Group therapy?

[Daisychain]

I am interested in knowing more about group therapy, I'm anxious about starting it because I am shy and anxious most of the time. Please share the experiences you have had with group therapy. Positive and negative,thanks :)

[sheep]

I've had no group therapy myself, though i have witnessed it, and found it helped those in the group. (It was in a not so private center, not sure of teh topic though)

Just think of it as all the others with you, are suffering similar thoughts and feelings, and you never know you most likely will end up with friends. :hug: Just keep your head up hun :)

[Jenny]

Hi

I've never been in group therapy although is something i'm keen to try. On the one hand I think it would be 'easier' (although that's probably not the right word!) than individual therapy as the attention isn't on you all of the time, i.e. others speak too so attention is shared out. But on the other hand i think it would also challenge you in different ways..

In many ways i think the members of a group would unonsciously play out a family role.. with some people acting as the parents, some as the naughty child, etc. I think the transactions that would happen in the group and the transference that everyone would place on each other would be large.. and the scope for working through the transference just amazing. Even when you're not talking but listening to others, there'll be so much going on internally for you. It would be such an amazing but difficult experience, but one that could really enable growth. Just my opinions of course :)

Would love to hear how it goes if you do go along to group therapy.. and Sheep makes a good point that everyone in the group will probably feeling similar things with regards to nerves.. It may be good to say how nervous and shy you're feeling in the very first session. My guess is many would feel empathic to this.

:hug:
Jenny x

[crookxshanks]

i was terrified of starting the group therapy one of my friends who also did it persuaded me to come, even if it was for a few sessions. to date it has probably been the most helpful group ive been in so far.

not only is there therapists viewpoint but from people who could be feeling the same way you do as well. it is easier than individual therapy because you do feel like your getting a break as it were and you also get to help others in the group at the same time

[brighteyes]

The only group therapy I have experienced was when I was in the hospital. I know many of those people looked forward to the groups and, for some, it was the only time they would come out of the room. I can't say how helpful I thought it was for me as I was a bit antagonistic at being forced to be there so was not as open to its benefits as I should have been. I do think, had it been my choice to go, I would have found it helpful.

[Jenny]

Have found this article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7754632.stm) on the BBC website about group therapy and it's benefits. Interesting read :)

[Fluffy Flowers]

I have group therapyy, although it's DBT so a lot of it is based on educating us, and only some on a therapy aspect. I'm not sure what to say :| But ask away and I'll answer anything I can. Sorryl, my brain won't function enough to articulate anything right now. Helpful, hey.

[Cherrypie]

Hi Daisychain..

I am becoming increasingly interested in group therapy and I was wondering, only of course if you don't mind saying, how did you find it..

Was it helpful?

Thanks

xCherrypie

[mel]

Make sure there are TWO therapists within the group. Also, check how they work. Their background. Anything CBT based... forget it.

[Daisychain]

Hi Daisychain..

I am becoming increasingly interested in group therapy and I was wondering, only of course if you don't mind saying, how did you find it..

Was it helpful?

Thanks

xCherrypie

I never did try it cherrypie! I'm hoping to in the future, when my anxiety eases :sorry:

[Cherrypie]

Aww daisychain.. thats ok.. thanks for letting me know.. I hope your anxiety eases soon. Its not a nice feeling to live with..

Mel, thanks for your opinion there.. have you had personal experience of it yourself or know anyone who has? Do you think cbt and group therapy doesn't mix or you just not a fan of cbt generally?

xx Cherrypie

[andyhp]

Hi Daisychain

I've been a participant in several different types of group work as part, or parts, of my training.

On one hand there was the psychoeducational type of group much as described by Fluffy Flowers. The purpose of these groups was primarily to educate the group members as Fluffy says and hence the 'leader' of the group would take an active role to achieve this e.g. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy group work where the techniques of mindful meditation are taught in tandem with some aspects of Cognitive Therapy.

I've also been in group therapy 3 times (6 sessions each time) where the aim was to look at our interpersonal ways of relating in the group and to also see how the dynamics of the group itself worked. Rather than 'something external being taught' as the main aim of the group the aim here was learning from the internal dynamics of the group and its members. This was similar to the Personal Development groups on my courses in some ways but intended to be, and in my opinion was, more intense. The lead therapists in the groups I attended were from several different 'schools' of psychotherapy as were the participants but all the 'leaders' took a much less active role in this type of group.

I really enjoyed the first type and both enjoyed and hated the second. I like group learning most of the time but my anxieties involved in the second were pretty intense, as they should and will be I suppose. I found the experience invaluable though and have never regretted being in the second type of group. I found the psychoeducational valuable as a way of learning and of course this will be necessary sometimes (how will we learn of mindfulness techniques without being taught?) and for me the only negative in this type of group is that there is little focus on the group itself. I guess a negative of the second type for me was when there felt like there was too much focus on the group or more specifically me!

I believe that the psychoeducational groups tend to be linked more with specific 'problems' such as eating disorders, self harm, depression or anxiety and will these days be CBT based (e.g. CBTe for eating disorders) or a specialised 'offshoot' of CBT/Behaviour therapy such as Dialectic Behaviour Therapy as Fluffy Flowers is having

Personally I would say go for it if you get the chance, whichever type it is you want (or are offered?), go and see. I believe that you can only ever go for you so only you will know what helps and what doesn't. I hope it works out well.