If you or someone you care about is considering group therapy — or is participating in a treatment program that includes it — several things must be remembered.
First, participating in group therapy means that you need to be willing to share your thoughts and experiences. If you struggle with social anxiety, this could be what makes group therapy not effective for your situation. Some types of group therapy even involve exercises like role-playing and intense personal discussion, which can be overwhelming for extremely private people and those who are uncomfortable around strangers. Second, it may take a few tries before you find the right group therapy program. Like finding a therapist, finding the right group of peers may take some time.
Finally, group therapy is not meant to help during a mental health crisis, or any crisis at all. If you or someone you care about is in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, individual therapy is typically a better choice than group therapy. Searching for group therapy options near Austin, TX? Reach out to Santé Center for Healing today by calling 866.238.3154 or contacting our team online.
What Is Group Therapy?
Group therapy typically involves a form of psychotherapy — such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) — practiced by one or more therapists working with several clients at a time. This type of therapy is widely available at a variety of locations, such as private therapeutic practices, hospitals, mental health clinics, and community centers.
It’s not the same as family therapy, although it also works with several clients at once. Family therapy works toward the shared goal of dealing with family issues, including improving relationships with each other. Group therapy simply has a selection of clients with similar behavioral or mental health issues. Their goals may vaguely be the same, but they walk different recovery paths.
Groups can be as small as three or four clients but can be as large as more than a dozen clients. Sessions are held once or twice a week, each lasting for about one or two hours. Group therapy is sometimes used alone, but it is commonly integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes individual therapy.
What Is a Major Benefit of Group Therapy?
Now that you know what group therapy is, it’s easy to understand its major benefit. Group therapy shows clients that they’re not alone and their struggles aren’t unique or incomprehensible to others.
Group therapy allows clients to receive the support and encouragement of peers that they can relate to and bond with. Participants of group therapy can see that they’re all going through the same thing. Therefore, this can provide a different kind of support, as well as a sense of belonging in a setting that feels like a safe haven.
Clients can also serve as role models for other members of the group that may have started their recovery journey later. By observing someone successfully coping with their problems, these members can see that there is hope for recovery. Being a role model can help foster feelings of success and accomplishment.
When Should a Client Consider Group Therapy?
A major benefit of group therapy is the fact that clients can help each other along their individual recovery paths. While this may not sound appealing to very private people, group therapy’s effectiveness has been supported by studies.
It’s also a very affordable option for treating mental health issues. Group therapy is used to treat a wide variety of mental health conditions, including the following:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use disorders
Ready To Learn More About Santé Center for Healing’s Group Therapy Options?
If you’re looking for group therapy options near Austin, TX, contact Santé Center for Healing today. Reach out to our team online or call 866.238.3154.
