Group Counseling

Group counseling is a type of counseling where a group of 5-10 people gathers regularly for an hour or so to discuss and work through a particular issue. This group is guided by a trained therapist with a specialty in whatever issue the group is working through.

These groups typically meet weekly for a few months, but sometimes they can run for much longer; they can be open or closed, meaning that they sometimes admit new members into the group if they’re open, but closed groups function as a cohort, walking together over a set period without admitting others.

The trained therapist guides the group using effective and attested therapeutic techniques to help the group develop the skill set they need to address their issue. They will ask questions to individuals in the group, or the group, creating room for people to express themselves and reflect on what is being shared. With interaction between the group members, they share their unique perspectives and stories, which has many benefits in forging good group dynamics.

Group counseling can function as an alternative or supplement to individual counseling. Depending on the concerns you have and the dynamics you’re comfortable with, group counseling may be the perfect option for you to explore your concerns and bring about beneficial and lasting change in your life.

Group counseling can function as an alternative or to supplement individual counseling. Many of the issues that are tackled using individual counseling can similarly be addressed using group counseling. Group counseling can thus function as an additional resource and space to supplement individual counseling.

For example, if you’re struggling with your social skills, group therapy can be an opportunity to practice interacting with others using techniques taught by your therapist in individual counseling sessions. Several focus areas that can be dealt with in group counseling include:

• Mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety
• Anger issues
• Dealing with loss and grief
• Chronic pain
• Sex addiction, including addiction to pornography
• Panic disorder
• Trauma and trauma-related disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Shyness, low self-esteem, and loneliness
• Help in developing social skills
• Substance abuse and addiction, which includes alcohol, opioids, and narcotics
• Relationship issues such as couples issues or divorce
• Obesity

As noted earlier, group counseling often works as a supplement to individual counseling, but it is also a viable alternative to it. Lasting benefit can be obtained from either form of counseling, but each has certain advantages over the other. One area that both forms of counseling are similar is that they are led by a trained therapist.

Group sessions are guided by someone trained in the focus area of the group as well as in handling group dynamics. For instance, if the focus of the group is to address pornography or sex addiction, the therapist who leads the group will likely be a certified sexual addiction therapist.

As such, they have the expertise to lead the group constructively, meaning that a member of the group can benefit from the wisdom of the group as well as their therapist. In individual counseling, the therapist is similarly trained to create a safe space for their client and has the tools needed to guide them well.

Some of the advantages that are specific to group counseling include:

Maintaining accountability and building relationships

If you are a believer and the group is intentionally composed of believers with similar struggles, that may provide encouragement and be just what you need to overcome your challenges.

When you meet with a group of people regularly, it’s altogether possible that you can develop meaningful relationships within that group. Sharing similar experiences can be the starting point to developing healthy relationships within the group.In group sessions, people often share their challenges, goals, and setbacks on the path to achieving those goals.

Your group members can hold you accountable to meet those goals, in addition to encouraging you when you’re facing obstacles. Because these are people with similar struggles, the advice, encouragement, or challenge they offer has a depth of meaning it wouldn’t have, coming from any other quarter.

An opportunity to contribute

In group counseling, part of the setup is that group members share openly what they’re going through, and there is room for interaction. The situation creates an opportunity for you to receive and give ideas as well as support within the group.In as much as you’re there to gain and grow from the experience, you also have the opportunity in group counseling to share pieces of yourself and the work God is doing in you with others, and it can encourage them on their own journey.

Group counseling provides the members with an opportunity to give one another perspective, accountability, and to be a source of strength and encouragement too. Even while we’re struggling with our own issues and questions, we can still bless others around us.

A sounding board

In life, having people you can trade ideas and share concerns with is important.Proverbs 15:22 reads, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” The group can function as guides and a repository of knowledge for you because they have probably experienced what you’re going through, or tried what you are planning to try, making them a valuable resource to draw and benefit from.

Because of this, the group can function for you as a sounding board for ideas, to assess what could work for you and what might be most helpful for you. You don’t need to stumble around in the dark when you have people around you that you can strive alongside and learn from.

A different outlook

In group counseling, the groups can be open or closed. Regardless, groups are typically diverse being composed of people with different life experiences and coming from diverse backgrounds. You may find in any one group there will be different perspectives on any given question or issue.

Not only will you find people who share similar experiences to your own, but you may find different ways of addressing little similar situations. Learning that there are different ways to address one situation will expand your horizons and challenge your way of looking at things.

When you are facing difficulties, it can be overwhelming, and you can develop tunnel vision. Sharing your problems or concerns with a group will help you not only in articulating the issue but in inviting the reflections of others which can help you to see things differently.

When deciding whether group counseling is for you, there are several considerations to make, including availability and whether you feel comfortable going through your journey with a group of people. Group counseling has the advantages outlined above, but it is also often less expensive than individual counseling.

You may not receive the exclusive attention of your therapist, but there are other benefits that you gain. Christian group counseling will make use of well-attested therapeutic techniques while grounding the experience in the compassion, promises, and desire for holistic health that Jesus Christ has for people.

To get started with group counseling, you can enqu

ire about groups from our reception or browse the directory for counselors who specialize in group counseling for the concern you have.