Group Therapy

If you stop and think about it, each of us has been raised in group environments, either through our families, schools, organized activities, or work. These are the environments in which we grow and develop as human beings. Group psychotherapy is no different. It provides a place where you come together with others to share problems or concerns, to better understand your own situation, and to learn from and with each other.

Like individual psychotherapy, group therapy is intended to help people who would like to improve their ability to cope with difficulties and problems in their lives. But, while in individual therapy the patient meets with only one person (the therapist), in group therapy the meeting is with a whole group and one or two therapists. Group therapy focuses on interpersonal interactions, so relationship problems are addressed best in groups.

The aim of group psychotherapy is to help with solving emotional difficulties and to encourage personal development of the participants in the group. Members gain insight into their own thoughts and behaviours and offer suggestions and support to others. In addition, people who have a difficult time with interpersonal relationships can benefit from the social interactions that are a basic part of the group therapy experience.

Groups work! In studies comparing group psychotherapy to individual therapy, group therapy has been shown to be as effective and sometimes even more effective in meeting individual client objectives. In cases of medical illness, there is substantial evidence that this form of therapy helps people cope better with their illness, enhances the quality of their lives.

What are the goals of group therapy?
How does group psychotherapy work?
Why attend group therapy?
Isn't individual therapy better?
Who can benefit from group psychotherapy?
Will there be people with similar problems in my group?
What if I'm uncomfortable discussing my problems in front of others?
What do I ask the group therapist?

Q. What are the goals of group therapy?

A. People who participate in counselling groups benefit in many ways. CPT believes groups are uniquely suited to help individuals:

• give and receive support
• gain understanding of problems and explore possible solutions
• practice interpersonal skills in a safe group setting
• learn more about how you come across to others
• increase observation and feedback skills
• enhance problem-solving skills
• improve emotional expressiveness
• decrease social isolation
• develop good communication skills

Q. How does group psychotherapy work?

A. Members of the group share with others personal issues which they are facing. A participant can talk about events s/he was involved in during the week, her/his responses to these events, problems s/he had tackled, etc. The participant can share his/her feelings and thoughts about what happened in previous sessions, and relate to issues raised by other members or to the leader's words. Other participants can react to her/his words, give her/him feedback, encourage, give support or criticism, or share their thoughts and feelings following his/her words.

The subjects for discussion are not determined by the leader but rise spontaneously from the group. The member in the group feels that (s)he is not alone with her/his problem and that there are others who feel the same. The group can become a source of support and strength in times of stress for the participant. The feedback received from others on her/his behaviour in the group creates awareness to maladaptive patterns of behaviour, which would influence him/her adopt more constructive and effective reactions. It can become a forum for practicing new behaviours.

Frequently the people you meet in the group represent others in your past or current life with whom you have difficulty. In group therapy you have the opportunity to work through these situations. These skills are transferable to other relationships.

Q. Why attend group therapy?

A. Most personal problems are interpersonal in nature. Very often they stem from our relationships or from our personal patterns of relating. Group therapy offers the rare opportunity to explore and understand how you relate to others and get specific feedback on how others react to you. Groups can be more effective and produce quicker results than individual counselling. The lessons group members learn from each other and the chance to work through problems with other people who share similar concerns are what make groups special. Only in group therapy can you directly work on how you relate to others. The group environment of trust and safety can help you build the skills you need to create the same kind of trust and safety in your "real life"�in work; in family, friends, and intimate partners.

The group experience can help you learn about your style of relating, your ability to be close, and your personal effectiveness in relationships, and gives you the unique chance to see how others struggle with these concerns. It also offers the opportunity to explore a broad range of personal concerns.

Q. Isn't individual therapy better?

A. That's one of the common misunderstandings about group therapy: "Group therapy will take longer than individual therapy, because I will have to share the time with others."

Group therapy can be more efficient than individual therapy for two reasons. First, you can benefit from the group even during sessions when you say little by listening carefully to others. You will find that you have much in common with other group members, and as they work on a concern, you can learn more about yourself. Second, group members will often bring up issues that strike a chord with you, but which you might not have been aware of or brought up yourself.

"I will be forced to tell all of my deepest thoughts, feelings and secrets to the group."

No one will force you to do anything in group counselling. You control what, how much, and when you share with the group. You do not have to share what you are not ready to disclose. You can be helped by listening to others and thinking about how what they are saying might apply to you. When you feel safe enough to share what is troubling you, a group will likely be very helpful and affirming. "I have so much trouble talking to people, I'll never be able to share in a group."

Most people are anxious about being able to talk in group. Almost without exception, within a few sessions people find that they do begin to talk in the group. Group members remember what it is like to be new to the group, so you will get a lot of support for beginning to talk in the group.

Q. Who can benefit from group psychotherapy?

A. When someone is thinking about joining a group, it is normal to have questions or concerns. What am I going to get out of this? Will there be enough time to deal with my own problems in a group setting? What if I don't like the people in my group?

Group psychotherapy is suitable for a large variety of problems and difficulties, beginning with people who would like to develop their interpersonal skills and ending with people with emotional problems like anxiety, depression, etc. For that reason in building the group, the leader will try to include men and women, young and old people, married and singles, etc. The group is especially effective for people with interpersonal difficulties and problems in relations. Whether these difficulties are in social, working, couple or even sexual relations, the participant can benefit a lot in these areas. Groups are ideally suited to people who are struggling with relationship issues like intimacy, trust, self-esteem. The group interactions help the participants to identify, get feedback, and change the patterns that are sabotaging the relations. The great advantage of group psychotherapy is working on these patterns in the "here and now" - in a group situation more similar to reality and close to the interpersonal events.

Q. Will there be people with similar problems in my group?

A. The therapist's role is to evaluate each member's problems prior to forming the group. Usually there is a mix of members who can learn from each other. While some members will have similar circumstances, it's not necessary for all to be dealing with exactly the same problem. In fact, people with different strengths and difficulties are often in the best position to help one another.

Q. What if I'm uncomfortable discussing my problems in front of others?

A. It's not unusual to feel uneasy or embarrassed when first joining a group, but soon you begin to develop feelings of interest and trust. Most clients find that group therapy provides a great deal of relief because it allows them a chance to talk with others who are experiencing similar problems -- in a private, confidential setting. Many people who have experienced group therapy believe that working together with others is helpful and they feel better by participating in this form of therapy.

Q. What do I ask the group therapist?

A. When talking with therapists, here are four simple questions you may want to ask.

• What is your background?
• Given my specific situation, how do you think group would work for me?
• What are your credentials as a group therapist?
• Do you have special training that is relevant to my problem?

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