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4 Benefits of Group Therapy
Group therapy is a popular, effective form of therapy that involves small groups of individuals dealing with the same or similar concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. While the concept of group therapy is pretty well known, many people are surprised to learn about the significant benefits it offers.
At Conduit Behavioral Health, Temika Heyward, PhD, FNP, CRNP, PMH, and her team offer group therapy independently and combined with individual therapy to help every patient achieve long-term success. In this post, learn about four key benefits of group therapy to decide if it’s right for you.
1. Helps you feel more connected and less isolated
Struggling with a mental health issue or substance use disorder can leave you feeling alone and isolated. Knowing that millions of other people are in similar situations is interesting, but it doesn’t do much to alleviate the feelings of being alone.
Group therapy provides “in-person” evidence that there are people who understand your struggles and share your desire to feel better and be healthier. During each session, you’ll listen to other group members’ experiences and challenges to feel more connected and less alone. You’ll also feel validated knowing your feelings and struggles are “real,” important, and deserving of treatment.
2. Gives you the chance to support others
Group therapy is important in feeling valued and supported, allowing you to support others. With your peers, you can provide a platform of encouragement and support that provides a firm and powerful grounding for yourself and those around you.
You also learn to work with others to create a community focused on helping each member attain their personal goals. By looking outside yourself and focusing on others’ needs, you begin to appreciate your value and build a sense of self-worth that can help you enjoy greater strength and balance throughout your life.
3. Allows you to “test out” new skills
Most therapy plans focus on helping people learn new, positive behaviors, including better communication skills and coping strategies, particularly when dealing with stress or anxiety. In individual therapy, you may be given “homework” to practice behaviors in your life settings, an experience that can sometimes be a little daunting.
Group therapy settings provide a safe space to practice those new skills and behaviors, including new communication skills and conflict resolution techniques. By providing live feedback, group therapy helps you feel confident in your new behaviors before employing them outside therapy.
4. Supports long-term success
Group therapy gives you that “safe space” to explore your feelings and concerns without fear of judgment openly. As you work out your thoughts and share them with others, you better understand yourself and the thoughts and behaviors that motivate your feelings and reactions.
You also develop a greater sense of empathy for others and yourself, along with greater self-esteem and self-acceptance. Together, these aspects of group therapy provide long-term benefits that set the stage for a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life.
Group therapy can be integral to your recovery and healing, helping you enjoy better emotional and physical health and wellness. To learn more about group therapy and the other options focused on helping you enjoy a happier, healthier future, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Heyward and the team at Conduit Behavioral Health in Baltimore, Maryland, today.