Group Therapy For Personal Growth And Development

By Rosella Campbell


Engaging in counseling with other members who have gone through similar struggles creates an atmosphere of cohesiveness. Group therapy not only allows Individuals to experience personal growth through self exploration, but to also learning about the experiences of others can aid in recovery. Additionally, because guilt and shame are common feelings, talking with others alleviates some of these feelings and helps the person to feel normal and safe in sharing their experiences and struggles.

In many ways, speaking in a group of people can be liberating as it helps the individual to feel as if they are not alone. Hearing other stories not only helps the person feel less stigmatized, but can also erase fear they may feel in telling their own story. In a group setting, members are often at different stages of recovery or self actualization. Hearing coping strategies, behavior changes and challenges that were faced by others can provide valuable insight into ones own life pattern.

Groups should consist of between six to twelve individuals. Often the size depends on the topic. More intense topics, such as anger, may be more useful with a smaller number. Regardless of whether groups consist of six or twelve people, they are more productive than larger groups because they provide an atmosphere of intimacy where every member can have a chance to speak. Many times individuals may come to discuss divorce, death or loss, or another topic.

All mental health groups should have a facilitator who is trained in counseling to guide them. The counselor expands their role as an individual counselor into the group setting. It is the job of the facilitator to keep each member on topic, ensure that no one monopolizes the session, and confront anyone who is not being open with themselves.

Establishing an atmosphere of trust with each member of the group is extremely important. The facilitator's role is to create an atmosphere that is safe and welcoming to share intimate details about ones experiences. One key component of running a successful group is to stress the importance of confidentiality. Each member must agree to keep everything that is said in session confidential and not share with anyone outside of the people who are in session. Breaking this rule often results in immediate dismissal.

Counselors who facilitate groups are trained as mental health professionals. These professionals have had years of schooling focused on understanding behaviors. They are given tools that will help them challenge difficult behaviors and use reflective listening as a way of guiding clients to make healthy choices.

Different from individual counseling, in a setting with multiple people counselors must have the ability to confront members who are out of line, diffuse stressful situations, and keep the group cohesive. Also very important is to ensure that each member gets an equal amount of talk time and that no one member is dominating conversation.

Individuals can find this type of therapy in most locations where individual counseling is offered. Whether the client lives in Tulsa, OK or any other city, they are likely to find a mental health practice where they can engage in therapy in a group setting. For the counseling to be effective, it is important that the individuals are willing to open up about their own experiences as well as provide insight that may help another member.




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