Group Psychotherapy
I offer an online psychotherapy group on Tuesday mornings, from 8:00am to 9:30am.
Therapy groups help to explore your relationship with yourself and others, and to develop a stronger sense of self. Over time, this can foster a sense of belonging and confidence which translates beyond the group itself. Do get in touch if this interests you.
How does group psychotherapy help?
Within a therapy group people have the opportunity to learn with, and from, a number of people, rather than just with the therapist. This makes for a rich and dynamic experience, and therapy groups are able to offer a great deal of support, insight and help to their members.
Much like in individual therapy, people tend to speak about private matters, including relationships; family experiences; work; private thoughts and feelings, and so on. Very often, people will resonate with others' experiences, and this can help people to feel less alone within themselves. Equally, differences in experiences can help to bring fresh perspectives and a deeper understanding by a different route.
Group therapy offers opportunities to:
For this reason the group's confidentiality is essential and all members of a therapy group make a commitment to this.
Naturally, the prospect of joining a therapy group can be daunting - people are often unnerved by the idea of sharing details of your private lives with a number of people, not just a therapist. But a therapy group offers an opportunity to develop trust in yourself and others, and the experience of belonging that the process offers can reduce feelings of shame, alienation and loneliness, which people often carry.
In addition, people often learn to find their own voice within the group, and this translates to life outside it. This can help people to express themselves more fully; to speak up in difficult moments; to stand up for their needs; and to stand up for others. It can also help develop compassion, empathy and a broader, deeper perspective in relation to one's own experience, and others'.
By belonging to a therapy group, people often realise that they have feelings and experiences in common with other members; equally, the awareness of different experiences offers an opportunity to deepen people's understanding of themselves and others. Groups also offer the opportunity to help others as well as receive help, and this is often a powerful part of the therapeutic process.
Group members participate in each other's therapy as much as their own, and this is often an important and rewarding part of the experience. There is no time limit for how long people can be in a psychotherapy group, and people can participate for between a few months a few years.
Lastly, it is not uncommon for people to feel that group therapy would be less useful than individual therapy, or is a cheaper and therefore less valuable process. I find the opposite to be true: the presence and engagement of peers, rather than one therapist, within a therapy group can be incredibly strengthening and liberating.
If you feel group therapy might be helpful for you, or you'd like to know more about it, do feel free to get in touch.
How do I join a therapy group?
Prior to deciding to join the group, we would meet for a number of preliminary sessions. Sometimes people are in individual therapy for some time before moving into a group; sometimes a therapy group is the best fit from the start.
It's not uncommon for people to feel hesitant about joining a group. The prospect of talking about private matters with strangers can feel daunting; or, people often feel concerned that there won't be enough time and space in the group for everyone; or, concerned about the impact of hearing about others' difficulties.
In my experience it is useful to speak about any such concerns prior to joining, and within the group itself if they come up for anyone. As well as people's own lives, people in the group can speak about experiences in the group itself: this is often a very rich opportunity, and a catalyst for deep personal development.