In addition to individual therapy, Rivia Mind also offers certain types of group therapy, including ADHD Therapy Group and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Group (DBT). Group therapy offers a different experience from individual therapy, allowing patients to work not just with their therapist but with other patients who are in similar situations to themselves. Through this, you can connect and heal together rather than feeling isolated in your mental health journey.
In today’s blog, we’ll go over how group therapy works, as well as the benefits of group therapy.
How Does Group Therapy Work?
Group therapy is often done in conjunction with individual therapy rather than instead of individual therapy. The actual practice will depend on the type of group therapy you take part in. However, all group therapy involves meeting — either in-person or through telehealth conferencing — with a group including one or two therapists as well as several patients, typically once per week or once every two weeks.
Group therapy is led by the therapists, with input and feedback from those in the group. You will check in with each other and then go over a lesson for the day. Many forms of group therapy involve some sort of “homework” for going forward through the week.
The Benefits of Group Therapy
People are naturally social. While individual therapy can be invaluable for growth in your mental health journey, group therapy has its own benefits. Some of the benefits of group therapy include:
Social Support
Feelings of isolation are a symptom of most mental illnesses, especially mood or personality disorders. Mental health is such an internal, invisible struggle that it’s easy to feel that you’re alone and no one understands what you’re going through. Group therapy directly contradicts that by putting you in community with others who have similar struggles and are better equipped to understand you. This social support can help healing feel more achievable.
Improved Self-Concept
It can be difficult to heal when you spend so much time beating yourself up for your own perceived lack of progress. But in order to be gentle with yourself, you need to know what kind of gentleness you need and deserve. This is where other patients come in. Group therapy provides a chance for you to support other patients in your group, which can improve your self-concept.
In doing so, you can also learn how to view your own journey. If you’re able to encourage someone in your group and learn how to receive encouragement from those in your group, try encouraging yourself.
Increased Hope
It may also encourage you to see other patients in your group growing and improving. You’re going on this journey with them, and you’re able to see their improvement in a way that you might struggle to see your own improvement. Thus, when you see them succeed, it may help you to feel more hopeful that you can grow and succeed, as well. Having a sense of hope and positivity on your mental health journey will help you build resilience to make it through the hard days.
Feedback and Advice Without Judgment
If you’ve ever needed a sounding board to work through some of your current mental health struggles, your group therapy may be an excellent place to find that. In group therapy, you can receive feedback from others who understand your particular situation. Group therapy is a place where you hear each other out and offer feedback without judgment. Because of this, you may find that it is a safer place to seek thoughts without worrying about disappointing those around you.
Clearer Perspective
When a problem exists mostly in your head, it can feel overwhelming. But when you talk about that problem, it often grows smaller and more manageable. In group therapy, you have a chance to not just talk about your problems but hear others talk about theirs. This can help you put your own struggles into perspective. If, on your own, they felt unbearable and unending, after group therapy, you may feel a little more in control of your mental health journey.
Diverse Experiences and Insights
You are likely to find many experiences and feelings that you have in common with those in your group therapy, but there will also be marked differences. Everyone’s mental health journey is different, even with the same diagnosis. These differences in cultures, experiences, and insights can help to broaden your own worldview. Some in your group may bring up points you hadn’t considered before, and you may do the same for them.
Everyone wants to be able to connect with others and feel understood. These factors can be a critical element to healing from trauma and continuing on your mental health journey, which is exactly why group therapy can be so effective.
Are you interested in group therapy? Rivia Mind is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how to sign up for one of our open groups.
