What Is Group Therapy?
Brisbane Group Therapy
Gestalt process orientated group therapy in Brisbane.
GROUP THERAPY BRISBANE
The Journey to aliveness, engagement in the world, risk taking an connectedness is the grandest journey of all. And like all archetypal journeys, it can be terrifying at times. It involves contending with each other in group, grappling wiht our demons, being lost, getting found, experiencing rupture and repair. We need each other to do this work, which is hallowed by the group that confronts us, challenges us, cries with us, laughs with us, calls us to account and most importantly belongs to us: passionately counting us as one of its members and refusing to give up on us., even when we have shown the parts of ourselves of which we are most ashamed ~ Cole & Reese
As a group therapist based in Brisbane I have run group therapy in Brisbane for almost a decade. The groups I run are focused on understanding people’s interpersonal and intra-personal relationships, namely, how we relate to ourselves and each eachother. As a group facilitator my groups are process orientated (Yalom group therapy style) with a relational gestalt focus. You can read about Group therapy in Brisbane HERE. You can read more about Gestalt Psychotherapy and how Gestalt Psychotherapists work you can read more HERE.
This blog on group therapy aims to provide a more detailed overview of how I see the process of group therapy as well as the benefits that can be achieved from group therapy.
Why group therapy?
Many people are challenged with traumatic childhood experiences. These experiences have a ripple effect that impacts on how on we form and engage in interpersonal relationships as adults. Whether it is with friends, intimate partners, family members or colleagues we often find that there are familiar patterns of relating and ways of being that we find ourselves engaging in.
People who attend individual or group therapy will often describe themselves as having a ‘mental illness’ or may use diagnostic labels such as depression or anxiety to describe their challenges. Rather than seeing a person's symptoms solely as who they are, my desire and focus in group and individual therapy is to see people as people. Human’s who have needs for contact, meaning, support and love, all of which they may not have experienced in their early years or within their original family.
Group Therapy is often beneficial for people who have experienced challenges in their early years because their challenges are often linked to the relationships they have with others, and the impact this has on their emotional health and wellbeing.
How does group therapy work?
As a group facilitator, I work with a here and now focus. This means that there is an emphasis on direct interpersonal interactions between group members. My role is to create a safe group environment for group therapy members. The group space is a safe and supportive container for people to be able to examine their interactions with one another, gain awareness and strengthen connection.
The support in the group, allows people to reduce shame and see how their relational behaviour impacts others as well as themselves.In group therapy, members explore in-vivo how we connect with others. This includes looking at how we relate, how we protect ourselves and how we deal with our hopes, fears, disappointments, emotions, shame, pride, excitement and a whole range of other issues.
By drawing from the diverse and varied wisdom of the group participants, group therapy members also learn how to build resilience, reduce defensiveness, step into assertiveness and gain more understanding awareness of themselves and their interactions.
Group therapy also allows group members to learn how to receive and cope with a range of feedback, different perspectives, strong reactions and challenging or non-empathetic responses from others.Group therapy allows members to discuss and work through their individual goals and challenges in a safe and supportive environment conducive to interpersonal process work and personal inquiry.People in group therapy also have the opportunity to interact with others who face similar challenges and who are interested in learning more about themselves. Group participants can look at new behaviours through role play, engaging with others, receiving valuable feedback and insight from other group members, and also in giving it.
Group therapy can support people in working through
Fears around confrontation and conflict
Reducing defensiveness and over/under reactions to others
Challenges in expressing needs and wants
Understanding relationship issues
Working to develop confidence and self-esteem
A range of other challenges
Group therapy benefits
Group therapy allows people to gain a deeper awareness of the behaviours and patterns that arise in their everyday lives. Group therapy can also challenge individuals to access disowned emotions, or different behaviours by seeing other group members who are able to engage in new behaviours and ways of relating. An example is seeing a person who may find it difficult to express their emotions begin to open up more in group.
Therapy for groups is a place people can understand the impact of their behaviours and interactions with others, there is space and time to work through challenges as they arise. Instead of challenges being another ‘event’ a person has to deal with, they instead have the opportunity to learn and grow through real experience. Group members receive direct feedback from other members and learn which behaviours support positive interactions.
This may include feelings of closeness, empathy and compassion. Group members also learn which behaviours may elicit negative reactions including withdrawal, hurt, anger or fear. As new healthy behaviours and communication skills are learnt and practised in the group, they can be applied to a persons day to day life and outside relationships, resulting in better quality interpersonal relationships and interactions. Group members can also experience higher levels of self-esteem and reduced levels of anxiety as they begin to create changes in their relationships outside of the group.
Ultimately, the group therapy environment facilities growth through it’s emphasis on awareness, authenticity, agency, healthy boundaries, self-support, experimentation and choice. It encourages and supports an individuals growth as they develop the relational capacity for creative and empowered living that is connected to ourselves and others.I hope you have found this blog useful if you are looking to work with a Gestalt Therapist or are interested in group counselling, or individual psychotherapy and counselling in Brisbane you can read about The Connection Circle - Group Therapy based in Brisbane.
Natajsa is a Clinical Psychotherapist with a private practice is based in Ashgrove, Brisbane. She provides psychotherapy and counselling to individuals and couples and facilitates fortnightly group therapy focused on interpersonal process. Natajsa believe's that the relationship we have with ourselves and others is the essential ingredient to our emotional health, happiness and wellbeing.
As a Gestalt therapist she is interested in the topics of connection, belonging and the importance of human relationships. Her focus is on helping people develop self-awareness and understanding of their challenges, so they can create long-term, sustainable change that leads to more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Natajsa has been featured as an expert both locally and internationally and has contributed to a number of print and online media outlets including Women's Health and Fitness Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, The Courier Mail & ABC Online.You can find her online at:
www.natajsawagner.com
www.facebook.com/NatajsaWagnerPsychotherapy