What is group therapy?
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more trained therapists working with a group of people with similar interests or needs for support. Group therapy can be used alone or, more commonly, alongside individual therapy. Mindful Psychology group therapy sessions will typically involve a group of 6-10 like-minded individuals – the sessions are typically 45 minutes to an hour in duration.
The benefits of group therapy.
- Interpersonal learning – By having group interactions, you are able to learn from others who are experiencing similar situations as yourself. You are able to hear about others’ experiences and receive feedback from the therapist, enhancing your self-understanding.
- Social interaction – Group therapy is a great way to interact with others and potentially create friendships with like-minded individuals.
- Cost-effective – Group therapy is less expensive than individual therapy, and each individual with a Mental Health Care Plan from their GP is eligible for 10 Medicare rebated sessions, in addition to their individual sessions, each calendar year.
- A sense of belonging and cohesiveness – Being part of a safe space amongst like-minded individuals creates a sense of belonging; a feeling that you are not alone and that others have similar experiences, frequently generating trust between group members.
- Allows for individual development – Being able to speak in a group setting and tell your story (if you’re comfortable to do so) allows you to grow and develop as an individual. You are able to learn from others’ experiences and grow from developing a sense of having shared concerns or issues.
What does a typical group session look like?
Each session will be different depending on what we are focusing on, but our priority at Mindful Psychology is to ensure that each individual feels safe and supported to share and experience as much or as little as they want to. You’ll be encouraged to gently challenge yourself to the level that feels right for you, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn and practice new skills, meet new people, and have new experiences.
Confidentially
It’s vital that each participant knows that everything mentioned throughout the group sessions is confidential and is to not be discussed outside of the group setting. This important point will be discussed more fully in the first session to ensure everyone understands and feels comfortable with the group rules.
How to get started
If you feel that you would benefit from group therapy, please follow these steps:
- Give us a call or an email letting us know you are interested and we will send you some details about sessions we will be running in the coming months.
- Contact your GP to discuss a Mental Health Care Plan for Group Therapy, if you want part of the session fee to be rebated by Medicare. Otherwise, you may wish to contact your private health provider to see if they cover group therapy.
We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to our group sessions!
