Group Therapy For Personal Growth And Development

By Rosella Campbell


Many times individuals come to counseling with feelings of guilt and shame because they feel like they are alone in their struggles. Hearing the voices of others with similar stories can alleviate some of those anxieties. Group therapy is an excellent tool for individuals to engage in when they are in need of help overcoming personal challenges. It can be helpful to recovery to hear stories of other people who are experiencing the same struggles

In many ways, speaking in a group of people can be liberating as it helps the individual to feel as if they are not alone. Hearing other stories not only helps the person feel less stigmatized, but can also erase fear they may feel in telling their own story. In a group setting, members are often at different stages of recovery or self actualization. Hearing coping strategies, behavior changes and challenges that were faced by others can provide valuable insight into ones own life pattern.

A small group of not more than twelve individuals provides an atmosphere of intimacy that is not often seen in groups with more members. Their are various topics that can be the focus. Many times the original topic will open up other barriers to happiness. Individuals come together with a common theme that may include the loss of a loved one, divorce, sexuality issues or social skills.

All mental health groups should have a facilitator who is trained in counseling to guide them. The counselor expands their role as an individual counselor into the group setting. It is the job of the facilitator to keep each member on topic, ensure that no one monopolizes the session, and confront anyone who is not being open with themselves.

Establishing an atmosphere of trust with each member of the group is extremely important. The facilitator's role is to create an atmosphere that is safe and welcoming to share intimate details about ones experiences. One key component of running a successful group is to stress the importance of confidentiality. Each member must agree to keep everything that is said in session confidential and not share with anyone outside of the people who are in session. Breaking this rule often results in immediate dismissal.

Counselors who facilitate groups are trained as mental health professionals. These professionals have had years of schooling focused on understanding behaviors. They are given tools that will help them challenge difficult behaviors and use reflective listening as a way of guiding clients to make healthy choices.

Different from individual counseling, in a setting with multiple people counselors must have the ability to confront members who are out of line, diffuse stressful situations, and keep the group cohesive. Also very important is to ensure that each member gets an equal amount of talk time and that no one member is dominating conversation.

Tulsa, OK and many other locations offer this type of counseling. Individuals must be willing to open up about their own struggles if they expect to gain success. Equally important is the desire to provide insight that may help other members.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment