When people gather in groups, things tend to multiply. It’s like there’s a huge common pot, and as each person comes into the space, they put what they have into that pot, and it’s full before you know it. That’s one thing that makes the movie theater-going experience different from watching at home. Yes, other people can get annoying, but if you watch a movie with an amazing audience, it can enhance the experience tenfold. The same is true of group therapy.

Good things can happen in groups. In groups, we can multiply our talents, insights, skills, and capacity to be able to do more. However, groups can also be places where negative qualities get multiplied too. A quick look at the comment section of any video on the internet or at the kinds of conversations that take place in closed or private groups will reveal just how toxic these spaces and groups can be.

With that in mind, if you’re thinking about going for group therapy, is there a helpful mindset to go in with? Are there some things that will undermine the process of healing, not only for yourself but for others too?

A Brief Glimpse at Group Therapy

The term “group therapy” may or may not be familiar to you. Pop culture has probably done a lot of heavy lifting in promoting an idea of what group therapy is. Group therapy is an alternative and accompaniment to other forms of therapy like individual therapy sessions. In group therapy, a group of 5-15 people, are led by one or two therapists who guide the group in its discussions.

In group therapy in Huntington Beach, California, the therapists help to guide the discussion, keeping it on track and addressing salient points, as well as helping maintain a congenial atmosphere. Group sessions may meet once or twice a week for an hour each time. Much of the motive force behind the group lies in the group members themselves. Group members share their experiences dealing with certain issues, they address, challenge, and encourage one another.

In other words, for the group to function well, the group members must be willing to talk, share, and engage. Unlike individual therapy where the therapeutic alliance that helps lead to successful treatment is between the client and therapist, with group counseling, that therapeutic alliance is formed between the group members and their therapist(s). If group members aren’t invested in the process, it simply won’t work as well.

Part of what makes groups work well is their nature and composition. Some groups are closed, meaning that once sessions start, new members aren’t admitted. Some groups run for a limited time, while others have no fixed end date. These dynamics can shape how close group members feel toward one another, what they contribute, and how invested they feel in each other’s lives and successes.

A Helpful and Healthy Mindset

Group therapy is an organic thing – no two groups are the same, and a lot of that depends on who is in the group and what they are bringing to it. This doesn’t mean group therapy isn’t effective. On the contrary, it can be quite effective, especially for teens who are more likely to open up to other teens than an adult. Rather, it means the journey can be bumpy depending on the issues the group must contend with.

There are some qualities and characteristics that can greatly enhance the group therapy experience and others that can undermine it.

A helpful and healthy mindset to bring into group therapy might include the following:

Willingness to be open Group therapy works best when you’re willing to share. Sharing isn’t limited to talking about the issue that’s brought you to therapy. It also includes sharing strategies that have worked or failed to work for you in the past, and ideas that you are willing to try in the future.

Ability to grow All of us need growth in our lives. One of the outcomes of going for therapy is growth – you’ll be exposed to new and different people, diverse ideas and experiences about similar struggles, and more. Being able to grow means being able to jettison things that aren’t working and being willing to take criticism and other people’s ideas on board.

Willingness to listen One of the skills that group therapy draws out is your ability to listen to others. This is listening with empathy, not listening just long enough to create space to interject and offer advice. Others are also present seeking healing, and the space isn’t just about you.

Willingness to contribute Listening well, which can include asking clarifying questions, helps you contribute more meaningfully to the discussion. You can ask better-informed questions, add relevant commentary, and offer encouragement and valid critique where necessary. All this requires the basic desire to contribute to the wholeness and well-being of others.

Group therapy in Huntington Beach addresses a range of issues, including substance abuse and addiction, depression, anxiety, grief, and divorce, to name a few. Group members help each other on the path to wholeness, and the mindset you bring to the meetings can help or hinder that agenda. You don’t have to be the perfect group member to take part in or benefit from group therapy. Group therapy can help in the process of your own refinement.

Group Therapy in Huntington Beach, California

Regardless of the concerns or issues you may be struggling with; group therapy in Huntington Beach can be an integral part of your journey toward healing. Reach out to us at Huntington Beach Christian Counseling in California to find out what groups are available to address your concerns.