Are you interested in group therapy? Do you know anyone who can benefit from group therapy? Are you looking for a safe space to vent, share, and learn? Are you looking for information on how group therapy works? Are you going through relationship issues? 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. 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 therapy can be all the help you need.
In this article, you will get all the guidelines you need to understand group therapy. Here is everything you need to know about joining a therapy group for men.
Table of Contents:
What Is Group Therapy?
By definition, group therapy is a type of therapy session or group counseling where people sharing a common issue come together to get help as a group, as opposed to individual therapy. It involves a group therapist working with a group of people at the same time in like with the group dynamics. Group therapy can be offered in a small group set up in different locations including hospitals, private practices, clinics, community centers, and mental health facilities.
Group therapy 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 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 therapy as derived from reports of people who have previously taken part in therapy.
These principles include:
Instilling hope – Group therapy is made up of members who are at different stages of group treatment for a common issue or condition. This created catharsis and gives people hope of recovery and better coping from seeing others in advanced treatment stages doing it. This way, people beginning the healing process by joining these types of groups get the will to walk the journey to recovery.
Creating a sense of universality and cohesiveness – taking part in group therapy sessions makes it possible for one to see that their issue is not unique to them as it is common amongst many other individuals around the world. This creates a sense of oneness, and one feels less alone.
Resource sharing – just like how a mastermind group works, group therapy is a place for members to help each other with important information pertaining to their unique needs. This makes it easier for one to access data and resources they would have otherwise missed.
Altruism – members of a self-help group get a chance to share their strengths with one another. This helps to boost self-esteem and confidence to face whatever issue they are going through.
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Who Is Group Therapy For?
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 a treatment method if it is seen as a good fit for an individual in the treatment of their concern. Therapy can be ideal for people living with mental health conditions, like stress disorder or depression, that make it difficult to get through life. They are also ideal for people with no specific concern but need socialization, support and training.
Some of the topics discussed in therapy sessions include:
- Domestic violence
- Domestic abuse
- Addiction and substance abuse
- Anxiety
- Divorce
- Parenting
- Communications issues
- Grief and loss
- Anger management
- Eating disorders
Benefits of Group Therapy
It is a source of support and encouragement.
Therapy makes it possible for individuals to get encouragement and 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.
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Group therapy helps to give and receive support.
In therapy, 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 for the benefits of everyone in the group.
They help 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.
Encourages healthy relations with others
Without proper socialization techniques, it can become hard for anyone to sustain relationships. In a therapy 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 are able to see how people relate with one another. This goes a long way in encouraging them to build healthy relations with others.
Group therapy is a safety net.
One of the greatest issues faced by people is finding a safe space to speak freely about their feelings, ideas or dreams. Therapy encourages members to be authentic by encouraging them to speak up for themselves in life. These skills are practiced in the group to boost their confidence, making it easier for members to use the learned skills in their day-to-day life.
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How to Succeed in Group Therapy
The best way to ensure your success in therapy is by taking the sessions seriously and working hard. Your recovery and effectiveness of the therapy are dependent on your attitude towards the therapy.
When you start attending therapy, there are three steps to follow to ensure responsibility and accountability for your treatment. These are:
Pledging – you need to pledge to take your therapy seriously, to be able to benefit from it. Most group clinicians and facilitators avail a contract form that stipulates what is expected from them and other members in the group.
Participation – being actively involved in therapy makes it easier for you to recover and get the help you need. Therefore, ensure you attend every therapy session, even on days you do not feel like doing it. Your participation helps not only you but also the other members rely on you for support.
Sharing – sharing is an important part of your recovery when attending 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.
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Finding Group Therapy Meetings and Support Groups
Participations, responsibility and research are important components of your success while attending therapy. Take your time to check where you can get therapy from as an important first step towards rediscovering yourself and healing from your issue. Online tools can help you locate group inpatient and outpatient counselling sessions from organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA), cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducational groups and other forms of self-help.
If you are not in a position to attend an in-person therapy session, online therapy is also as effective. According to findings, at least 98% of people attending online group therapy show significant improvement in their mental health, with more than 70% of people dealing with depression showing a significant improvement from their symptoms. 94% of people prefer online therapy sessions compared to in-person meetups.
Online therapy, though unconventional, has gained popularity in the recent past, more so in this covid-19 period. Online meetings make it possible for people to get the help they need whether they are in New York or any other part of the world. This makes therapy convenient and accessible, making it easier for people to connect with others like them while miles apart. 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.
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Mensgroup
Unlike women, men find it hard to open up about the issues they face every day. Lack of a support system is one of the major causes of mental health issues in men. Men’s Group is an online group therapy platform that strives to offer group session support, guidance and help to men struggling with different life issues.
Mensgroup is a supportive network made up of men who are ready and willing to help others like them through sharing life experiences. Mensgroup different group activities and processes like stories sharing and reading as part of creating a bond amongst the members. The mensgroup.com group therapy 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 therapy is scary at first, but it should not be. To ease you into the process, you can join an online platform for group therapy meetings. Taking part in the group activities in group therapy 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. 5 Benefits of Group Therapy 2. Group Therapy and Mental Health 3. The efficacy of group psychotherapy for depression: a meta-analysis and review of the empirical research 4. Psychotherapy Guide: Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy 5. The Differential Effectiveness of Group Psychotherapy: A Meta-Analytic Perspective
