Group Therapy

Group therapy can be a powerful way to learn and grow as an individual. Group therapy is commonly utilized in higher levels of care, such as inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs, however it is very powerful also as a standalone option or a supplement to individual therapy. 

Group therapy may be focused on a particular diagnosis, such as anxiety or addiction. It may be focused on a specific event, such as the holidays or the new year. It may also be tailored to a specific demographic, such as high school seniors preparing for transition to college next year.

Here at Healing & Growth Counseling we offer groups to individuals who are interested in supplementing their individual therapy with one of our clinicians or a clinician outside of our practice, as well as to those who prefer a group as their main source of therapy and/or support.
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What are some benefits to group therapy?

Group therapy can be an excellent supplement to the work you are already doing in individual therapy. It can also be a great standalone treatment for someone who has a specific focus for their mental health needs that can be met in a group setting (and if you can find a group with that specific topic!).
Here are some benefits to group therapy:
-Connection & Community
-Combat Loneliness
-Learn
-Support
Read on for more details about each of the above areas of benefit:

Connection & Community

Groups are commonly held to focus on specific topics in mental health, such as recovery from addiction, coping with anxiety, or infertility. Signing up for a group that has a specific topic that you identify with ensures that others who join the group will have some similarities with you. Group leaders typically will screen each candidate before entering the group, so that they can be sure that everyone joining the group would benefit. Participation in a group experience allows and encourages members to connect and share with one another, forming a community or family feel to the meeting. 

Combat Loneliness

Mental health concerns can lead to loneliness. Although the stigma of mental health has greatly reduced in recent times, discussing the topic of mental health in our society is still often seen as taboo and therefore is kept private. Joining a group therapy experience can help one to not feel alone in their concerns and struggles, as others in the group are experiencing similar concerns. Not feeling alone can provide hope that one can heal and overcome obstacles, reaching their goals. Witnessing fellow group members make progress can be inspirational and encouraging.

Learn

Learning occurs in all kinds of therapy: individual, couples, family, and group. Group therapy is particularly helpful in the area of learning due to the number of supportive people that are in the group. Group facilitators may teach grounding, coping, or communication skills during group meetings, which is wonderful. However, what is even richer is that fellow group members will share their experiences in using the skills. Other group members may reflect on their incorporation of coping skills between sessions, and provide ideas for how you may be able to better incorporate the skills. As a person shares about their struggles during the group meeting, they have the opportunity to receive feedback not only from the therapist, but also from other group members. This can help provide many different perspectives in a short amount of time!

Support

Support is a key promoter in making progress towards goals and achieving goals in life. Support helps to promote confidence and courage in making healthy changes. Many group participants reflect on their time in group therapy stating that their group members felt like a family to them, feeling that the other group members had their back and were there during some of their toughest moments, giving them hope that things will improve and feedback that helped them to make important changes in their lives. You can find a lot of wonderful support in group therapy!

How does group therapy work?

If you are interested in attending one of our therapy groups, you can reach out through our Contact Form or by calling us to start the process. The intake coordinator will ask you a series of questions to help evaluate whether the group would be a good fit for you. They will also allow you to ask any questions you have about the group so that you can make an informed decision about attending.

Therapy groups are facilitated by a mental health professional. The group leader may introduce topics and ideas in the group, and then help the group members navigate a conversation and sharing about the topic. The group facilitator's role is to help the group stay balanced, safe, comfortable enough, and moving forward.

When attending therapy groups, there is agreement amongst all group members that any information shared will be held confidential - "what is said in group stays in group". This rule allows all group members to feel more comfortable sharing openly and honestly.

Should I join an online group or an in person group?

Group therapy can be very effective whether you join online or in person. There may be factors that lead to one option being an obvious choice. It may also come down to personal preferences. It may also be determined by which type is offered on the topic that you are interested in. Here we will describe each method and some things to consider when making your decision:

Online Group Therapy

Online group therapy is a great opportunity for people to join together from across the state of New York to support one another and work towards healing and growth in their lives. There are several advantages to attending online therapy and online group therapy, including:
  • Participating in group therapy from the comfort of your home or office - We often feel most comfortable in spaces that we are familiar with and perhaps even those spaces in which we created the comfort. You are even able to join from different places each time you attend a meeting, as long as the space you are in is confidential.
  • Not having to travel to the office for group meetings - This means that there is no worry about traffic, bad weather, or a work call running late.
  • Being able to join in group therapy with people from further away - Online group therapy decreases the chance that there will be people in the group that you know personally. This may help you to feel more comfortable sharing and being open with others in the group.
  • Ability to find a group that is tailored to your needs - Group therapy is often not a primary offering at practices. This can make it difficult to find a group offering that fits what you are looking for. Joining an online therapy group an allow you to find a group that you feel is a great fit - a topic that matches well with your goals, a clinician that you feel can help, and participants who you feel will be supportive of your healing and growth.

In Person Group Therapy

In-person group therapy is available in our Massapequa Park office location. In-person group therapy is a great way for members of a community to come together and support one another through their journey to achieve their goals. There are some excellent benefits to joining an in-person group:
  • Having a separate space that is safe and comfortable for therapy work - Being able to take a step away from the usual locations that you go to in your daily life can help to represent the time you are taking to work on yourself. It can also help you to feel grounded and centered, as your home or office space may trigger anxiety or stress.
  • Joining with people of a local community - Attending in-person group therapy ensures that others who are in the same group will be from the local area. This may help you to discuss stressors and conditions that are specific to the local community. It can also help for group members to make suggestions of local places that may help to support the work being done in group therapy meetings. An example of this is that group members may suggest a local park that has a great walking path for practicing mindfulness.

Current Groups Running at Healing & Growth Counseling

Read on to learn more about the current groups in our practice!

Empty Nester Support Group for Women

Interested in learning more? Click here.

Interested in Signing Up for a Group?

Call us at (516) 406-8991 or fill out our Contact Form.