Group Therapies

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Psychotherapy can take shape in many different forms, and while many of us are familiar with one-on-one therapy, we often underestimate the power that group therapy can have, by connecting us with like-minded people who are working through similar difficulties as us. While joining together with a group of people you don’t know may appear daunting at first, many people are surprised by how rewarding it can be, as it can provide many advantages that individual therapy may not:

• Groups can often act as a support network and a sounding board. Other group members may help you to come up with different ideas for improving a difficult situation or life challenge, and check in with you along the way.
• Regularly talking and listening to others can help you to realise that there are others in the same boat. While most people experience difficulties at some time in their lives, many struggle to speak openly about them to others. It can be a relief to hear others talk about what they're going through, and realise that you're not alone.
• Group therapy is a great way to gain awareness of how other people may look at situations with different perspectives, depending on their personality and background. By learning how other people tackle problems and make positive changes, you may discover new skills and strategies to use in your own life.
• Group therapy is a great environment to help you to develop communication, problem-solving and socialisation skills. The therapy sessions are led by a psychologist who may teach strategies for managing specific problems, and being in a group can often provide the opportunity to practice these skills with others to recreate real-world contexts.

Studies have shown that group therapy is highly effective for a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, bullying, emotional trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among many others. 

Some group therapies may target issues with specific groups such as parents, siblings, childrens or teens, and others may focus on teaching specific skills, such as emotion regulation through Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, or emotional skills for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder through the Westmead Feelings Programme. 

To find out if group therapy might be beneficial for you, contact one of our clinics here.