IN THIS ARTICLE
How many people are in the group? A large gathering means you get to hear from more people. A small one can give you more time to work through your own feelings. A psychologist or another therapist can help you decide which size suits your needs.
Do all the members have anxiety? There are lots of different kinds of support groups. They often work best when most of the members have similar issues.
What are the rules for sharing in this group? A therapist won’t share anything you say to her. Group members aren’t supposed to, either. Ground rules about keeping what’s shared during therapy confidential can help the members build trust with each other.
What to Consider
One of the biggest advantages is that you’ll get support from other people who feel like you do. That can improve your mood and make you feel less alone.
Other people who have started to treat their anxiety may inspire you. You might pick up tips or techniques that help you deal with your own situation.
Helping problem-solve for your fellow group members can also remind you that you know a lot about managing anxiety. That can prompt you to use those skills in your own life. And group therapy is often less expensive than individual counseling.
There can be drawbacks, though. If one person doesn’t want to open up to the group, others may hesitate to share their thoughts. That can make sessions less effective.
While you may get helpful ideas from other members, don’t take their opinions and comments more seriously than the therapist who is leading the group.
If you have concerns about how your group is going, you may want to privately talk to the therapist who leads it to see if they can change how things are done. Or you may want to try another group or one-on-one therapy.
WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari, MD on January 16, 2018
© 2018 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
SOURCES
American Psychological Association: “Psychotherapy: Understanding Group Therapy.”
Anxiety and Depression Association of America: “Support Groups.”
Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience: “Cognitive behavioral group therapy for anxiety: recent developments.”
National Health Service (NHS) U.K.: “Depression Support Groups.”
BJPsych Advances: “Group cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression.”
American Addiction Centers: “Group Therapy Vs. Individual Therapy.”
RETRIEVED: The Benefits of Support Group Therapy