11 Unique Benefits of Group Therapy
First, a little bit about group therapy: Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where people join together with a licensed therapist to share similar challenges or concerns. In my practice, I offer small art therapy groups (4-6 members) where members can talk, create, and process together. Depending on the group, it may be open (new members are welcome to enroll and join us at any point) or closed (once the group is established, no new members can join until the next group is offered). Groups typically meet weekly over the course of about 6 weeks. Due to the structure of a group, the fee is lower than individual therapy.
So, how do you know if group therapy is the right fit for you? One way I think about answering this question is to go into the unique benefits of groups, which is what this post will focus on below. A group may be a great fit for you,
Whether this describes you:
energized by/loves being around other people
has little issue with sharing experiences or more easily lets out personal information than their peers
likes socializing and meeting new people, may dislike or resist being alone/ in quiet or silent situations/places
may often be identified as leader or a social butterfly
comes alive with opportunities to support their community
enjoys public speaking or sharing their opinion/feedback with others
Or if this sounds more like you:
introverted and easily drained after being around others
tends to take awhile to develop enough trust/open up with personal info
prefers 1:1 interactions more than groups
likes to “go deep” more so than engage in light interactions
likes singular activities and doesn’t mind alone time, may find the quiet peaceful or seek out spaces of solitude
may run an accidental marathon in the other direction when they hear “group activity”, “break out groups” or “team building”
The distinct advantages of group therapy that I will cover in this post are based on the work of Irvin Yalom - a well-known psychotherapist who identified 11 therapeutic factors that are present in effective groups. I’ll go into how each of these factors contributes to safe, supportive group experience. When a group is properly facilitated and set up from the start to be safe, welcoming, and designed for everyone to feel seen and heard, it can be one of the most healing experiences that we allow ourselves to have. Read on, and if you have questions about groups or want to learn more about my current group offerings, contact me below!
Instillation of Hope
Change is always possible. When you are in a group, you will witness and interact with others around you who are in different phases of healing. You may be a source of inspiration for someone who is at an earlier stage of their healing, and someone else may likely serve as your source of hope. The instillation of hope happens when we can look to others in the group as models who encourage us through their progress.
Universality
Many times, when something painful or uncomfortable happens to us, a sense of isolation may emerge. It’s not uncommon to think, “no one will understand this” and hold back from sharing our story. Sometimes, family or friends aren’t able to show up for us the way we hope, further endangering our sense of validation. When we are in a group, we’re able to hear that others have also endured a variety of difficult things, and often, a sense of normalcy emerges. What was once held inside or felt to be unmentionable, is now something that can be safely held by the group.
Imparting of Information
Part of a successful group means that the facilitator deliberately plans and prepares to address the concerns, challenges, fears, symptoms, etc. of that specific group. If I am going to a grief group, some education about grief, physical and psychological symptoms, and what tools/skills I can use is likely going to feel relieving. Rational and instructive information can relieve any fears, irrational beliefs, confusion, or sense of isolation. Like the orientation to a new job or school, being given information empowers you to feel confident and helps structure the experience. Information is often shared at the start and is commonly integrated throughout groups by both the leader and the members.
Simulation of the Primary Family
Many groups naturally parallel the dynamics of a family and prompt members to recreate behavioral patterns and emotional responses that took place within these original family configurations. This means that members may interact with one another and the leader(s) as they did with their own parent(s) and sibling(s) at some point. The value in this dynamic is that the relived interactions and roles, if they present, have an opportunity to be safely challenged and corrected.
Altruism
The act of giving to others is well-researched and has been shown to improve our mental health. It may be seen as common knowledge - giving makes us feel good - though there’s more distinct benefits behind it: a more nuanced perspective, a reduction in isolation, a depression deterrent, a potentially increased lifespan, and increased self-esteem and self-concept. Giving to others in a group - sharing our ideas, insights, perceptions, ideas, etc. - happens naturally, and benefits both the giver and the receiver.
Development of Socializing Techniques
At any age, we can grow into more awareness through our social interactions. A group might be a safe space for others to contribute open feedback regarding a members body language or verbalizations that, when brought to attention, can allow that person to become more aware and expand upon these things, perhaps for the first time. Many times, group members also bring to the table various social skills such as conflict resolution, empathy, attunement, and active listening skills that benefit everyone in the group.
Imitative Behavior
In any group, members naturally and spontaneously tend to mimic or reflect certain aspects of one another or the leader. It’s part of how we learn and grow - when we observe the behaviors of others, we may naturally begin to adjust or try that behavior out for ourselves - and through imitating, we may learn that we can more easily access certain parts of ourselves (or, release the behavior, realizing that it doesn’t fit us, which is equally valuable).
Interpersonal Learning
When we’re in the distinct microcosm of the group, learning takes place through the transparent reflection of feelings, observations, and feedback. If a group member consistently interrupts or talks over others, a group and it’s members offer a unique opportunity to address this and allow honest reflection and observation to be shared. The member is then able to receive the input of others, and likely, begin to adapt more prosocial behaviors that elicit positive feedback over time. Groups are a rich space for understanding how we show up to a group and the opportunity to give and receive positive or corrective feedback.
Group Cohesiveness
Yalom describes cohesiveness as a sense of belongingness and interconnection in a group. Cohesion is built upon a strong sense of safety and support, which means that a cohesive group relies on an attuned leader who feels adept at addressing it right away. Groups should have a sense of welcome and collaboration, and should also be places where we can share our honest impressions and feelings about our own experiences and our sense of one another. A cohesive group is one that will work through conflicts with the same care that they work through support.
Catharsis
A safe, cohesive, and supportive group will likely promote members to safely release emotions - some of which may be intense, pent-up, or have not otherwise had adequate space to be accessed and therefore let out - resulting in a much-needed cathartic release. Under certain circumstances, this can recalibrate the felt, internal sense of an experience, altering it to be experienced with less intensity, shame, stress, guilt, etc.
Existential Factors
The experience of being in a group can present members with the realization that they are accountable for their lives and are responsible for their choices - no one else is going to assume it for them. There may be a sense of acceptance and values that emerge without escaping the reality of the human condition. This is often described as the transition from seeing one’s life obstacles as in the way of the path to them being a part of the path.
Summary
There are many benefits to joining a group - whether you are someone who has always loved being part of a group, or someone who tends to prefer 1:1 interactions - groups thrive with different members who have distinct strengths and gifts to bring to offer. If you are interested, I offer group therapy in Montclair, NJ for adults, teens, and children. Groups may rotate or change, so please visit my current groups page for adults and children to learn about what offerings I have open right now, or reach out to me directly below with questions or interest!
