Group Therapy
“People need people – for initial and continued survival, for socialization,
for the pursuit of satisfaction. No one – not the dying, not the outcast,
not the mighty – transcends the need for human contact.”
– Irvin D. Yalom
Group therapy may be the answer for you.
Are isolation and loneliness making your difficult situations feel so much worse? Is it hard to find people to talk with who genuinely get what you are going through?
In group therapy, you will experience the transformative power of giving and receiving support from folks struggling and seeking help like you.
From your fellow group mates, you will gain resources, validation, opportunities to help others, accountability, and a safe space to be yourself and feel valued for who you are.
Hear my personal story.
I first fell in love with facilitating groups while working with homeless veterans with substance use issues in San Diego during grad school. There were about 6-8 men in the group at any given time, ranging from Vietnam vets to younger guys who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
My job was to hold space, make sure everyone was respected and heard by the group, and offer food for thought through questions and activities to encourage processing and healing.
Something about the group setting and the camaraderie the vets built with each other became crucial in their recovery because it wasn’t just about showing up and doing the work for themselves.
Their honesty, vulnerability, and openness to learning allowed them to see how their recovery helped others, and others’ recovery inspired them in turn. The magic of a group is that the members genuinely come to care about and for each other.
You are an essential ingredient in a successful group.
In joining group therapy, your presence and participation matter. You will feel heard and have your story compassionately witnessed. You will be part of something that has the power to change lives and communities.
Group therapy can also be a more affordable way to experience the benefits of therapy. The ongoing weekly structure of a group allows you to explore concepts, themes, and issues in depth. For more information on the benefits of group therapy, check out this article by the American Psychological Association.
Upcoming Groups
Wherefore ART Thou?
This group is three months long and meets weekly for two hours. This group is for folks who have experienced abusive relationships with partners, parents, bosses, or friends and continue to feel the negative impact of the past.
The group will open and close with discussion around topics chosen by the group, such as boundaries, assertive communication, verbal self-defense, dealing with triggers, trust and intimacy, red and green flags in relationships, body language, body/somatic cues for safety, etc.
The middle portion of the group will provide participants with time to explore themes in their relationships through various forms of artistic expression, such as drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, music, dance, writing, and theater.
At the end of the three-month group, members can exhibit or perform in an open house. Members will also have an option of exhibiting/performing with real names, pseudonyms, or anonymously.
Joining this group requires screening for suitability and safety reasons.
If you are interested in knowing more about the available groups or want to form a group, please call for a free 15-minute phone consultation.