Should You Do Group Therapy?

Video by Dr. Charlotte Howard

Article by Dr. Kyler Shumway

Whether you want to get better at relationships, have a source of social support, or take your personal growth to the next level, group therapy is probably the right choice for you.

After all, group therapy is all about relationships – and relationships are at the heart of what it means to be human.

Yet, many people struggle with their relationships.  So many feel misunderstood, left out, or in conflict with others.  

Others might notice patterns in how they relate to others, such as:

• Feeling lonely or unseen by others

• Taking on a caretaker role, but never being supported by others

• Feeling constantly insecure, like the other person is going to leave them

• Getting into toxic or dissatisfying relationships with romantic partners

• Being easily threatened or triggered by others

• Having difficulties forming lasting relationships

Curious about whether group therapy is the right fit for you?  Learn more by watching this clip by Deep Eddy Psychotherapy owner and co-founder, Dr. Charlotte Howard.  

If you want to learn more or sign up for your first group meeting, contact us today – we would love to hear from you.  Or, read on to learn more about how group can help.

Three Reasons Why Group Therapy Works

Group therapy is incredibly powerful for three main reasons.

One, the group is led by an expert therapist that specializes in group psychotherapy as well as the deeper mechanisms of the mind and how we interact.  The therapist is there to facilitate a brave, effective space where members feel encouraged to share, be heard, and respond to one another in healthy, powerful ways.  The group uses the therapist as a guide as they journey together towards better relationships with group members as well as the people in their lives.

Two, group therapy groups act as a sort of mirror for you to understand yourself on a deeper level.  While individual therapy offers opportunities for plenty of self-exploration, you are limited to the perceptions of yourself and your therapist.  Group provides an avenue for you to understand how you come across to others and why people react to you in certain ways.  You will also have the opportunity to learn why certain people and ways of being may bring up thoughts, feelings, impulses, memories, and more, thus offering a window into your mind that you wouldn’t access without the power of the group.

And three, group provides a relationship sandbox where you can practice engaging in new ways, especially those that break free from old, unhealthy habits.  For example, if you realize that women evoke strong feelings of discomfort or anger, which then makes you raise your voice (or, remain silent), you can learn to express yourself better and be vulnerable in the safety of the group therapy space.  You can also get feedback from other people, ask questions and learn from those around you, and augment your personal growth as you work to become your best self.

If you are curious about group therapy, don’t wait.  You deserve the chance to get to know yourself and others on a deeper level.  All it takes is the willingness to reach out and get started.

Contact us today to learn how.

Who can join group therapy?

Anyone can join a group therapy group!

However, some groups may be a better fit for you than others.

Group therapy groups may be open, meaning anyone can join at any time, or themed, meaning the group shares certain identity markers (e.g., age, race, gender, sexuality, etc.) or goals (trauma, identity formation, stress reduction).  Groups may also be time-limited, meaning the group meets for a certain number of sessions and then ends, or they might be ongoing and have no end date.  

Here at Deep Eddy Psychotherapy, we offer group therapy groups for people of all ages and walks of life.  To learn more about the different groups we currently offer, check out our Group Therapy page on the website.