How Group Therapy Helps You Heal
Are you someone who has heard about the benefits of group therapy? You may have heard about it from a friend or read something about it online. There might be more you really want to know to decide if a group is right for you. And that’s important because feeling better matters. You want to know if being part of a group will help you heal.
Right now you want to know more about the purpose and process of group therapy, and if it helps. This blog fills you in on what to expect during group therapy sessions and what some of the benefits are.
Group Therapy Process for Teens
One reason group therapy works for teens is the process. First and foremost is that the group you’re in is guided by one or more therapists. This lets you and other teens develop trust that can lead to being open about anxieties, fears, and vulnerabilities.
That’s because those in the group are treated as equals, as in “on a level playing field.”
This approach can be seen as the participants and therapists sit in a circle facing each other. It means that people can clearly hear and see how others express themselves. An online group offers each person something similar as you can see and hear each other. The therapist’s role is to set guidelines and help with conversation while promoting reflective thought.
When you’re in a group, you and other kids get to talk about how you’re feeling. At the same time, you get to hear about other teens’ experiences. The process also encourages:
Supportive interactions because it’s a safe place to talk
Being able to accept and meet group expectations, such as respecting other kids’ opinions and differences
Input when requested
The importance of honoring the privacy of each person who is part of the group, including after leaving it
The Benefits of Group Therapy for Teens
Group therapy is reported to have success for teens. This holds true when studies compared it with other forms of therapy. One reason is because of the issues that teens are dealing with. Teens who had participated in a dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills training groups were part of a focus group study. The purpose was to learn what they felt about group therapy. The teens stated that they:
Felt positive about the groups and what they had gained
Were able to improve their practice of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindfulness
Could see the benefit of sessions later on referred to as “booster sessions” or groups for teens who had already completed the skills training
Believed the type of group they were in would help teens with medical issues
Another benefit has to do with the skills that teens learn within the sessions. Thus the group can help you move toward healing when dealing with:
Bullying
Interpersonal violence within the family, school, or community
Loss that includes death or illness of someone significant
Personal illness
Depression
Various sources or causes of anxiety
Being shy or feeling rejected by others
Anger and acting out, including physically
Social harm such as that due to racial, gender, ethnic, or faith biases
Substance concerns
Group therapy’s benefits come from learning and practicing skills such as:
Coping and helpful ways of caring for yourself
Learning how to create new ways of thinking and responding to stressors
The importance of knowing about and observing emotions, both your own and those of other people
Specific practices that help with feelings of overwhelm or anger, like:
Breathing methods that are helpful and/or fun
Mindfulness, as in how to live in the moment, including when being physically active
Other forms of stress management such as meditation, yoga, and simple stretches
You can talk with one of us at Mindful Healing about your group therapy interests and questions. We’re here to help you find what will work best for your life!
