Group Therapist Plantation
Group therapy is a powerful and highly effective method of
addressing interpersonal issues. Problems that are well-suited to
group therapy include: patterns of relationship dysfunction, social
skills and communication enhancement, and issues related to
intimacy and trust. When people enter group therapy and interact
freely with other group members, they often recreate the difficulties
that brought them to therapy in the first place. While interpersonal
issues are often initially addressed during individual therapy, group
therapy offers multiple relationships to assist the individual in further
growth and problem solving.
People who make good candidates for group therapy may have:
 Desire for personal growth
 Shyness
 Interpersonal difficulties
 Social anxiety
 Have problems “fitting in”
 Problematic behaviors
 Conflict with coworkers or peers
 Difficulties with assertiveness
 Feel misunderstood by others
 Frequent feelings of anger
 Patterns of family or relationship problems
 Problems with trust and intimacy
 Existential concerns
Group therapy provides the unique opportunity to observe and reflect
on your own and others’ interpersonal skills and to give and receive
feedback in an interpersonal context that more accurately reflects
real life. Under the skilled direction of the therapist, the group is able
to give support, offer alternatives, or gently confront the person.
Through this process, insight is gained, alternative behaviors are
learned, and the person develops new and more effective ways of
relating to others.
Some of the benefits of group therapy may include:
 Hope
 Guidance
 Social skills building
 Catharsis
 Existential factors
 Interpersonal learning
 Resolution of family issues
 Altruism
While most people have some fear of opening up to others, after a
few sessions members usually find that they are able to open up in
the group. Members learn through active participation as well as
observation. Typically groups consist of 6 to 10 members that meet
weekly for 90 minutes. Groups range in duration, from 10 weeks to
one year. A minimum of one individual evaluation session is required
of all candidates for group therapy in order to determine if group
therapy could be an effective approach and which group would be
most beneficial to the specific goals of the client. Individuals who are
suicidal, homicidal, psychotic, or in the midst of a major crisis are
typically not good candidates for group therapy until their emotional
and behavior states have stabilized.