GROUP THERAPY
Group therapy might not be your first thought when it comes to seeking help (in fact it might fill you with dread!) but it can be a powerful and often more immediate experience than individual therapy. If you've had individual therapy a group might be a great logical step for you, though it's not a requirement.
Current Groups
Early 2024 - Stigma, Resilience and Creativity groups for Gay Men
I'm due to start a new therapy group in the new year working with gay men. Its loose focus is on minority stress and resilience and is particularly aimed at those wanting to work on issues related to shame, isolation, relationships and creative potential.
Groups are weekly and 1 hour 15 minutes long, and charged at £35 per session. Time and day TBC.
The case for group therapy
We spend our entire lives as part of groups in some way, be they family and work groups or broader cultural groups and society. It’s human nature to seek that balance between fitting in and standing out - being part of a team and being unique. We can all experience interpersonal difficulties within these groups that group therapy can help to address. They can also be a place of community for those who feel isolated or alone.
Group therapy can often be seen as a diluted form of therapy due to the fact that the therapist’s focus is split between group members. Conversely, I would say that it can be an even more powerful experience than one-to-one work as the whole group is invested in the individual’s wellbeing and progress. Whereas many people find one-to-one work very helpful, some find it hard to translate it into ‘real world’ change with those around them. The interpersonal difficulties explored in therapy are brought to life in a very real and immediate way in a group setting - there really is nowhere to hide. As daunting as this might sound, group therapy offers the freedom to truly be yourself in a supportive and containing safe space that is unlike any other.
Groups can be great for anyone, but particularly for those who have experienced one-to-one therapy and are looking for something that will challenge you to get to know yourself even better.