Benefits of Group Therapy
If you have heard of group therapy to manage your mental health, then you might be wondering whether it's something that could benefit you. Individual therapy, something that has been lauded for years because being able to discuss your issues and feelings with the one to one therapist can be quite helpful to get yourself back on track. Group therapy involves way more than just one therapist. Sometimes you could work with a group of therapists, or you could work with a small group of people who are dealing with issues just like you are.
It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. You may have spent time with online psychotherapy appointments to help you with your mental health but found it was quite isolating. Group therapy with other people who are dealing with similar issues can give you a sense of belonging. If you're on the fence about trying group therapy to manage your mental health, let's take a look at how it can benefit you in ways beyond your diagnosis.
You might realize that you're not alone. Mental health issues can make you feel like you're sinking into a void. They call it the black dog for a reason, and it can make you feel very isolated and very alone because your brain convinces you that nobody wants to be around you. A big part of group therapy is recognizing that there are others struggling too. And while it's not quite nice that you're all struggling, it's nice to know that there are others out there who feel the same way that you do. It also means that you can gain support from more than just the therapist. Being able to watch other people share their progress can make you feel encouraged, and it can make you feel like there is light at the end of your tunnel too.
Group therapy facilitates support. When it comes to giving and receiving support from others, group therapy can help you with that. When you feel good about helping somebody else or you feel heard in yourself, your brain releases a nice healthy dose of dopamine. This feel good chemical is a messenger to your body to tell you that things are going well. Group therapy can be helpful to expose you to a lot of discomfort, but you gain interaction from others and you can hear about others' lived experiences and things that have worked for them. When others talk about their feelings and their emotions in a group setting, you're able to offer some support as well as receive it for your own issues.
You can find your voice. It may not be something that you're used to, and it can be very difficult to look within yourself and talk about yourself when you don't feel worthy enough to. But when you connect with other group members, you'll be able to articulate your own feelings as they happen in a way that you haven't been able to before. Not only will this make you feel better supported, but it can help you to build your confidence. This leads to a feeling of empowerment for you to work towards a positive change.
