What are Groups?
If you are familiar at all with mental health terms and treatments, you may have heard of group therapy. Group therapy is basically where a group of people with similar circumstances, outlooks, or diagnosis’ come together to talk about varying factors. The point of a group is that you get to interact with others who are like you, as well as hear perspectives from other individuals, which may inherently change yours. Depending on your diagnosis and your facility, your therapist may refer you to group therapy, or they may not. Sometimes group therapy is not the most sound treatment method, for example, someone who is struggling with a social anxiety and interaction with others, or someone with an extreme personality disorder may not be the most suitable for group therapy. SAMHSA also suggests that the following are bad referrals to group therapy;
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People who refuse to participate. No one should be forced to participate in group therapy.
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People who can’t honor group agreements. Sometimes, as noted, these clients may have a disqualifying pathology. In other instances, they cannot attend for logistical reasons, such as a work schedule that conflicts with that of regular group meetings.
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People who, for some reason, are unsuitable for group therapy. Such people might be prone to dropping out, getting and remaining stuck, or acting in ways contrary to the interests of the group.
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People in the throes of a life crisis. Such clients require more concentrated attention than groups can provide.
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People who can’t control impulses. Such clients, however, may be suitable for homogeneous groups.
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People whose defenses would clash with the dynamics of a group. People who can’t tolerate strong emotions or get along with others are examples.
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People who experience severe internal discomfort in groups.
How do I find a Group that is Right for Me?
Before finding a group I would suggest seeing an individual therapist, who can usually point you in the right direction as far as what groups are available within the facility, or nearby. Secondly, I would suggest assessing your “readiness” to join a group, for example, are you willing to talk with others about your personal issues? are you willing to hear others talk about possibly traumatic experiences? Do you think you could learn from hearing other people’s perspectives? Would it be helpful or traumatic for you to interact with other people with similar circumstances or diagnosis’ as yours?
Finding the right group for you can be completed by yourself or by your individual therapist. Again, groups usually consist of similar people who have experienced the same issues, or struggle with the same symptoms, such as trauma groups, stress and anxiety groups, anger management groups, cancer survivors groups, eating disorder groups, and women’s empowerment and self esteem groups. There are also some groups that are centered around a mode of therapy instead of a particular diagnosis, these are groups that usually have different people with different diagnosis’ mixed together, such a DBT group.
Finding the right group for you may take some research, but deciding what is most 
important to you, and what you would like to get out of group therapy is a good start. For example, a quick google search including “group therapy that helps with PTSD”, or “group therapy that deals with church hurt” should get you started on the right path. There is often a charge per session for groups, and there are often lots of rules and regulations for participating in groups, but that is only so that the group can function properly in the effective way in which it is meant to. This means that a group cannot be “hijacked” by one individual who talks the entire group, or disrupted by a late comer or interjector.
When you do find a group that is right for you, it is common that you feel to be part of a “family”. Often group members feel that they are a part of something larger them themselves, they actively participate in helping others like themselves get better, while also treating their own diagnosis, and feeling validated in their own problems by hearing from others. Groups often give the sense of fellowship in that you are not alone in your problems, which usually helps in overall wellness. Find a group today near you!
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