Group therapy is a major way to get help when dealing with psychological related anxiety, habits and conditions. It is one of the therapeutic options available in therapy. An individual undergoing group therapy gets to meet with others with similar problems. They get to share their struggles, progress and success stories.
Group therapy could be the best choice for an individual as recommended by a therapist but can be sometimes ineffective. However, understanding what you tend to gain or lose in group therapy would help you settle for what’s best for you.
This article would focus on what the pros and cons have to say on group therapy.
What the Pros Say
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Sense of Belonging
The feeling of loneliness is the reason why many are in need of therapy. So, getting to relate with others affords them the opportunity to have people they see as family. This shift in perspective can positively impact the recovery process of the individual.
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Feedback inspires
Having to hear others speak on their success stories can infuse in the individual a positive attitude and change. He gets to learn from others how to crawl his way out of his nightmares. Such feedbacks help the individual to draw inspiration from others who have succeeded where he is presently struggling.
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Platform for Impact
Group therapy gives every member the opportunity to talk about their improvements and aspirations. The meaning of life can be rediscovered when a member sees how his story helped others to improve. This can in turn fast track his own recovery process.
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Saves Money
Group therapy in most counseling establishments is free. Even in cases where payment is required, it is not as expensive as one-on-one therapy sessions. In a very effective and engaging therapy group, the therapeutic effect is the same whether paid or free.
What the Cons Say
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Confidentiality can be Affected
Group members can be three or as large as fifteen. The confidentiality that individual therapy offers is not the same in group therapy. The patient-therapy privacy privileges are affected. The need to remain confidential can make the individual conservative in expressing himself. The patient tells you only what he wants you to know about him.
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Stress of Group Formation
Getting persons with similar challenges to converge as a group can be very tedious and overwhelming. Likewise, the willingness of patients to desire group participation could become another major problem.
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Personality Differences
Because the individuals are at different levels of progress, outburst during sessions can become a major challenge. For instance, comportment can easily be thrown out the window in an anger management group session.
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Rigid Time Schedule
Fixing time that would be convenient for all group members can also affect group therapy. Unlike individual therapy sessions where schedules are tweaked in conformity with the patient’s time. Many members of the group therapy tend to miss sessions which might in-turn inhibit their progress.
In Conclusion
Group therapy has helped a lot of patients struggling with various social and psychological conditions. However, a trained therapist would better guide you on whether to join a therapy group or 1 on 1 individual counseling, therapy, or coaching.
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