Advantages Of Group Therapy Over Individual Therapy

In a country like India, even mentioning the word therapy seems to invite a ton of raised eyebrows and wagging tongues. In such a scenario, it’s a miracle that a large portion of the modern generation is waking up to the benefits of therapy. However, it is time to take things further and realize that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work when it comes to focused therapy efforts. Recent trends seem to indicate that many people can in fact benefit more from group therapy as compared to individual therapy and there is finally enough research to back this up. 

Group therapy is nothing but a kind of guided support group. If you are facing issues like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or other such behavioral issues, the biggest problem people face is that of isolation. People not only feel misunderstood but also alienated since they cannot find other people who are going through the same thing. Group therapy basically introduces them to a support group of people who are all facing the same issue. This makes them feel included and their recovery journey becomes more of a group effort. It works on the principles of basic human behavior and has reaped beneficial rewards for several people around the world. Typically, a group therapy session will involve three or more people along with a counsellor or therapist acting as the mediator. The role of the counsellor in this case is to not confront or judge but to rather create an atmosphere of camaraderie and inclusivity. A session will typically start with the counsellor inviting people to come forward and share their experiences one by one followed by exercises that will mutually benefit everyone. Week on week, people will be asked to share updates on their condition with the group and the rest of the group members are encouraged to positively reinforce their fellow group members. Of course, a lot of this depends on how skilled or experienced the counsellor is and a good counsellor can truly make all the difference. 

These days, support groups and group therapy has extended into social therapy as well. The concept of a marriage and family therapist is proof that people are open to talking to a therapist as a group. For example, a marriage and family therapist will see their patients as a group. Like group therapy, they will play more of a guiding role as they passively and objectively observe interactions between couples and family members. They will then take notes and dive deep into the core issues the group is facing. Based on their experience and learnings, they will then advise them on the best course of action. The idea is to help people lead better lives without using therapy as a crutch. This also breaks the myth that therapy is a never-ending process and that people tend to rely on therapy in order to lead a normal life.