Choosing the Right Type of Group Counseling For You

Struggling with something on your own will often leave you feeling isolated. It’s difficult enough to be dealing with issues in your relationship, stress, addiction, anxiety, body image issues, depression, or any other challenge. This is where group counseling can help.

If you are struggling, see someone and get some help. Whether you go the route of individual or group counseling, the main thing is that you’re actively looking after your mental, emotional, and physical health.

What is group counseling?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), depending on the nature of your problem, group therapy can be the ideal choice for addressing concerns and making the necessary positive changes in your life. The group focuses on a specific area such as substance abuse, and the individuals in the group are all working through similar challenges.

Group counseling typically involves one or more psychologists who lead a group of 5 to 15 individuals. The group will usually meet for an hour or two each week. Some of the members of the group will attend individual counseling in addition to groups, while others participate in group counseling only.

Different types of group counseling.

People don’t all learn in the same way. These different styles of learning necessitate having different kinds of groups to meet one’s needs. How the group functions will depend on the type of group it is, but the goal of wellness and positive health outcomes is common to all.

Some groups are open, meaning that other people can join in at any point in time, while others are closed; that means the group has a core membership and new people will only be welcomed when another group is formed.

Despite these differences, there are two main types of groups, and they fall into one of these two categories:

Process-oriented groups.

These groups focus more on the experiences of group members, prioritizing forging connections within the group and sharing. In these kinds of groups, the conversation between group members sets the tone and not a prefabricated agenda. Members share their experiences and problem-solve together.

Psychoeducational groups.

These groups are focused on providing the members with vital information they need to address their core concerns. They teach people more about their common concerns, for instance, the physiological and psychological components of an issue like substance abuse. These types of groups usually have a structure and an agenda they try to fulfill.

These are the two main types of groups. Within these two types, groups will organize themselves in various ways depending on the discussion topics as well as their structure. As such, there are support groups in which members give and receive support as they share personal stories. These support or self-help groups are often led by a lay facilitator who has struggled with a similar issue and has overcome it.

Other kinds of groups include medication groups which help members remain compliant with their prescribed medication, while others teach skills to enable effective recovery. Lastly, psychodrama group therapy allows group members to act out aspects of their lives, and these emotionally provocative enactments can be discussed by group members.

Conclusion.

Taking active steps to address your concerns is a good move. Whether you choose to go with individual or group counseling, the main thing is that you’re prioritizing your well-being. That benefits you and the people in your life. If you’re not certain which type of group counseling will be most effective for the concerns you have, why not reach out to a counselor, and discuss your options? They can guide you to the right option for you and your needs.