6 Truths about Online Therapy Groups
What’s group therapy about? How do I know if it’s going to be good for me? Isn’t group therapy just for rehab or eating disorders? There are lots of myths about group therapy, and in this article we’re serving up some truths!
In the constantly adapting world of mental health, there's a powerful option that's been gaining traction: online group therapy. While individual therapy has always been a go-to for healing, group therapy brings something extra to the table. In this blog, we'll explore six undeniable truths about online group therapy that shed light on its effectiveness, unique benefits, and potential for profound personal growth. Whether you're looking to improve your relationship skills, gain insights from diverse perspectives, or find solace in a supportive community, group therapy offers an empowering and cost-effective path to positive change.
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Truth 1: Group therapy can be more effective than other forms of therapy
Group therapy is fantastic when the thing you want to work in is relationships skills or self-worth. You learn to get better at communicating and connecting in relationships not by yourself, but IN relationships with other humans.
Reading a book on relationships is a little like watching a youtube video to get better at your basketball skills. It can help, but isn’t enough on its own. Going to individual therapy for relationship skills is like having a 1:1 practice with the coach. And group therapy for relationship skills is like having your whole team on the court for practice. This is where you’re really going to improve your skills and SEE and FEEL the changes you want to see.
At Inland Empire Couples Counseling our therapy groups focus exclusively on relationship skills. If your partner can’t (or won’t) come to therapy with you, or if you’re not currently in a romantic partnership, group therapy is the best we have to offer to help you understand your own relationship patterns and help you communicate more effectively. Learn about when our next group therapy sessions start here.
Truth 2: In group therapy you get to benefit from connections and perspectives from more people (healing happens in relationships)
Therapy groups provide amazing opportunities to learn from different people and perspectives. You will also get to learn more about yourself in seeing how other people experience you and what they reflect back to you about yourself. I still remember things I learned from a therapy group I participated in nearly 20 years ago. And those memorable things for me didn’t come from the therapist, amazing as he was, I remember the things I learned from the other members of the group. This really could be an experience that changes your life.
Truth 3: In group therapy you get to know you’re not alone
Sometimes the hardest part about any life challenge is going it alone. Just knowing you’re not the only one who has these struggles or worries, you’re not the only one that finds some of these relationship skills challenging can be the thing that brings you out of despair and into hope. And it’s from a place a hope and connection that change happens.
Truth 4: In group therapy you can learn things about yourself you might not learn anywhere else
And this is a good thing! Let’s look at a few examples:
Maybe your current or past partner tells you that you’re not a good listener. You’ve heard it so many times that you come to believe it. You enroll in group therapy to help your relationship skills and experience there that the other group members think you’re a great listener. It takes you a minute to believe this new view of yourself. But now you see that the problem maybe isn’t your listening skills but that your partner doesn’t say what they want. Now you can go back to your partner with confidence and invite them into a conversation about how you WANT to give them what they need, you just need them to communicate it clearly so you know what that is. And you’re here, ready to listen with all your amazing listening skills.
Or maybe your partner has been telling you for years that you don’t listen. You blow them off because you think this is just a way to nag at you or get you to apologize for something you didn’t do. You enroll in group therapy and get feedback that you aren’t a good listener. You know these people don’t have any other agenda with you and, let’s be honest, sometimes it’s easier to take in feedback from anyone else EXCEPT our partners. You practice in the group therapy sessions. And then you go back to your partner ready to have an honest conversation about how you can see now what they’ve been saying about your listening and you’re ready to change. What a blessing for your relationship!
Truth 5: You might form lasting relationships in group therapy
This one is totally optional and voluntary, but is a cool possibility if you’re open to it.
Your therapists are bound by law and our ethical codes to not disclose any information about you without your consent (except as required by law, we’re mandated reporters). We ask our group members to abide by The Vegas Rule: “What happens in group stays in group.” If you want to maintain confidentiality and not interact with anyone outside of the group, we fully support you in that.
And, you might find you like the supportive connections you build with other group members and decide to maintain those connections outside of the group. Having a network of trusted support people is key to your overall success and happiness. Many people who participate in therapy groups or support groups build lasting friendships with people they meet in these groups.
Truth 6: Group therapy is a cost-effective way to get fantastic help
Not only is group therapy an efficient and effective way to help you with your relationship skills, it’s also less expensive than the same number of hours of individual or couples therapy.
At our current rates, 2 hours of therapy per week for 8 weeks would cost $2720. With our therapy groups starting September 2023, you get 2 hours of therapy per week for 8 weeks for $680.
At Inland Empire Couples Counseling we offer the best marriage counseling we can! Our couples therapists are trained in helping couples heal from infidelity, substance use in relationships, childhood trauma, communication skills, as well as providing the LGBTQIA+ community with pride counseling. We have online couples counseling in California. We have couples therapy in Riverside, CA. We also have marriage counseling in Murrieta CA or the Temecula Valley. Please reach out for help by clicking the button below to schedule a free 15 minute consultation with our Intake Coordinator.
Have questions about couples counseling? Visit our FAQs page to find out more.
