Being part of a group is a natural inclination that satisfies our need to belong. Groups help us define our social identities and achieve goals while allowing us to give and receive support. Inclusion in groups helps us gain understanding about ourselves and others. When group members work together, everyone succeeds. These benefits of social groups also apply to group therapy. Studies show that group therapy is equally as effective as individual therapy and offers many benefits not found in individual therapy.
At Harmony Hills, we know that a group therapy program is a highly beneficial way for clients to connect with peers who share the common goals of healing, growth, and recovery. To learn how group therapy can help you achieve your goals, contact us at 855.494.0357.
How Does Group Therapy Promote Good Mental Health?
The idea of participating in group therapy might seem intimidating at first. However, at Harmony Hills, we know from years of experience that this feeling quickly passes. Group therapy is often the part of treatment that clients most enjoy. Group therapy is an evidence-based treatment approach that is a core component in most mental health treatment programs. Each session is different, but the commonality is the process of clients getting to share and work through their experiences together.
Following are three significant ways group therapy promotes good mental health:
- Camaraderie – Group therapy helps you realize you are not alone. Isolation and loneliness exacerbate mental health issues and make seeking treatment more difficult. Through group therapy, you find companionship with like-minded people.
- Different perspectives – By its nature, group therapy provides input from a variety of perspectives. By seeing how others manage challenges, you learn new strategies to manage your own. Further, group members will be at different stages of recovery so they can provide advice.
- Self-discovery – We all have blind spots about ourselves. Through interacting with group members, you see reflections about yourself from their perspectives, opening you to new ways of thinking about yourself.
It can be challenging to be introspective and feel comfortable expressing your feelings, thoughts, and needs to others. Connecting with group members can help you learn to articulate thoughts and feelings as they are happening. This process not only improves communication skills but boosts your self-confidence. Finally, group therapy helps foster accountability, which pushes you toward achieving your goals.
Who Can Benefit From Group Therapy?
Group therapy is part of comprehensive mental health treatment that includes individual counseling and medication therapy where indicated. Group therapy helps patients solve problems, build trust, gain confidence, develop insight, and develop better communication and social skills. Through group therapy, people learn that they are not alone. Group members serve as role models and learn from each others’ perspectives and experiences.
Research on group therapy shows that it is highly effective at treating a variety of mental health disorders including, but not limited to:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression disorders
- Personality disorders
- Eating disorders
- Behavior disorders
- Substance use disorders
Group therapy at Harmony Hills provides a safe place for clients to explore aspects of their mental health disorder that they otherwise might not. With the support of peers, group members find the courage to explore parts of themselves that they have been unable to look at before.
Looking For Mental Health Treatment Centers In Florida? Look No Further Than Harmony Hills
In mental health treatment, group therapy does not replace individual therapy but is an integral part of a comprehensive approach to treatment. Group members do not have to participate during sessions, but the more you engage, the better your outcomes. The Harmony Hills team understands the value of group therapy for lasting recovery. To learn more about the treatment programs we offer or to find supportive group therapy, reach out to Harmony Hills today. Use our secure online form or call 855.494.0357.
