Finding Support Groups And Group Therapy
Some people are curious to learn what group therapy is all about. In-person or online group therapy generally consists of a group of five to 15 people, and a group leader. Group counseling is led by a licensed mental health professional. These mental health professionals help individuals who are experiencing similar mental health challenges such as substance use disorders (formerly known as substance abuse). And while most people are familiar with substance abuse groups, few realize that like individual counseling, group counseling nearby can encompass a wide range of approaches, focal points, and skill building strategies. In group therapy, the therapist usually leads the group members in various discussions and teaches them skills that can be helpful while group members have the opportunity to impart their own experiences and mental health journeys.
Group therapy can show you you’re not alone, help you develop social skills, build your confidence, and give you hope. Listening, embracing vulnerability, asking questions, and putting in effort can help you get the most out of group sessions. It can be possible to join a group near by or online, and if you feel more comfortable with one-on-one counseling with a licensed professional, you can try individual counseling online or with a local therapist.
What is group therapy?
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy, or talk therapy, that generally occurs in a social setting. Often, groups are made up of members who are navigating similar challenges and diagnoses, and they’re usually led by a licensed therapist. For example, groups near you may include only people who are living with an eating disorder or an addiction.
To cope with the challenges that are affecting their mental health, people can either choose to attend counseling or they can try a support group (among other types of treatment), and there can be some subtle but important distinctions between them.
As telehealth has taken off over the last decade, many people from the US and other countries have started to join online counseling groups. Online group sessions can work the same way as in-person therapy, with a certified therapist moderating sessions over Zoom or a live chat, instead of in an office or meeting space.
This also opens up opportunities for individuals with very specific challenges to make contact and build community with people from other countries all over the world. Online support groups and online group counseling can be excellent ways to offer and receive support.
In-person vs. online group therapy
In traditional group therapy, a licensed mental health professional usually leads each session. On average, groups are comprised of five to 15 people. This may or may not apply to online collective counseling, where additional members may be allowed to join.
Some groups may be closed, which typically means that everyone joins the group at the same time, and no one can join later on. This policy can be helpful because it can allow everyone to form a safe and comfortable connection with the other members, build therapeutic alliances with the leader, and establish group norms.
Open group vs. closed group therapy
However, there can also be open groups. These groups generally allow people to join at any time. People may come and go throughout the group. One of the biggest advantages of an open location is that it's usually easier to join. When looking for a closed group, you may have to wait a while before you can find one that is scheduled to begin at a time you want to join. The open and closed settings for groups may apply to online groups as well as in-person ones.
Group therapy sessions vs. AA
Most people are familiar with AA, and other programs that walk people through various steps to recovery. It's not unusual for people to think that this is how all collective counseling works.
For example, in AA, the people attending generally do not offer advice to each other, no matter the location. The session is usually not led by a licensed therapist or other mental health professional, but is typically peer-run rather than being led by mental health professionals. These can be run as courses or classes fitting a specific rubric, or be more free form. A peer-run support group tends to be free of charge, whereas you will usually have to pay to attend traditional counseling. This type of support group may meet online or in person.
While collective counseling can be beneficial, it may not be the best option for everyone. Some people and some mental health conditions may be better suited to individual counseling sessions with licensed mental health professionals. Some may find counseling most effective by participating in both individual counseling, as well as groups.
Potential advantages of group therapy sessions
Below are several potential advantages of attending group counseling.
Learn you are not alone
Build social skills
Social skills don't always come naturally to everyone, and there can be life situations that increase social anxiety. Collective counseling can be a safe place to learn skills that can help you cope with the anxiety of interacting with others.
This type of support can also help you learn how to build and strengthen relationships with others. Moreover, the group setting often allows you to immediately practice the skills you are learning with people who are practicing the same thing. If you’re particularly anxious about attending counseling in person, you might seek out online support groups first, as they may come with less pressure for interaction.
Gain hope
During seasons of crisis or when coping with mental health challenges, you may feel overwhelmed. When you attend collective counseling, you will usually be with people who are in various stages of counseling. That means that while some are just starting, there will likely be others who are further along in the process. This can be helpful because you can see that progress is possible.
Self-awareness
Getting to know and understand yourself can be an important part of recovery. Groups provide a safe and encouraging place for gaining self-awareness.
Build confidence
Living with mental health challenges can undermine your confidence, but counseling sessions can help. Finding your voice and providing helpful advice to others can build your confidence and help you overcome trauma in its many forms.
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
Group therapy near you: Techniques for success
There may be many group counseling techniques that can help you improve your mental health. Here are some suggestions for the best experience:
- Listen: One of the biggest advantages of attending group therapy is that you may get to hear the experiences of others in addition to the mental health professional. You can ensure that you are taking advantage of this by paying attention to what your therapist and the other people in your group are saying.
- Embrace Vulnerability: When you are ready, try to be vulnerable and let your guard down.
- Ask: It can be beneficial to ask for advice and feedback on the challenges you’ve encountered.
- Try: A group may be the perfect place for you to practice communication skills.
Remember that authentic long-term growth can occur as you practice the skills you learn in your group. The ultimate goal is typically to take what you are learning from the mental health professional and put the new skills into practice in your everyday life. The group can be a great place to get started, but the real changes tend to happen when you take the tools you learned and apply them to your day-to-day life.
For many people, group counseling is just one part of treatment. Clients might meet individually with therapists online or in person, or they can supplement these group counseling sessions with support groups. The best way to know what treatment path is right for you is usually to talk to a professional. These professionals can educate you on your options for treatment.
Individual vs. group therapy
Group therapy may not be the best fit for everyone. Sometimes, it can be better to connect with a therapist one-on-one, particularly for those who may have trouble with social situations. A therapist running group counseling seeks to build a therapeutic alliance with group members, but for some people, this therapeutic alliance is more easily built and maintained on an individual basis. Also some mental health disorders are complex and require individual therapy, although in many cases a therapist may also recommend group counseling as a supplemental treatment.
Mental health support through online therapy
In some cases, it may even be challenging to visit a therapist’s office if you have social anxiety or other mental health challenges that make it difficult to leave the house. This is where online therapy may be an excellent option, as it can empower you to receive professional help and guidance by simply visiting a website from the comfort of your home. This type of counseling can offer mental health services for people who might not otherwise have it.
Research pertaining to online counseling has had positive results in both individual counseling and group counseling formats. According to this study, online counseling can be as effective as traditional in-office counseling, and it can treat a wide variety of mental health conditions. You may even find, after your experience with online therapy, that you may wish to try out group counseling and see if it can help you in your journey to improved mental health.
Should I attend group or individual therapy?
The answer depends on your mental health goals. Each counseling style has its own pros and cons. If you want to develop your social skills and avail of a cheaper option, you should go for group therapy. However, if you want more flexibility in your schedule and your condition requires a more in-depth approach, then you can go for individual counseling. Your therapist can also guide you which approach is better for your condition. For some more complex or severe mental health conditions, a provider may recommend a combination of individual and group therapy sessions.
The American Psychological Association not only provides resources for group therapists but also ensures that they follow proper guidelines during group sessions. It is important for therapists whether facilitating individual counseling or group sessions to create a strong therapeutic alliance with their clients.
The American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines for group therapy
Group therapy is as effective as individual therapy. Considering its peer-inspired setting, the APA has set some guidelines for therapists conducting group counseling such as the following:
- Careful screening for group members
- Observance of utmost exclusivity within the group
- Careful management of group dynamics
Takeaway
What is group therapy?
Group therapy is a type of treatment that focuses on specific issues. This therapy is used to help people with a variety of issues via discussions within a supportive setting. A psychologist, licensed social worker, and licensed marriage and family therapist can all facilitate sessions.
What are some different types of group sessions?
Some groups offer peer support for mental disorders such as bipolar disorder or eating disorders. Others offer support for those experiencing substance use disorder and some teach problem-solving skills, while groups using dialectical behavior therapy can support those experiencing behavior disorders.
What is group therapy best for?
Online group therapy is good for building community and providing emotional support among people who are experiencing similar issues like substance use disorders, and may be geographically distant or have challenges getting to in-person therapy.
What are the disadvantages of group therapy?
One disadvantage is that the size doesn’t allow for significant time devoted to one person’s issues. Another is that groups have less flexibility to investigate a wide variety of topics compared to individual therapy.
Can group therapy be online?
Collective therapy can happen in both in-person and online settings. As with virtual individual therapy, virtual collective therapy offers the same therapeutic process as in-person therapy, and the cohesion of virtual sessions is the same as in-person sessions, the only difference being that the therapy leader and other members navigate the session's focus from a video chat room.
What is online group therapy like?
In an online therapy meeting, licensed therapists will facilitate sharing and discussion on a topic via video or phone calls, video chat, and sometimes chat rooms.
Is group therapy good for the treatment of anxiety and depression?
Yes, therapy can be beneficial for people experiencing mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. If you feel that you need more intensive therapy treatment approaches for mental health issues, you can investigate other treatment options like individual therapy or inpatient mental health care.
Is online group therapy as worth it as individual therapy?
Studies have shown that online therapy sessions with a licensed professional therapist are just as effective as in-person therapy appointments. Virtual therapy, whether for mental health disorders like anxiety disorders or bipolar disorder, or addiction treatment, still utilize a leader with experience in the therapeutic process and who can create a sense of cohesion for other members.
Is group therapy less expensive than seeing a therapist in person?
Collective therapy is generally more cost-effective than individual therapy. Therapy platforms like BetterHelp typically charge between $65 and $100 per week for individual therapy, billed monthly. Pay-per-session rates can vary from $65 to $200, depending on the therapist’s experience. Weekly therapy costs can range from $260 to $400 monthly. Specialized therapies, such as those for trauma or eating disorders, may cost anywhere from $150 to $300 per session.
How do I find support groups in my area or online?
Once you decide to pursue therapy, you can do an online search for in-person therapy in your area or online therapy groups that address your area of need. In-person and virtual therapy sessions will be categorized by need, for example therapy for mental health disorders like anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or personality disorders, addiction treatment or substance use treatment, or chronic pain groups.
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