How do I join a group?
Isn’t individual therapy better?
“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 counseling. 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 group.
What do I talk about in group therapy?
What about confidentiality?
Who can benefit from group therapy?
How do I make the most out of group therapy?
- Call 612-374-9077 and complete a phone intake. Specify which group you want to join. Prior to joining a group, a meeting will be scheduled between you and the group facilitator(s). During this meeting, you will have a chance to discuss your interest in the group, ask questions, identify goals, and determine if group is right for you.
- 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. 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. 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; with friends, family, 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.
Isn’t individual therapy better?
- A: That’s one of the common misunderstandings about group therapy:
“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 counseling. 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 group.
What do I talk about in group therapy?
- A: Members talk about whatever is troubling them or whatever brought them into therapy in the first place as well as their successes. Of course, you control how much and when you share information with the group. It is common for people to initially be anxious about talking in group. However, within a few sessions, people often find that they are able to talk in group and that they get validation and support from other members as they being to share.
What about confidentiality?
- A:Groups are private and confidential; that is, what members disclose in sessions is not shared outside of the group. The meaning and importance of confidentiality are reviewed with group members at the first meeting and every time a new member joins the group.
Who can benefit from group therapy?
- A:Like individual counseling, group therapy can benefit almost anyone. It can be especially useful for people who want to explore their style of relating to others and enhance their approach to relationships in areas such as trust, intimacy, anger, conflict, assertiveness, risk-taking, and self esteem. Group can also be useful for individuals struggling with issues of depression, anxiety, medical illness, loneliness, shyness, or who have experienced losses, sexual assault, or other stressors.
How do I make the most out of group therapy?
- A: Attend regularly. In joining the group, you have made a commitment to the other group members as well as to yourself. Make the group part of your life. Don’t think of group as something that happens once a week and then forget about it in between. Between group sessions, think about what happened in group and about how you felt during and after group, and try to figure out why you had those feelings. Take responsibility for your counseling and your group. It’s your group, so if it is not moving in the direction you want, say so. Participate actively. You will make more progress if you get actively involved in the group discussions. Be as honest and open as you are able in group. It allows other group members to get to know who you really are. Learn to listen to others attentively. If you are formulating your response while someone else is speaking, you are not really hearing what is being said. Learn to differentiate between thoughts and feelings? Speak directly to individuals in the group rather than about them to others. Be honest and direct with your feelings in group in the present moment, especially your feelings toward other group members and the therapists. Be spontaneous. Often we wait our turn to speak, try to be polite, or think about what we want to say for so long that the moment to say it has passed. Share both positive and negative. Don’t try to solve other member’s problems for them. Don’t’ blame or judge others. Be respectful, even when you don’t agree with a person’s position or behavior. Ask for feedback when you need it? Seek clarification and avoid becoming defensive or making excuses.