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Why is  group therapy 
SO powerful? 


When Sofia* attended her group therapy session for the first time, she came in full of trepidation. She wasn’t really sure how it would go or if she even wanted to be there. She’d been in one-on-one counseling for more than a year dealing with the underlying issues causing her chronic anxiety and that had been going pretty well.

But her therapist had suggested this group three times and she finally took her up on the offer.

Within 30 minutes of being in the room, she saw why her counselor had kept offering the group option. She heard others share stories similar to hers, and more importantly she heard them describe how they were feeling and coping. The feelings were like hers–anger, racing thoughts, stomach upset. She felt seen and she felt normal. That was a first for her.

We’ve had plenty of people share natural resistance when we offer group therapy.

Common themes are something like:

  • I want to work on my own problems, not hear about other people’s issues.
  • It would be too vulnerable to talk about this in a group.
  • What if I don’t like the people in the group? What if they don’t like me?

These normal fears and concerns are overcome quickly when most people actually get involved in a group. There is some healing that can only happen in a group setting.

Some of that healing comes because:

  • People realize they are not alone. 
  • The group provides normalization. People who once thought they were the only one who felt as they did are shocked and surprised to hear their feelings coming out of someone else's mouth.
  • So, even if a therapist has been telling them so for a long time, they feel for the first time–in their bones–“Nothing is wrong with me.”

Research shows that women in groups release more serotonin. So as they experience this “feel good” hormone, they are happier, develop better ways to cope with anxiety, and have better mood, sleep, and digestion.
People in groups build a support system. We live in a society that often promotes isolation, “doom scrolling,” or watching TV or eating in order to deal with difficult feelings. Having a group that helps break those patterns can cause a lifetime increase in mental health.

In short, group therapy can provide immense benefits for those struggling with mental health issues, addictions, and trauma. Group settings allow members to feel less alone in their struggles, build a community of support, and learn from shared experiences. That’s why we consistently offer a variety of group options at Insight Counseling and Wellness Center.

*Name changed for privacy.

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