What Are The Benefits Of Group Therapy?
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where a trained mental health professional leads a group of several clients. Typically, groups focus on a specific concern or topic area and are time-limited. For example, a group may address anxiety, sleep, or enhancing emotional regulation skills. Some clients attend both individual therapy and a group, or a client may choose to only participate in a group.
Research has shown that group therapy is effective at treating a variety of concerns such as anxiety and depression. DBT Skills groups are a particularly important part of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program for many concerns including emotion dysregulation, anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, eating disorders and addiction. Research has shown that clients who participate in DBT Skills groups in addition to individual therapy improve faster than clients who only participate in individual therapy.
When To Choose Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy
Group therapy can provide benefits that individual therapy may not. A main benefit of group therapy is being part of a group where others are experiencing similar emotions, concerns, and challenges and giving and receiving emotional support and a sense of community. Additional benefits of group therapy include:
Increasing a sense of hope by witnessing the success of other group members
Building self-awareness by reflecting on what is said in the group and enhancing your ability to express and share your thoughts and feelings with others
Enhancing social skills such as effective communication and interpersonal skills, increased empathy, and understanding of others’ perspectives
Increasing social confidence and self-esteem including offering support to other group members
Enhancing accountability and motivation to practice skills through the support of other group members
Learning new and helpful information from the group leader and other group members
When navigating challenges and concerns, it is common to feel alone and isolated. At times, it may feel like you are the only one struggling. Group therapy provides a reminder that you are not alone, and while each person’s situation has unique components, there is universality and humanness to coping with concerns. Group therapy also can provide a diverse set of perspectives and experiences and by hearing how other group members approach difficulties, you may increase your effective coping skills.
Difference Between Group Therapy and a Support
Group
Support groups can be informal, tend to be less directive and structured, and may be peer-led, meaning a trained mental health professional may not be present. Support groups often focus on discussing recent concerns members have faced and how they coped with them.
Group therapy is led by a trained professional who teaches group members evidence-based coping skills to address the concern the group is focused on. The group leader often takes an active approach, providing information and teaching skills, and there typically is a structure for each group. Having professional guidance can make groups more beneficial and offers an opportunity to enhance effective skills while benefitting from the social aspects and diverse perspectives in a group. This article by Everyday Health provides an overview of group therapy.
It is common for clients to engage in individual therapy and participate in a group that aligns with their concerns. If you currently have an individual therapist, feel free to ask them about any current group offerings that may be beneficial to you.
Check out the CBT Denver Groups page for our current group offerings, and please contact us for more information.