Transformative Connections: The Power & Benefits Of Group Therapy

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When life’s stresses feel like they are weighing too heavily on your shoulders, it’s important to seek help. Understanding the connection between emotions and behaviors is essential when you are struggling. While individual therapy offers clear benefits, group therapy may provide unique advantages for your overall life experience. Group therapy offers the unique ability to share your struggles with others in a judgment-free zone. Practicing this over time is a helpful tool for challenging negative self-beliefs and will eventually lead you into a safer relationship with yourself.

How Does Group Therapy Work?

First, any form of therapy to better manage your mental health is already a win for your personal growth. Taking care of your mind involves finding approaches that resonate, so it’s crucial to assess your options to understand what will help you most. Individual therapy occurs in a focused one-on-one setting, while group therapy is conducted with multiple participants. The sessions are led by one or more healthcare professionals who initiate topics on mental health struggles. This opens up the conversation to anyone who wants to share their feelings and struggles

Who Should Go To Group Therapy?

If you find yourself stuck in a negative mindset, struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health challenges, then group therapy may be for you. As you regularly engage in a judgment-free space and share your deepest struggles, you will begin to live more freely. The shackles of self-doubt that once trapped you begin to break, and the clouds of negative thoughts begin to part.

Benefits Of Group Therapy

While group therapy may seem intimidating, its benefits are hard to overlook. Because of the engaging nature of each session, group therapy is proven to help individuals in several ways.

Reduces Isolation

One of the biggest beliefs that keep people stuck in their struggles is feeling like they are alone with those struggles. When people hear that others are struggling in similar ways, their feelings of isolation decrease. What was once a lonely and confusing space opens up as others are welcomed. This is a powerful strategy for overcoming any mental health struggle. By normalizing the feelings and fears that keep people hidden, they no longer have the power to cause isolation.

Peer Support & Feedback

While people share their thoughts and feelings in a group therapy setting, they gain support and feedback. The group setting allows for a more rounded perspective as multiple people can share their thoughts. This approach contrasts with individual sessions where you only hear from your therapist. Having others respond to your experience will clarify what influences your feelings and beliefs. And as different viewpoints are shared, a path is paved out of your perspective that may have blinded you.

Improves Communication

Continuously opening up to others about how you feel will improve your communication skills. As you listen to others share, you may even find words that describe exactly how you feel. Gaining new vocabulary and insight into other people's feelings will allow you to express yourself in a more vulnerable way. As the group works as a sounding board for your thoughts, you will grow in your ability to communicate.

Increases Self-Awareness

Another benefit group therapy provides is an increased sense of self-awareness for each individual. We all have blind spots and weak areas in our thinking. We may believe we understand a situation… that is until somebody else raises a different perspective. As we experience different situations in our lives, it’s always helpful to see other viewpoints to help us grow and see ourselves more clearly.

Safe Environment

Meeting regularly in a safe environment can help you express deeper thoughts you may not be comfortable sharing elsewhere. Having a committed group of people listening to you gives you a safe space for processing those hard feelings. This has proven to help develop a deeper understanding of self and one's issues, as well as learning ways to express them.

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Finding Your Voice

Sharing your emotions and fears with someone you don't know well can be daunting. However, the pressure is not all on you within group therapy sessions. As people share their experiences and opinions, you are released from the expectations to say all of the “right things.” As people become more vulnerable, you will feel more comfortable expressing your emotions.

Where To Find Group Therapy Options

By participating in group therapy, you will quickly discover its positive impact. With a strong sense of community and a safe space, you can challenge mental health struggles and walk away victorious. After you’ve assessed these benefits, you may be wondering where you can find a group for yourself. At Connected Roots, we provide an experienced team of individuals eager to help you find a group setting best suited for you. Call us today at 720-593-1062,​ and we can walk you through our therapy options to find one that’s right for you.