The benefits of group therapy

[TeenHelp]

The benefits of group therapy
By Dez ( *~Skittlify~* )

In group therapy, people with similar problems meet with a therapist in order to discuss and solve problems in an intimate setting. People are able to give and receive support from one another and share ideas in a safe space. At first, group therapy may seem frightening because it can seem scary to share your feelings with others. However, once you become more comfortable with group therapy it can be a beneficial experience.

Group therapy offers you a chance to meet people from similar walks of life. Instead of meeting one-on-one with a therapist, you are able to discuss what is going on with peers who are around the same age as you or who have had similar experiences. You may find this easier because everyone involved has a better understanding of what you are going through and will be able to give you personalized advice based on their experiences. The experience of group therapy may also be useful because unlike in a one-on-one therapy session, the attention won’t be on you all of the time. Attention will instead be shared equally between each member of the group. This may take some of the pressure off of you because you will not be speaking for the entire time.

Getting support from your peers also reminds you that you are not alone. Sometimes when people go through something difficult it is easy to feel alone and isolated. It is easy to slip into a pattern of thinking that others do not understand where you are coming from. This may make it difficult to reach out and get much needed support. However, when you begin to listen to the stories shared in group therapy, you will begin to see that you are not the only one who has felt this way. There are other people who can relate to you and understand what you are going through. Since everyone in the group has had a variety of experiences, you will be able to learn from their experiences and gain new ideas and insight about a particular problem. As you listen to other people’s stories, you may begin to feel a sense of relief knowing that you are able to ‘share the burden’ with other people, and as the saying goes, a problem shared, is a problem halved.

Even if you do not speak much during your group therapy sessions, you still will have the opportunity to learn. While listening to other people talk, you will begin to learn new coping mechanisms that you may not have learned before. By hearing what other people have to say, you may discover a strategy that you can use in your own life. If you hear a skill or strategy that is particularly effective, you will be able to model this strategy in your own life and make it your own. Other people may teach you things that you would not have otherwise thought of.

In group therapy you may be able to practice certain skills that you can use in multiple areas of your life. For example, depending on the needs of the group, you may be asked to role play or work through certain scenarios and situations that may occur in your day-to-day life. You will be able to gain valuable skills on how to handle these situations properly and in a healthy way. While learning these skills, you will work in groups with the people around you in order to learn from one another and to learn how to ‘share the burden’ when completing tasks.

Group therapy can even teach you effective communication skills. Due to the fact that you are asked to listen to other people’s stories and respond to them, you learn to be an effective and an active listener. When speaking about your problems or sharing advice and insight with others, you learn valuable communication skills that will not only help you get support, but also help you better speak with the people in your life about a variety of topics, even those not related to support.

In group therapy, you will have the opportunity to give support as well. It can make you feel good to know that you have given support or an encouraging word to someone else. Knowing that you have helped another person can lift your spirits and may make you confident in your own abilities and help raise your self esteem. While working out a problem with someone, you may even discover new ways to help you solve a problem that is going on in your own life. It can be very therapeutic to not only be helped, but to help others as well.

During group therapy, you and the people around you will grow and improve. You may also share milestones and accomplishments achieved along your journey with each other. Not only do these accomplishments serve as an inspiration, but it can also be an amazing feeling to celebrate and share the accomplishment with others.

It can be very difficult to open up at first, but group therapy will eventually become more comfortable. This type of therapy allows you to step out of your comfort zone in a safe environment and learn that it is okay to get support and that there are people who care about you. The skills and ideas you learn in group therapy will aid you in many aspects of your life and will last a lifetime.