The benefits of adult group therapy

By Wendi Betz, PhD Commentary

December 18, 2005 12:13 am

— When most people think about seeking counseling services, they usually think of individual therapy, one-on-one, with a mental health provider. By far, this is the most common type of service offered by counselors. However, group therapy can be beneficial to certain individuals in ways that differ from individual counseling.
Group counseling can often be beneficial for those who are feeling as if they are alone in their suffering. Often, in a group setting, people realize they are not the only ones having difficulties with depression, or anxiety, or any other specific problem area being addressed in the group. This helps them to feel less isolated, more understood, and more “normal,” as they see that their problems are actually more common than they once thought.
Counseling in a group setting also can be beneficial for those who need to practice certain skills with other people. Although it may be difficult at first, individuals having problems with social phobia can learn to deal with this fear in a realistic setting where their actual feelings can be experienced and dealt with in a safe and accepting environment.
Other behaviors that are better practiced in a group setting include assertiveness skills, social skills and anger management skills. Having other members of the group to interact with allows for realistic practice of these behaviors with other people, but in a setting that is guided by a trained professional.
There are several different types of group therapy, each of which can help meet different needs. The didactic, or educational, groups primarily are used to teach members specific skills that they can use to help with their particular problems. For example, an educational group for anxiety would most likely cover relaxation and breathing skills, along with specific cognitive skills to help reduce anxious thoughts. A smoking cessation group would cover the negative aspects of smoking, healthy lifestyle changes, and specific strategies to deal with cravings. Educational groups are often short-term, time-limited groups that end after four to six weeks. After the group sessions are over, individuals could continue to work with the counselor on a one-on-one basis to help deal with any additional concerns that were not covered in the group.
Another type of group is a process-oriented group, which is more of an open-ended group that meets for a more lengthy period of time. The group normally begins in the first session with an exercise or activity to help the members get to know each other and to help them feel more comfortable. Members are then gradually encouraged to introduce themselves and to disclose some information about the issues they are hoping to overcome. Over time, group members develop a sense of support for each person. A warm feeling of community and camaraderie develops when a member realizes others are experiencing similar problems and the group is there to work as a caring, supportive and sympathetic group, so each member gets to achieve their goals and aims. The trained professional guides discussion to allow for participation from all members. Group members offer helpful suggestions and encouragement to one another.

There also can be combinations of both educational and process oriented groups, that begin with a strong teaching element, and as members become more comfortable, group discussion increases and the time spent presenting skills and strategies decreases. Providers meet with each individual before he or she joins the group to assess compatibility with the other members.

If you are interested in joining a therapy group, contact Enid Counseling and Diagnostic Center or other agencies that offer group services.

Betz works at Enid Counseling and Diagnostic Center, 230 W. Maple. For more information, call 242-5544.