Group therapy involves one or more therapist who lead a group of roughly 6 to 12 members. Typically, groups meet for an hour or two each week. It is not unusual to attend individual therapy in addition to groups, all though some may participate in groups only.

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Many groups are designed to target a specific problem, such as depression, obesity, panic disorder, social anxiety, chronic pain or substance abuse. Other groups focus more generally on improving social skills, helping people deal with a range of issues such as anger, shyness, loneliness, social issues, grief, and low self-esteem.  

 

Benefits of Group Therapy: Joining a group of strangers may sound intimidating at first, but group therapy provides benefits that individual therapy may not. In fact, group members are almost always surprised by how rewarding the group experience can be in their lives.

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Groups can act as a support network and a sounding board. Other members of the group often help you come up with specific ideas for improving a difficult situation or life challenges, and hold you accountable along the way.

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Regularly talking and listening to others also helps you put your own problems in perspective. Many people experience difficulties, but few speak openly about them to people they don't know well. Oftentimes, you may feel like you are the only one struggling — but you're not. It can be a relief to hear others discuss what they're going through and realize you're not alone.

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Diversity is another important benefit of group therapy. People have different personalities and backgrounds, and they look at situations in different ways. By seeing how other people tackle problems and make positive changes, you can discover a whole range of strategies for facing your own concerns.

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