Group Therapy

Humans are social animals. We are all born into a social milieu’ and learned patterns of behavior. Some of those behaviors may no longer be suitable for us. Amid this psychodynamic the goal of group therapy is to improve life functioning, especially in the area of interpersonal relationships. Through what is called group process members have the opportunity to practice new forms of behavior. It creates a change by exploring, trying, and cultivating relationships with other group members. 

Group psychotherapy consists of five to 10 people who regularly meet once a week with a trained psychotherapist. Each group meeting lasts 60 to 90 minutes, during which group members are encouraged to interact with each other about any topic or issue they choose and share their feelings with others in the group. It helps group members learn from their own experience in the group, but also as an observer through other group members’ process.

Group therapy also represents the family dynamic. Group members learn to associate others in the group with members of their own family, and have the chance to examine their feelings and reaction toward these group members. It is a process by which the group meeting becomes a form of a lab, where members try new behaviors, overcome inhibitions, practice safe boundaries, and process feelings raised during the group session.

Group therapy can be very supportive. Group members can find similarity between their own feelings and others. It is a mechanism that fosters hope, but also a safe platform to receive objective feedback and what is expected of them.

Confidentiality is a basic rule of a therapy group, which allows for honesty and revealing information to be expressed. 

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