Group Psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy, like individual psychotherapy, is intended to help people improve their ability to cope with difficulties and problems in their lives and their relationships. One or two professionally trained therapists meet with group members who are pre-selected as likely to benefit themselves from group therapy and to be useful partners to... others within the group. The group therapists help guide the process, including focusing on interpersonal interactions, so members have the maximum opportunity to help and learn from each other, which provides benefits that individual therapy may not. HOW DOES GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY WORK? Group members are encouraged to talk together honestly about their lives as well as their reactions to others in the group and developing relationships. While sharing can initially be difficult, people usually find that they have many commonalities and begin to feel less alone and find support and tools for dealing with life challenges. Members provide feedback to each other about their behavior in the group, which can provide important opportunities for awareness. The supportive group can then be a safe place to experiment with change and practice new behaviors. Talking and listening to others helps you develop empathy, deepen your relationships, and put your own problems in perspective. 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. WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY? Group psychotherapy is suitable for a large variety of problems and difficulties, from people who would like to develop their interpersonal skills to those with emotional problems such as anxiety or depression, as well as those with stressful life circumstances such as illness, loss, trauma, retirement and aging. Group psychotherapy is especially effective for people with interpersonal difficulties and problems in relationships including issues like intimacy, trust, ...Read More