Want to start therapy but feel intimidated by direct attention? Tried individual therapy and want something different? Looking for an affordable alternative to individual therapy that still provides relief in a professional clinical setting? Group therapy could be exactly what you’re looking for.
While the social conversation around therapy has shifted over the last 5 years, group therapy is rarely part of it. As human beings, we need human relationships. We crave understanding, acceptance, and the mutual growth that comes from a collective. Group therapy meets a wide variety of needs we sometimes can't get from a one-on-one setting.
Below are my top three reasons to give group therapy a try, and what to expect from a group therapy session.
You Feel Less Alone
Ideally, meeting with a therapist offers a place where we can feel totally understood, but let’s face it, it can often (and especially at first) feel like a one-way experience. In therapy groups, you can receive so many of the benefits of the individual meetings (reflection, validation, acceptance, tailored tools to your specific experience) while forging genuine connections with others that resonate with the connecting topic.
Approachable and Organized
Sometimes the individualized nature of therapy can be overwhelming. Especially if it’s your first time trying therapy, it might be uncomfortable to be the center of attention. Group therapy provides the unique opportunity for members to both receive and give support to each other. The attention is shared and passed around the group, not held by a singular person the entire time. Additionally, every group generally has a central topic, making it more organized and “bite-sized” than having to share everything about you all at once to a brand new stranger. You know roughly what the group will talk about even before the first session.
Affordability
Out-of-pocket individual therapy can be expensive, and finding the right therapist for you that accepts your specific insurance plan can be stressful. Group therapy typically costs less than an individual session and provides more session time, meaning you can still access the help you need while not spending as much.
What Can I Expect From a Group Therapy Session?
While each group therapy experience can have slightly different formats, they often follow a pattern: some kind of warm-up into the group, space to share, and an organized closure. It’s predictable, while still leaving space for flexibility as needed.
My groups are typically formatted like this:
Start by making or reviewing group agreements. These are the expectations and guidelines we create together that lay out how we want to operate in the shared space. For example: “no giving advice” or “don’t compare experiences.”
Check in. A way of briefly sharing how each person is doing, perhaps through a light question (“what weather would describe your day”) or as simple as a few sentences about what’s been on your mind and what you may or may not want to share in the group this week.
Discussion. This is the time when each person who wants to share or has something to say about the topic in the week gets to share. Other group members are invited to respond, perhaps by sharing the impact of what was said, what they heard or learned, or how they might relate to what was shared. As always, the discussion is moderated and guided by the therapist, who may or may not also respond to what was said or ask a question in relation to the group.
Skill. Some groups may include learning new skills, such as coping techniques or tools from various modalities of therapy.
Closing. Every group session must come to an end. Rather than a sudden, abrupt close, the therapist might suggest practicing a learned skill or asking a question. For example: utilizing a guided meditation to regulate after a heavy discussion or asking “what is one thing you’re going to take from the group into your week.”
Curious about experiencing group therapy for yourself?
In December, I am launching a limited 6-week group that will focus on supporting those with religious trauma in navigating the often-triggering holiday season. In January, I’ll be launching a 3-month workshop focused on creatively tackling the goals for the new year through a mix of reflection, goal organization, coping skills, and accountability.