Group Therapy

What is Group THerapy?

Group therapy is a transformative experience where individuals commit to regular sessions over a period of time, typically 6 months to several years. These sessions, often held weekly for 60-90 minutes, provide a supportive environment where participants can openly discuss their struggles and joys in relationships. Whether sitting in a circle in person or using Zoom in gallery view, group therapy emphasizes the importance of taking up space and sharing your experiences.

The concept of group therapy gained momentum after World War II, as veterans and Holocaust survivors discovered the profound healing that occurred when they connected with others who understood their pain. While each individual’s pain was unique, the shared human experience fostered a sense of unity and healing, reminding us of the incredible capacity for groups to provide comfort and support.

Group Roles

In a process group, you may find yourself taking on certain roles that often trace back to your family of origin. Over time, you’ll be invited to reflect on which roles serve you and which don’t, helping you grow skills for more secure and meaningful relationships. You’ll practice receiving and giving feedback in a secure manner, working towards greater vulnerability and deeper connections with your group members. Although the work can be challenging and vulnerable, it is incredibly rewarding, particularly for healing attachment wounds.

Group therapy allows for exploration of various roles, such as the peacemaker, the clown, the problem child, the perfectionist, and more. For instance, if you were the peacemaker in your family, you might continue to take on that role in group settings, sometimes to the detriment of forming meaningful connections. While peacemaking can be valuable, it can also prevent necessary conflicts from surfacing and being resolved, which are crucial for deeper healing and repair.

The Power of THERAPY Group: Healing together

Therapy groups offer a unique space to address unconscious or unspoken dynamics in a proactive manner. Unlike other groups, such as religious or sports communities, therapy groups encourage active exploration of impacts and feedback. This allows for a deeper understanding of behaviors and enhances the safety and shared healing within the group.

If you are more curious about the benefits of group psychotherapy, please check out Austin Group Psychotherapy Association for more information. Embrace the power of group therapy and discover the healing potential of shared experiences.

Logistics:

Participation requires at least 3 intake sessions for screening and evaluating goodness of fit.

My Group Experience

I got my first taste of running clinical groups with Con Mi Madre, working with young latinx girls to help them with barriers to accessing higher education. I then had experiences with Seton Shoal Creek subbing for groups in-patient where I focused on mindfulness skills as part of a DBT-focus. I’ve been a participant for almost 10 years with my own process group (all participants are other therapists) with Katharine Barnhill, LCSW, CGP and continue consultation with Patricia Florence, LCSW, CGP regularly, both experiences I view as essential for running the process groups I now have in my private practice. I’m also in process of getting my Certified Group Psychotherapy credentials and am actively engaged with the AGPS community here in Austin.

I love the work of leading group therapy. I think it is one of the most powerful tools personally and professionally to deepen the interpersonal work that inevitably pops up for us existing in a world full of other people. Whether we struggle with social isolation or cause our own social isolation, working on connection is truly the path that will lead us to a better future.