Group Therapy
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which you and other people, usually ones who share your diagnosis, meet with a mental health provider at the same time to discuss issues and coping strategies for managing your condition.
Groups can be as small as just five or six people, or may be larger depending on the type of therapy the group is intended for. There is always a mental health provider present to facilitate the therapeutic discussion.
Many people find group therapy to be very effective, as they learn not just from their own behaviors, influences, and choices, but the behaviors, influences, and choices of others as well. Individuals with the following diagnoses may benefit from group therapy; this list is not exhaustive, and others may benefit as well:
- Substance use disorders
- Grief
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Anger management
- Shyness and low self esteem
- Trauma
Depending on your situation and needs, you may find group therapy to be more comfortable for you, or more beneficial than individual therapy.
Group therapy can also be helpful for people who live with or care for someone with a mental health condition to find much-needed support and develop new coping skills. Caregiving for a child or adult with a mental health condition, learning disability, addiction, or other impairment can be stressful - finding the right group for therapy and support can help alleviate that stress.
Group therapy could be just one aspect of your treatment plan, or it could provide the ongoing support that you need to manage your condition.