What
is Group Therapy?
In group therapy, a small
group of people with similar
emotional problems meet together with a therapist to discuss their
issues. The goal of meeting as a group is to get members to see that
they are not alone with their problems and to get them to help one
another if possible.
Group psychotherapy, like individual psychotherapy,
is intended to help people who would like to improve their ability to
cope with difficulties and problems in their lives. But, while in
individual therapy you meet with only one person (the therapist), in
group therapy the meeting is with a whole group. Group therapy focuses
on interpersonal interactions, so relationship problems are addressed
well in groups. The aim of group psychotherapy is to help
with solving the emotional difficulties and to encourage the personal
development of the participants in the group. I try to choose as
candidates for the group people who can benefit from this kind of
therapy and those who may have a useful influence on other members in
the group.
As a participant in group therapy, you are expected to be
present each week and come on time. It is required that the information
brought up by members of the group and their names be kept confidential
by all the group members. In some groups, you will be asked to
commit for a specified length of time at the beginning of the group.
The usual commitment is between 3 to 6 months. This facilitates getting
a sense of how the group works. When participating in a group, you are
not be required to talk, or reveal intimate issues when you do not want
to. However, the more you can participate, be open and talk about
yourself, your feelings and thoughts - the more you can gain from this
experience.
I am currently putting together
two groups to begin in the Fall - one focusing on dreams, and the other
on personal relationship issues. Please feel free to contact me if you
would like to register for one of these groups. Both will last ten
weeks, and the cost will be $300 per person for the 10-week session.
Mikita@networktherapy.com
Phone: 717-860-5209