Ways Group Therapy Benefit You
Confiding to your closest friends can sure give you relief from your emotional stress. But how about confiding to a group of strangers? While it may seem intimidating at first to be opening to a group of people about your personal issues, psychologists swear by its benefits, especially for people who have mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
Support groups generally meet once or twice a week and each session can range from 90 minutes to two hours. How much people want to reveal about themselves is very individual, but there’s security in knowing that what’s said in group, stays in group.
So in what ways can group therapy benefit you?
Groups motivate you well.
Simply hearing how other members successfully overcame their mental health issues, such as fear or trauma, or drug abuse, can be so encouraging. People often push themselves to do better and work harder when they see their peers’ progress. It’s a wonderful way of telling yourself that if others can do it, so can you.
Groups provide support.
That’s why they are called ‘support groups’ – therapy groups offer not only relief but also comfort and encouragement for people dealing with a specific mental health problem. Finding a support group is crucial to your recovery, whatever your issue is. Whether it’s depression, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress, or substance abuse, it’s good knowing that you are not alone.
Groups foster social skills.
Dealing with any mental health disorder can negatively impact one’s ability to interact with other people. Support groups offer a great venue to regain and develop your social skills. Not only does it ease ‘isolation’, it also gives you opportunity to practice re-engaging with people and help others in their journey to recovery.
Groups foster self-awareness.
Another amazing benefit of group therapy is that it offers a venue towards self-awareness. You will be surprised to know more things about yourself – your strengths, weaknesses, skills and so much more. It’s another way of uncovering the blind spots that may be blocking your ability to overcome your issues.
It’s healing.
Sharing can be healing. It gives you relief from the emotional burden you are carrying. Sometimes, people don’t need a lot of advice. Rather, they need someone to listen.
But how much you get from your support group depends on how much you participate. In order to get the most out of it, be willing to take a pledge, participate and share. Sometimes, you may not feel like talking, and that’s fine. But remember that the more you contribute, the more you’ll get out of it.
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