Everyone deals with groups (our families, our colleagues, our friends) and we all have challenges in relating to some folks in our lives. Sometimes we want to relate to others in a more genuine way or increase our authenticity with others. Some of us want to have better boundaries. Others want to understand their feelings better and be able to share them with others. Some folks want to learn to be more assertive. Group experiences with a watchful group therapist can help with these types of issues.
There are a number of ways that group is different than individual therapy:
Group psychotherapy, like individual, is for people who would like to improve their ability to cope with difficulties and problems in their lives. Group therapy focuses on interpersonal interactions, so relationship problems are addressed well in groups. The aim of group psychotherapy is to help with solving emotional difficulties and to encourage the personal development of the participants in the group. The therapist chooses as candidates for the group people who can benefit from this kind of therapy and those who may have a useful influence on other members in the group.
In considering a therapist for group, make sure he or she is also qualified to lead group psychotherapy. The National Registry of Certified Group Psychotherapists certifies group therapists by the designation "CGP," which means the therapist has received specialized training in group therapy. You can learn more about group psychotherapy from the American Group Psychotherapy Association.
More information about group work is available at the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) website or as a PDF. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that group therapy is gaining in popularity and research has shown it to be very effective.
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