Many of the personal problems we face stem from our past and present relationships with others and how we feel about those relationships. When our relationships aren’t what we would like them to be, we may experience feelings of depression, anxiety, and self-doubt. Group Therapy gives us an opportunity to sort out questions and concerns we have about our relationships and ourselves.
In a Therapy group, approximately six to ten students meet with one or more group leaders, typically once a week for seventy-five minutes. Group members talk about a variety of issues and concerns. The primary task of members is to learn as much as possible about the way they relate to each of the other members in the group. This learning occurs through sharing perceptions/thoughts/feelings, trying out new behaviors, giving and receiving feedback, and observing how other members and the group leaders deal with specific interactions and situations. Thus, groups have an interpersonal focus and are especially appropriate for individuals who are interested in working on interpersonal concerns and relationship skills.
Your therapist may refer you to group Therapy if he/she feels that your needs would be best served in a group atmosphere. Sometimes this results from matching a specific concern (e.g., stress, body image concerns, sexual assault) with a topic-oriented group designed specifically to address this problem. Group Therapy may also help individuals deal with a relationship or family concern, communicate more effectively, express feelings, adjust to college life, overcome shyness, develop assertiveness, or make friends. Group therapy is often the most direct way to provide the type of contact needed to work on these issues.
The group is able to offer support or alternatives in such a way that the difficulty becomes resolved and new interpersonal skills are learned. A group allows a person to gain self-awareness and develop new ways of relating to people. Group members often find comfort in realizing they are not alone in the problems they are experiencing. It is encouraging to find out that others have similar struggles and have worked through similar concerns. If you can understand and work out your relationships in the group, there can also be enormous carry-over to your outside relationships.
Letting the group members know why you initially came to therapy and sharing what you hope to get from the group is a good place to start. It is important to tell the group what you want from them, whether it is support, gentle confrontation, or to just be heard and understood. The first few sessions of a group usually focus on the establishment of trust. During this time, members work to establish a level of safety that allows them to talk personally and honestly with one another.
You will most likely benefit and feel most satisfied if you talk about your feelings. Unexpressed emotions are a major reason why people experience difficulties, and the group can become a safe place to express them. Group leaders and other group members can help you be more honest with yourself and others as you explore your emotions. How much you choose to disclose and participate in the group is ultimately your decision, but the more you share and interact, the more likely you are to feel better. People who benefit most from group are usually those who accept a sense of responsibility for making the group work by sharing their concerns and speaking up when they have reactions to issues as well as to other members in the group.
Group therapy is usually made up of 6-10 people with one or more trained professional(s) serving as the leader(s). There are various formats that groups can have and may vary by semester. Groups can vary by formats such as the following:
When you meet people for the first time, it is hard to know what to say and how much to trust them. Trusting is a process that develops as group members take risks and increasingly share more of themselves. It helps to remember that groups are usually small and that other group members are usually struggling with similar concerns. Letting the group know that you are uncomfortable can be a first step, and often promotes a useful group discussion about the issue of trust among members.
All group members are expected to respect the confidentiality of the group. Group members are asked to make a commitment to protect each other’s confidentiality by agreeing not to divulge information that would violate the identity of others outside the group. While the group leaders cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality (since we cannot control the behavior of group members), we find that members are usually very respectful of each other’s privacy.
Each group may establish its own ground rules, but here are some general guidelines that are important:
The role of the leaders is to facilitate productive functioning within the group. To accomplish this, they will encourage group members to interact with each other. They will also assist members in sharing their feelings and in giving and receiving feedback. Group leaders may point out common themes, comment on the dynamics of an individual or the group as a whole, or offer support or gentle confrontation as needed. They attempt to provide enough structure so the group doesn’t flounder, but enough freedom so the group accepts responsibility for its own direction. Group leaders make every effort to create and facilitate a safe and supportive group atmosphere.
If you are interested in joining a particular group, a counselor or our receptionist will schedule a pre-group screening appointment for you with the group counselors. This appointment gives you a chance to meet the counselors, ask questions, discuss your concerns and goals, and determine whether the group is a good fit for your needs.