Group Counseling:

Group counseling is a form of therapy, in which individuals are provided the opportunity to receive varied perspectives, support, and feedback from others in a safe environment. The idea is for each person to benefit from shared experiences. Usually group counseling is focused on a particular issue, for example issues with grief and loss or anger management. While a therapist usually manages group counseling, contributions from other members in the group are considered valuable since all in the group share similar issues.

One of the main principals behind group counseling is that it allows people who are experiencing difficulties often feel isolated and alone to facing one’s problems in a place that is supportive and convidential. Group counseling attempts to counteract this isolation by assembling people with similar issues to enforce that difficulties are not singular to one person. Additionally, knowing other people with similar troubles can be comforting to each individual, who may not have access in their own family and friends to people with the same problem.

Such groups might address subjects like living with anxiety, parenting the special needs child, living with grief, or living with depression. Some people find the group counseling experience a better alternative than private therapy because it tends to cost less. Frequently group counseling is covered by insurance, and many groups offer sliding scale fees for those without insurance.

Length of group therapy also varies. Group counseling may take place for a defined period of time. More organized groups may last for a certain period of time, and require materials, study books, or the like. These groups may require a time commitment and a payment upfront or registration.