Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where one or more trained therapists work with several clients together in a group setting. Rather than being a one-on-one experience, group therapy brings people with similar struggles together to support each other, learn coping strategies, and grow emotionally and socially.
Group therapy is designed to help people :
Focus : Teaching about specific mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD) and coping mechanisms.
Structure : Curriculum-based with discussions.
Focus : Sharing experiences and mutual support for specific issues (e.g., grief, addiction, chronic illness).
Structure : Often peer-led or lightly facilitated.
Focus : Understanding how individuals relate to others and exploring relationship dynamics.
Structure : Insight-based, with deep emotional processing.
Focus : Identifying and changing negative thinking patterns and behaviors.
Structure : Structured sessions with practical exercises.
Focus : Building specific psychological skills (e.g., emotional regulation, mindfulness, communication).
Example : DBT skills groups (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).
Focus : Deep exploration of unconscious processes, emotional patterns, and inner conflicts.
Structure : Loosely structured, often open-ended.