Group therapy is a setting in which patients are provided a supportive network to learn new ideas and skills, process experiences, and receive moderated feedback from others who have had similar challenges. Group sizes can change based on the goals of the group. Each group is led by a therapist, who may also be called the group leader or group facilitator.
Group therapy can be particularly useful for making sure that large groups of people all receive the same foundational information. It can also be validating for people new to psychotherapy to hear that their questions are shared by others, and to learn more about how thoughts and behaviors interact before moving onto individual psychotherapy.
An essential component of group therapy is a facilitator who understands group dynamics and can balance two key components of a group:
1. The needs of participants to share their experiences
2. The need for key information to be covered
In brief, a skilled group leader makes sure everyone feels involved to the extent they are comfortable, but also that the entire group benefits, regardless of who is sharing their story.
Some group leaders may also use the benefit of having a group of people present to explore how the participants engage in social interaction and navigate group dynamics. This can be a valuable opportunity to try new skills. It can also help people try new experiences in an environment that feels safer than trying things on their own outside of therapy.
Common group therapy topics are bereavement, addiction, and navigating trauma. As mentioned in a previous post, groups are an essential component of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), in order to ensure everyone learns the same skills. However, it's important to know that as long as there is a cohesive treatment goal, there is a great deal of flexibility in why group therapy may be offered.
Comments