also benefit from group feedback. In individual therapy, this is the job of the therapist, but in group therapy, the group members can also give feedback on any number of things. Just like we can’t see our own faces without the aid of a mirror, many times we are blind to how we “come off” to others or to patterns in our own lives. Group members become the “mirror” with which we can see ourselves in another light. As you can imagine, it can be very uncomfortable to be confronted with feedback from peers. But growth is never comfortable.
Connection
In recognizing they are not alone in their struggles, group members feel a sense of belonging, connectedness, and of being needed. Group members support each other and feel supported through their mental health journey. In supporting and helping others, group members also feel a greater sense of purpose.
Save Money!
Group therapy also has the benefit of costing less than individual therapy. Groups often run between $30-$50/session, where typical individual therapy runs between $100-$150/session.
Tl;dr
Group therapy is worth giving a try. Most groups focus on a specific issue or on a set of skills. You can also find groups (although it is more rare) that are open to any mental health struggle and focus more on growth in general. These groups can also offer a powerful method to healing and growth. We currently offer DBT Skills Groups, an upcoming Postpartum Group, and a social skills group for youth this summer. Click over to our services page to see all that we offer.
