Do I have to tell my deepest and darkest secrets to the group?
Will I get enough out of the group if I have to share time with others?
I don't like speaking. Will the group even help me?
Will I be forced to talk when I don’t want to?
Will I have anything to share?
What type of therapy is best?
Isn't it overwhelming to hear about everyone else's problems?
What if the other people in the group judge me?
Are my peers really capable of helping me?
What do University of Oregon students say about groups?
Do I have to tell my deepest and darkest secrets to the group?
No one in group is forced to disclose anything they are not comfortable with. In fact, some thoughts, feelings or emotions are so personal that keeping them to oneself may be more beneficial than disclosing them to a group. Group members disclose personal information over time and in a way that feels comfortable.
Will I get enough out of the group if I have to share time with others?
Groups operate in such a way that many people are working on their own concerns at the same time. When two or three (or even more) people interact, they are all often learning about themselves and their life experiences from the interaction. One function of a group is to help create a space where all of the individuals are safe and attempt to learn how to meet their own needs.
I don't like speaking. Will the group even help me?
This is a valid concern because so often group participation in other settings (e.g. class, work, family life) is identified by verbal interaction or input. A group does not hold that same assumption, and allows an individual to observe and reflect, which are powerful learning tools in and of themselves.
Will I be forced to talk when I don’t want to?
Participants are often encouraged by one another to share their observations, internal reactions and experiences of the group, but in a way that feels comfortable and supportive. Group members discuss at the outset of therapy how they tend to share information, when they might need some space within the group, and how they can be best supported by others in the group. If a group member does not feel comfortable talking, they simply share this preference with the group, and ask that the group trust them to speak when they are ready.
Will I have anything to share?
In reality most people are anxious about being in and sharing with a group. But even within a session or two, most people find that they want to talk in the group. Even the most private or shy people find that the group is a place where they can trust others and share their concerns.
What type of therapy is best?
Individual and group counseling have different benefits and help people in different ways. Research studies have shown that group participants are equally if not more satisfied than people who participate in individual therapy. While neither form is inherently better than the other, there are some struggles that are better suited for a group interaction, such as developing communication skills, getting interpersonal feedback, obtaining social support and understanding relationship patterns.
Isn't it overwhelming to hear about everyone else's problems?
Coming into a group setting can understandably feel overwhelming, when one’s own life circumstances may seem unmanageable. Many group participants, however, have described hearing about the experiences of other members as extremely helpful. Focusing on the life experiences of others helps them to feel less alone in their own struggles, as well as helps them to understand their own difficulties from a different perspective.
What if the other people in the group judge me?
It is very important that all group members feel safe and cared for. Group therapists make it their priority to create an environment conducive to growth for everyone involved. Feedback is often difficult to hear, from leaders and members alike. As group members come to trust the group, they generally experience feedback, and even confrontation, as if it were coming from a good friend. One of the benefits of group counseling is the opportunity to receive feedback from others in a supportive environment. It is rare to find friends who will gently point out how some of your thoughts or behaviors hurt yourself or others, but this is precisely what group can offer. Group strives to do this in a respectful, caring way, so that you can hear it and make use of it.
Are my peers really capable of helping me?
Although the group leaders will help to define the structure of a group, provide guidance, and help establish a sense of safety, the bulk of the work done in the group is by the participants. They support, challenge, and come to care for one another in a way that deepens over time, facilitating changes that come about for the participants in their personal lives as well as in the group.
What do University of Oregon students say about groups?
What they enjoyed about being in a Counseling Services group…
- “The leaders and the people in group! They created such a welcoming and comforting environment for us.”
- “I most enjoyed hearing others’ experiences, and knowing I was making progress in processing my own experiences, which I had neglected for a long time.”
- “I enjoyed the structure of group, where it had a path most times but we were able to stray if needed.”
- “I enjoyed hearing other people’s experiences and I enjoyed other people relating to my story.”
- “The openness of the group, their non-judgmental approach, and their support.”
The benefits and challenges of being in a Counseling Services group…
- “[Group] really helped me open up and trust myself. Understanding my emotions and how to better myself. Also it helped me understand other people’s thoughts and feelings.”
- “It was my first time in group therapy, so at first I was nervous, but once I realized we were all here to support each other, it was really amazing to have this space.”
- “I really wasn’t sure about group at first, but I find that I have really enjoyed it. I felt way less isolated in my own experiences after hearing everyone else’s and [it] helped me reframe and rethink my feelings of guilt, anger, loneliness and fear.”
- “Group benefited me by allowing me to have a space to bounce thoughts and situations and feel safe talking about hard topics. It could be challenging to speak out at times due to personal triggers/feelings.”
- “It was difficult in the beginning, but it went well. Everyone was great.”
Adapted from DePaul University and University of Nevada, Reno Counseling Services