Group therapy (GT) assures individuals that they are not alone and that other individuals share similar problems and struggles. GT provides a broad safety net in a confidential space for individuals who may otherwise be unsure about discussing their feelings, perceived weaknesses, etc. anywhere else.
GT offers the opportunity to both receive support from others and to give support to others. Both of these ideas are important in recovery. Receiving support from others is part of the therapeutic alliance that occurs in groups, whereas giving support to others allows for growth and learning.
GT helps individuals develop communication skills and socialization skills, and allows clients to learn how to express their issues and accept criticism from others. Sharing one’s experiences with others with similar problems is often therapeutic. GT allows individuals to develop self-awareness by listening to others with similar issues. Individuals in GT can model the successful behaviors of other individuals who have gone through similar experiences. Modeling is a form of learning where individuals learn by copying or imitating the actions of others.
The therapeutic alliance that occurs in groups is broader than the alliance that occurs in individual therapy. This allows for the incorporation of many different points of view. Research finds that both group therapy and individual therapy are relatively effective in addressing a large number of issues. It is a personal choice. The best-case scenario is to try to get involved in both at the same time.