Catherine Selth Spayd, Ph.D., P.C.
Licensed Psychologist
An Introduction to Group Psychotherapy
What is Group
Psychotherapy and How Does It Work?
Group psychotherapy is a psychological intervention that uses
discussion between a cohesive group of people as the primary
healing force. Sharing psychological concerns with people of
similar backgrounds, and getting their feedback and advice, can
be a very helpful and cost - effective alternative or supplement
to individual psychotherapy. This is because these peers are
speaking from their own experience, with the honesty and depth
that goes with sharing similar struggles. Another valuable
contribution of group therapy is receiving multiple perspectives
on a situation from people who have come to know you well - a
version of the old saying that "two heads are better than
one." Additionally, group psychotherapy works by focusing
simultaneously on two different levels.
A) Content:
the topics the group members choose to discuss.
B) Process: the way in which
group members interact, which is representative of how they
interact
with others in the world.
Group Psychotherapy differs from a group of friends
talking in several important ways.
1. The leader is a mental health professional
trained in group therapy interventions, who serves
as a facilitator with the primary goal of making the group a safe
place for all members.
2. There are agreements of confidentiality and
other group rules which are endorsed by all
members before joining the group, which help achieve this sense
of safety.
3. Members are encouraged to look at their own
interpersonal styles, and get honest, helpful
feedback from peers regarding how they interact with, and are
perceived by others.
4. Group members have no prior history or
connections with each other, so they are often more
able to provide objective feedback about a situation than a
friend can.
Other Practical Information
· Group Psychotherapy Sessions are held on
Tuesdays, from 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. Group promptly begins at 7:30.
· Members are asked to make a commitment to the
group for an 8 -week block of sessions at a time. Repeated blocks
are permitted, with mutual agreement of the member and the leader.
· The group fee is $40.00 per 75 minute
session, payable at the end of each session unless alternative
arrangements are made in advance. Receipts are provided.
Responses to Common Concerns about Group Psychotherapy
· I'm uncomfortable about sharing my problems in front
of strangers.
This is a very common reaction when one first thinks about
joining a group. Of course, the other
group members are thinking the same thing. Sharing personal,
often painful information can feel
like a big risk - that is why such a strong emphasis is placed on
the establishment of trust
within the group. Members are not pushed to speak before they
feel ready. However, most members find they have much in common
with others, and soon feel comfortable sharing these similarities.
· What if other group members "blab" about my
problems around town?
The beauty of a group - wide confidentiality policy is that all
members share a commitment to keep
what's said (and even who's) in the room within the room. The
bond that then develops between
group members allows each participant the freedom to share
information that he/she typically
would not risk sharing. Confidentiality is taken very seriously,
since each member benefits from
the trust thus established.
· No - one will understand my problem.
Again, many people share this belief. However, it is surprising
how often group members find that
they share similar feelings and thoughts, and sometimes even very
similar life circumstances. It
can be quite therapeutic to discover you are not alone in living
through some of these
experiences, and that someone does, indeed, understand.