Group Therapy
Why consider group therapy?
Many people assume that having the therapist’s undivided attention is preferable to being in a therapy group. That is certainly true for highly specific problems such as processing traumatic memories or complex relationship problems. But even so, there is always groundwork that needs to be laid first – acquiring a shared language, learning coping skills, and deepening self-awareness about the nature of the problem. And these can absolutely be done in a group setting with several added advantages.
Here’s What Group Therapy Can Do:
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So often chronic pain sufferers feel misunderstood and invalidated by their friends and family. It decreases shame when you discover others have the same struggles.
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You make new friends, share ideas and resources, and feel stronger just knowing you aren’t alone facing your problem. It feels good to be with others who “get it.”
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Pain and depression can be particularly isolating. Group therapy automatically gives you some structure and opportunity to interact with others while still in the comfort of your own home.
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We are all wired for connection and having a sense of belonging is a significant marker of health.
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Learning in a group can be more comprehensive because we can learn from others’ questions and experiences.
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If you don’t have insurance or have a high deductible, group therapy is much more cost effective than individual treatment. The group presents the information is a very organized sequential way, which proves to be much more efficient than doing it one-on-one. So not only do you pay less per session, you get more information.
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Because insurance isn’t involved, your health records won’t include your group participation.
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Group therapy is a safe place to practice relational skills you find challenging (such as interpersonal boundaries, asserting yourself, and receiving affirmation and support).
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We often see unhelpful patterns of thinking and acting in others sooner than we do in ourselves.
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Group work is a thing! Group experiences have been proven to be life-altering and transformative.
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Your individual therapy will get a jump start as you begin to employ the skills and information you learn in the group. It will help you zero in on the most relevant themes to explore with your solo therapist.
“Connection is why we’re here. We are hardwired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.”
― Brené Brown
FAQS
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My highest priority is to create a safe and supportive environment to facilitate authentic discussion. The group consent form you will need to sign to join a group includes some rules that help to promote that.
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Sharing is encouraged but not required. You can always pass when I’m asking for input from participants. Group size is limited to a maximum of 10. Feedback from past participants who were anxious about this ended up feeling quite comfortable sharing.
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When joining a group, everyone is asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. This helps participants feel comfortable opening up as much as they want. Recordings of the sessions are not allowed. Only first names are necessary. We use a HIPAA compliant platform.
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This group is largly psychoeducational, which means I include a lot of educational, experiential, and skills-training elements in the meetings. There are opportunities to ask questions and share personally, but those are structured and clearly defined. If one member is taking too much time, I will gently encourage them to shorten their sharing.
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I’m in the same boat! I will help you figure it out if you’re confused. I try to make all the logistics quite clear. The platform I use just requires that you click on a link and enter your name in so I know who is trying to enter the meeting.