The idea of group counselling or therapy may appear to be intrusive. The thought of discussing your weaknesses in front of strangers may seem like an invasion of privacy. However the benefits of working with other people with similar challenges has more benefits than disadvantages.
Importance of group sessions
Group sessions are typically led by 2 or more psychologists depending on the group size. The client gets to see their issue from the perspective of others and the professional perspective of more than one mental health specialist. This is despite the fact that group therapy costs less than individual counseling sessions. This provides an opportunity to save money as well as to interact with others (Shechtman, 2017).
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Group therapy helps one uncover more information about oneself faster than individual counseling. This is because the group set up encourages input from everyone. This input from strangers can provide information that was previously hidden in the subconscious. The accelerated progress leads to better management of the problem and resolving of issues within a shorter time. The input from other individuals will also help in the discovery of mistakes made in interactions with significant others. This is because the other views will show a different perspective on life. A person is often motivated to put in more effort when they are in a group setting. This is because one begins to feel like they will be held accountable to a larger number of people. This is unlike in the individual setting where a person may feel comfortable moving at their own pace because apart from the therapist or psychologist, no one else will be monitoring their progress (Fehr, 2016).
Group sessions also present a suitable environment for the development of social skills. The back and forth interactions between members of the group will lead to an enhanced approach to dealing with people of diverse personalities. By observing which actions elicit negative or positive results, a person can develop their internal mechanisms to generate reactions. Helping others to solve their problems is also a way of personally developing oneself. It boasts one's self-confidence and gives one the courage to face everyday challenges that may have seemed to be overwhelming (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016).
More support is offered within a group setting than within an individual group setting. This provides the members with a sense of belonging that enhances the recovery process. A person feels that they can present their issues here without fear of judgment or discrimination. These interactions also lessen the weight of isolation as a person feels that they share their struggles with other people. Validation of one's conditions helps in the process of growth and development, and a sense of understanding help the more reserved clients to open up. The interactions also encourage network formation. These networks could benefit a person in their future interactions outside the counseling setup. This includes getting contacts that could help a person form partnerships in business and other areas of their life (Chen & Rybak, 2017).
The overall benefit of group therapy and counseling can be utilized through active participation. Since this is the initial objective of counseling, the group setting provides the ultimate platform to realize this. Thus it becomes a place where each person has an opportunity to air their views as well as get help for their situation. In conclusion, group therapy gives a person support and a sense of belonging. It also helps in the social development and learning to deal with others. Finally, group therapy accelerates the rate of individual progress through the diversification of ideas and views. Group therapy is becoming the help of choice because it provides additional benefits compared to individual therapy.
References
Capuzzi, D., " Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions . John Wiley " Sons.
Chen, M. W., " Rybak, C. (2017). Group leadership skills: Interpersonal process in group counseling and therapy . SAGE Publications.
Fehr, S. S. (2016). 101 interventions in group therapy . Routledge.
Shechtman, Z. (2017). Group counseling and psychotherapy with children and adolescents: Theory, research, and practice . Routledge.
