Are you looking for group therapy near me? Are you a man looking for group therapy near me options? Do you know anyone who can benefit from attending group therapy? Are you looking for a safe space where you can vent, share, and learn? Are you looking for information on how group therapy near me works? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have come to the right place.
My name is Sean Galla. I have been facilitating men’s support groups, including group therapy, for more than 10 years. For many generations, men have been made to believe that seeking help is a show of weakness.
Group therapy work to ensure men, regardless of age, orientation, or occupation, can get the help they need as they navigate through life. Whether you are looking for career advancement advice, mental health support, or social support, taking part in group therapy can be all the help you need.
In this article, you will get all the guidelines you need to understand group therapy and how you can find group therapy near me. Here is everything you need to know about joining a therapy group for men.
Table of Contents:
What Is Group Therapy?
Group therapy can be defined as a type of therapy session or group counseling that takes place in a group setting. Most therapy groups comprise of individuals dealing with similar issues, healthcare diagnoses, or challenges. For instance, a therapy group can be for people dealing with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, or even addiction.
In a traditional counseling group session, a therapist is mandated to lead the group in line with the group dynamics. An ideal therapist teaches the members of the group healthy coping skills while offering encouragement to make them feel comfortable enough to share.
When looking for Group therapy, you will often come across small group setups in different locations including hospitals, private practices, clinics, community centers, and mental health facilities.
Group counseling can also be termed as a form of psychotherapy. Sometimes, it can be used alone as a form of treatment or integrated into a comprehensive wellness treatment plan that includes medications and individual therapy sessions.
In the book The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, the author Irvin D. Yalom outlines the therapeutic principles of group counseling as derived from reports of people who have previously taken part in group therapy.
These principles include:
Creating a sense of universality and cohesiveness – attending a counseling group makes it possible for one to see that their issue is not unique to them. This creates a sense of oneness, and one feels less alone.
Instilling hope – Group counseling creates catharsis and gives people hope of recovery and better coping from seeing others in advanced treatment stages doing it.
Altruism – members get to share their strengths. This boosts self-esteem and confidence to face whatever issue they are going through.
Resource sharing – group members can help one another with important information about their unique issue or illness.
Who Can Attend Group Therapy Near Me?
Group therapy is an interpersonal learning experience open to any individual interested in personal growth.
It can be recommended by a mental health professional as part of clinical treatment if it is seen as a good fit for an individual. Group counseling can be ideal for people living with mental health conditions, like stress disorder, anxiety, PTSD or depression, or any other condition that makes it difficult to get through life. It is also ideal for family members of loved ones with different conditions. They are also ideal for people with no specific concern but need socialization, support, and training.
Some examples of group therapy near me options include:
- Domestic violence support groups
- Domestic abuse support groups
- Addiction and substance abuse groups
- Anxiety support groups
- Divorce support groups
- LGBTQ support group
- Bipolar support groups
- Caregivers support groups
- Communications issues support groups
- Social anxiety support groups
- Grief and loss support groups
- Anger management support groups
- Eating disorders support groups
Benefits of Attending Group Therapy
Support and encouragement.
Group therapy makes it possible for individuals to get encouragement and peer support from the other members of the group. By participating in the group, it is possible to see what the other members are going through, the progress they have made, which gives you a sense of belonging and hope to be better.
You give and receive support.
In group counseling, members are encouraged to rely on one another for feedback, connection, and support, and opposed to getting it all from a therapist. The group will engage and discuss issues affecting different members’ well-being for the benefit of everyone in the group.
You find your voice.
Through group therapy, you become more in touch with your feelings and the importance of expressing how you feel. In therapy groups, members are strongly encouraged to pay attention to their feelings and feel free to talk about these feelings.
You learn to practice healthy relations
Without proper socialization techniques, it can become hard for anyone to sustain relationships. In a group session setting, new members get honest feedback about their ability to relate and get advice on how to better their skills. By being part of a group, you can see how people relate to one another. This goes a long way in encouraging them to build healthy relations with others.
It acts as a safety net.
One of the greatest issues faced by people, especially men is finding a safe space where they can speak freely about their feelings, emotions, mental state, and hopes. Attending a group counseling session will teach you how to be authentic by encouraging you to speak up for yourself. These skills are practiced in the group to boost members’ confidence, making it easier for members to use the learned skills in their day-to-day life.
How to Have the Best Group Therapy Near Me Experience
You can only succeed in a counseling group by taking the sessions seriously and working hard. Your recovery and effectiveness depended on your attitude towards the therapy.
When you start attending group therapy, there are three steps to follow to ensure responsibility and accountability for your treatment. These are:
Pledging – pledge to take counseling group seriously if you want to benefit from it. Most group clinicians and facilitators avail a contract form that stipulates what is expected from the members and what the members should expect from the facilitators or therapists.
Participation – being actively involved in group counseling makes recovery easier and ensures you get the help you need. You can also benefit from the therapy when you purpose to attend every therapy session. Your participation helps not only you but also the other members who rely on you for support.
Sharing – sharing is an important part of your recovery when attending group therapy. By sharing your trauma with others, you get rid of the burden associated with the experience as you allow others to learn from your experience.
Finding Group Therapy Near Me Meetings
A simple search for a counseling group will give you results for a wide range of groups in your locality.
Online tools like the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and Psychology Today can help you locate group therapy near you from organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and others that offer cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducational groups, and other types of self-help therapy groups.
Online therapy groups
Online therapy groups are perhaps the closest most people can get to group therapy. According to findings, at least 98% of people attending virtual meeting group sessions show significant improvement in their mental health and stress management, with more than 70% of people dealing with depression showing a significant improvement from their symptoms. In addition, 94% of people prefer online counseling group sessions compared to in-person meetups.
Online group therapy, though unconventional, has gained popularity in the recent past, more so in this covid-19 period. Online zoom meetings make it possible for people to get the help they need from any part of the world. This makes therapy convenient and accessible. Online therapy groups near me make it easier for people to connect with others like them despite the distance.
Being in a group with people from different parts of the world gives you a global understanding and perspective of issues shared in the group.
If you are looking for an online group therapy program, mensgroup.com is an online support group for men that offer counseling group sessions virtually.
Mensgroup
Lack of a support system is a major cause of mental health issues in men. Mensgroup is an online group therapy platform that strives to offer group session support, guidance, and helps men struggling with different life issues.
Mensgroup is a supportive network of men ready and willing to help others like them through sharing life experiences. The mensgroup.com counseling group session will give you the information you need to overcome your issues and lead a better life. It equips you with resources that make you a better man and ensure you lead a better, more fulfilling life.
Conclusion
Joining and attending group counseling is scary at first, but it should not be. To ease you into the process, you can find group therapy near me online.
Taking part in the group activities in group counseling sessions is the best way to understand the group process and connect with the members. If you are a man interested in joining a therapy group, mensgroup.com is perfect for meeting like-minded men who will listen and offer advice with no judgment.
*Sources: 1. How Can I Find a Support Group Meeting Near Me? 2. 6 Benefits of Group Therapy for Mental Health Treatment 3. Support groups: Make connections, get help 4. How to find group therapy near me 5. Group therapy
