WHAT IS GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY?

Group psychotherapy, like individual psychotherapy, is intended to help people who would like to improve their ability to cope with difficulties and problems in their lives. But, while in individual therapy the patient meets with only one person (the therapist), in group therapy the meeting is with a whole group and one or two therapists. Group therapy focuses on interpersonal interactions, so relationship problems are addressed well in groups. The aim of group psychotherapy is to help with solving the emotional difficulties and to encourage the personal development of the participants in the group.

HOW DOES GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY WORK?
Members of the group share with others personal issues which they are facing. A participant can talk about events during the week, her/his responses to these events or any problems etc. The participants can share feelings and thoughts about what happened in previous sessions, and relate to issues raised by other members. Other participants can respond or give feedback to others, encourage, give support or share their thoughts and feelings. The subjects for discussion are not determined by the facilitator but rise spontaneously from the group. The members in the group feel that they are not alone and that there are others who feel the same. The group can become a source of support and strength in times of stress for the participant. Feedback from others in the group can make members become aware of any maladaptive patterns of behavior and members may help each other to adopt more constructive and effective responses. In group therapy you have the opportunity to work through these situations.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Group psychotherapy is suitable for a large variety of problems and difficulties, especially people who would like to develop their interpersonal skills and people who experience emotional problems like anxiety, depression, etc. The therapuetic groups we run are as heterogeneous as possible and for that reason when compiling a Group, we will try to include men and women, young and old people, married and singles, etc. The group is especially effective for people with interpersonal difficulties and problems in relations with others. Whether these difficulties are in social, working, couple or even sexual relations, the participant can benefit. Groups are ideally suited to people who are struggling with relationship issues like intimacy, trust, self-esteem. The group interactions help participants to identify, receive feedback, and change the patterns that are sabotaging their relations. The great advantage of group psychotherapy is working on these patterns in the "here and now" - in a group situation more similar to reality and close to the interpersonal events.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE PARTICIPANT?
The participant in the group is expected to be present each week and to come on time. It is required that anything brought up by members of the group be kept confidential by all the group members. In our Groups we ask you to commit for a minimum of 3 months as this facilitates getting a sense of how the group works. When participating in a group, you will not be required to talk, or reveal intimate issues when you do not want to. However, it is clear that the more you can participate, be open and talk about yourself, your feelings and thoughts - the more you can gain from this experience.

Bernadette Musker MSc, PDCHyp, DHyp, UKCP, MBSCH

Esher, Surrey
07952 658 494
Evening and some weekend appts available

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