About Group Therapy
A Reflection of Blind Spots
Have you ever noticed that you can’t see the back of your own neck without a mirror?
Group therapy is a great mirror for people who are open to giving and receiving feedback on blind spots that might be getting in the way of living your best life.
What makes Group Therapy different from Individual Therapy?
Group therapy provides the benefit of being a social microcosm. You can experiment in the safe environment of Group ways of being that might help you "out in the world."
You realize you are not alone.
Your situation is unique of course, but so often we feel like we are the only one suffering, that no one else could possibly understand the shame or pain or grief of our lives.
When you feel stuck in a rut, hearing how other people cope when navigating troubled waters can give you ideas that you can try out in your own life. This can help get you unstuck and unhooked from habitual relationship patterns that get in the way.
Feedback from other group members helps you develop a more accurate understanding of yourself and the way your patterns and expectations impact your relationships both in and out of group.
The group environment is especially useful to strengthen your ability to handle conflict and confrontation in the moment.
Group therapy is like a gym.
You exercise emotional muscles and gain strength in all your interpersonal interactions. In effect, you are each other’s trainers.
That's the beauty – the group itself is the Mothership.
I guide and facilitate, but you lead. You benefit not only from your therapist, but improve by observing and participating in the group as a whole. A variety of perspectives can serve to open the field of possibilities in your mind.
Joining a group for the first time can be an intimidating prospect.
"I’m supposed to reveal private things to strangers?"
Know that, together, we create an atmosphere of respect, honesty, and productive feedback.
In my experience, the barrier of sharing personal details with strangers dissipates steadily as strangers in the group become valued allies in healing and growing, both personally and in your relationships.
The world is often not a very comfortable place to be!
The idea is not to wait to feel comfortable before making changes.
Group Therapy helps you learn to tolerate being uncomfortable, so you can learn to take chances in order to become more comfortable.
Groups usually have 6-8 group members and are a valuable adjunct to individual therapy.
Give yourself the gift of connection, support, and healing.
I am currently forming two groups. The first is an Interpersonal Group for men and women; the second is a Trauma Recovery Group for Women for women only.
Drop me an email at dlewincounseling@gmail.com
or
call me at (585) 591-6940.