Group Therapy

Group Therapy- Benefits, Types and Activities

Group therapy is a form of therapy that involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time. A circle created to pour your hearts out without any judgement, is group therapy. People sitting in a circle and talking about their problems without the fear of judgement? Yes, that is a close idea about group therapy. 

Benefits of Group Therapy

1. Group therapy provides a social atmosphere similar to real life
2. It is cost-effective hence making it accessible to people with low income
3. It inculcates a sense of relief in the individual by assuring them of the fact that they aren’t alone. 
4. Participants get to learn from everyone’s individual experiences. 
5. Group Therapy decreases the feeling of loneliness and isolation

TYPES OF GROUP THERAPY 

Groups can vary according to specific types of problems.

Some of them being:

Self-help group Therapy

Guiding others when you have overcome the problem is the motive of this therapy. Benefiting others from your experience and  helping them overcome. Some examples of self-help groups can be self-help groups for alcohol dependence or self-help groups for parents with handicapped children.

 A therapy for the addict people to  overcome that addiction. In these therapy groups, recovering addicts gather to encourage one another and work through recovery programs and channels Some attendants are sometimes yet to get clean while others have been sober for years. Some groups include 12-step programs and sponsors to aid in recovery.

When a loved one dies, the event can leave people feeling lost and alone. Helping each other in a group in those hard times. For example, a session may specifically help parents who lost children or surviving spouses.

Counseling Group Therapy

These groups focus on interpersonal strategies to help people resolve the usual, yet often difficult, problems of life. The primary task in the group is accomplished by the participants supporting and challenging each other in self-exploration. The group leader acts as a facilitator more than a mentor, leading the group through a series of developmental stages. Some examples of counselling groups are groups for those coping with divorce or groups for those navigating the transition to retirement.

Psychoeducational Group Therapy

This group therapy focuses on developing group members’ thinking, feeling, and behaviour through a structured learning format within and across group sessions. People that attend psychoeducational group therapy are often high-functioning but have information lacking in a certain area, such as parenting skills or assertiveness. The group leader is a bit like a teacher in addition to a facilitator as he or she provides factual information, leads discussions and helps group members incorporate the information into their lives through skill-building exercises. In addition to parenting skills groups and assertiveness training, other examples of psychoeducational groups are stress management groups and caregiver training

Some Activities that can be done during Group Therapy:

1. Friendship Mural

This is an activity where friendship acts as an aid. Here children draw pictures, celebrating different cultures and  leaving  a message. 

1. Treasure Map

On a piece of paper, label one corner, "The beginning" and another corner, "Success."  Draw a windy path between the two points.  Using collage materials, create stations along the path with creative titles, such as "Crossing the desert of loneliness", "Climbing the mountain of determination,"etc.

1. Inner Child

Imagine  yourself as a child and give everything  that you need. Give your child the  right care, understanding, supporting and  nurturing parent.

4..  My Perfect Life

 Take a paper and pen down the dream which  you want  to accomplish. That dream  home, job, relationship and achievement. Turn your paper over and write three steps that will help you accomplish this.

  If you think someone is at immediate risk of self-harm or hurting another person:

• Call local emergency number.

• Try the Jeevan Aastha Helpline at 1800 233 3330 

(disclaimer: GoodLives is not a suicide prevention helpline)

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