Our first group experience occurs in our family, and most of us live and work in groups for most of our lives. The capacity to build healthy personal and professional relationships in these groups often determines our sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in life.
The demands of modern society often lead to isolation and exhaustion, and we can achieve greater well-being by learning and healing together with others. My passion for group therapy has grown over the years as I have witnessed again and again the growth and energy that can come from engaging meaningfully and purposefully with others, especially in areas that are personally challenging.
In a therapy group, members address a wide variety of personal issues, as well as concerns about relationships with others. Group members give and receive support and feedback to each other, as well as to the group leader. Over time, members receive valuable information about how their personality and ways of relating affect others, and can make adjustments to their relational patterns that lead to more fulfilling relationships, and feeling more authentic within yourself and your relationships.
Group therapy is especially powerful in addressing the following issues:
- Toxic shame and self hate
- Feelings of isolation and exclusion
- Lack of access to emotional feeling
- Avoidance of confrontation
- Problematic expression of aggression and anger
- Defensiveness that prevents working through conflicts
- Over-compliance and people-pleasing behaviors
Group therapy helps members develop in the following areas:
- Developing secure bonds that can withstand relational stress
- Deepening emotional communication and intimacy
- Identifying and expressing needs
- Differentiating between the past and present in relationships
- Understanding the impact of power dynamics in interactions
Therapy groups are typically made up of 5-9 individuals who commit to working together weekly on an ongoing basis. Group therapy sessions are 75 to 90 minutes and cost between $75-$100 per session.