Top Ten Reasons Why Group Therapy Might Rock For You!

By Susan Flynn, PhD, LCSW, CASAC

Group Therapy is a collaborative form of healing that provides support and direction for people dealing with similar if not exact issues, and an instant community of people who really know what it’s like to be in our shoes.

Though the idea of sharing our innermost thoughts and fears in front of strangers may seem intimidating and overwhelming for some, the experience of Groups in actuality is usually one of camaraderie, instant identification and intimacy.

It "takes a village" to lift a person out of the darkness that comes from illness, abuse, addiction or neglect. Click to tweet this.

I wholeheartedly believe in the magic of Group healing because I have witnessed its potency firsthand in the Group Therapy work.   

I’ve watched newcomers enter a group depressed, isolated, unhappy, hopeless and full of self-sabotage. I’ve seen these people leave Group Work with a renewed sense of self and a hopeful outlook on life. Old messages of stigma, shame and fear, are melted away through support from others who have experienced the same life challenges.

Here are the Top 10 Benefits of Group Therapy:

1.      Instant support network where we get the identification, empathy and understanding we need to get better.

2.      Groups provide a safe place for venting, blowing steam and releasing the tension of “keeping it together”.

3.      Group members can nudge you to take forwarding actions by challenging you (“You can do it!”) and inspiring you by personal example ("If he/she can do it...so can I!").

4.      Groups promote social skills by re-engaging you with other people and allowing you to practice new behaviors in the safety of therapeutic environment.

5.      Groups can help you learn about yourself. You get to see yourself through others’ eyes or get a chance to see yourself in the mirror of others’ behavior.

6.      End isolation. Struggling often leads to loneliness. Those who are not dealing with the same challenge won’t get us, we feel—so we withdraw. When we hear others share about similar struggles we no longer feel alone.

7.      An experienced and trained professional therapist, who will provide scientifically proven structure, strategies, tools and interventions.

8.      Accountability. It’s easy to go back on your decisions when no one knows about them. When you share your determination in a group, you are more likely to stick to the plan.

9.      Specific solutions for resolving or improving a difficult situation can come from the facilitator or from group members. One thing is for sure—ten heads are better than one!

10.  Diversity of personal backgrounds, demographics and life philosophies can give us a different perspective on things or generate solutions that we wouldn’t otherwise think of.

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Manhattan MFT is delighted to launch two new support groups: Cancer Survivor Support Group and Self-Compassion and Self-Esteem Support Group. To find out about these and other Support Groups held at Manhattan MFT, please visit our Group Therapy section.

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