Group Counseling

When you are seeking healing and emotional wholeness, group counseling can be a powerful tool to help you reach your personal goals. By meeting in a group of individuals with the same struggles you have, you will learn from others how to process your emotions in healthier ways. A counselor guides the group in their interactions, which helps all members grow.

Group counseling is a unique way to learn new skills in addition to individual counseling. It’s a great way for you to receive from others while sharing valuable feedback of your own. Counselor-led groups are a safe place to share, learn and grow in your area of struggle.

Your counselor may recommend either or both forms of counseling to you, depending on the issues you face. Individual counseling allows you to dive deep into issues in a private, one-on-one space with your counselor. Group counseling allows you to hear from others with shared experiences and benefit from more than one point of view.

Both types of counseling may be beneficial to you at the same time. For example, if you are recovering from divorce, you may need the private space of individual counseling to process the most painful details of your story. Group counseling for divorce care will introduce you to others with the same issues who can also help support and encourage you in your grief. These types of counseling are useful for different aspects of your healing process. When used together, they can speed your recovery.

Group counseling has different parameters than individual counseling. Group meetings may be held for a set period or continuously depending on the issue. Some groups work on the same issue together, such as addiction. Other groups are more generally focused on helping people at different stages of recovery in different issues. No matter how a group is set up, it holds many benefits for you.

If you feel alone in your struggles, group counseling can affirm that other people are walking along similar paths as you. If you enjoy learning from many other people, you may even prefer group counseling for heightened interaction. Also, if you’re just not ready for the intensity of individual counseling, group counseling can help you dip your toe into the healing waters.

Group counseling holds confidentiality up as its sacred priority. You can enter group settings without fear of others sharing your stories because they don’t want you to share theirs either. You may be required to sign a group covenant that protects everyone’s privacy. In your group, you will not be required to share any specific details of your story, and you can simply use your first name for identification.

Members of the group can gain insight into their own problems by listening to the stories of others. You will likely consider your situation from angles you’ve never considered before, just by listening to other people share. Your perspective can shift in positive directions due to the way you see others grappling with the same issue and overcoming it.

Another benefit is the blessing of sharing your struggles and victories with the group. It feels liberating to speak about your problems, and even better knowing that your story is affirming or inspiring someone else. The group is not a place to give or receive advice. Rather, it’s a place to share your experiences so others can learn and grow from them.

Groups are typically made up of people of different ages, backgrounds, and life experiences. Your viewpoints can grow from a variety of others’ input on the subject. Also, if you struggle with interactions in relationships, you’ll get to practice your skills in the safety of a group setting.

Finally, group counseling sessions can be less expensive than individual sessions. They are a good solution for people who need help working on their issues, yet don’t have the budget for one-on-one meetings with a counselor. They may be the perfect fit for what you need.

Each group is led by a Christian counselor who is trained and equipped in guiding groups. These are the goals that the counselor will lay out for whatever type of group you join.

• Adhere to confidentiality requirements
• Build problem-solving skills
• Decrease isolation
• Explore possibilities and solutions
• Gain new understanding
• Give support to others
• Grow skills for observation and providing feedback
• Improve communication skills
• Increase emotional awareness and expression
• Learn how your actions and words impact others
• Practice people skills
• Receive support from others

All these goals work together to help you become the best person you can be in God’s eyes and the eyes of others. They will help you heal from your wounds and embrace the new calling God has for your life.

A less-than-best treatment plan

Group counseling is often the first line of treatment for people with certain problems, such as anger management. Many people heal fastest by seeing others wrestle with the same issues they face. In a group setting, they may learn faster how their actions, words, and tone affect others.

A second-rate approach to healing

As mentioned above, group counseling is often the first line of defense against a problem. Depending on the issue, a counselor may recommend starting with group counseling to help a patient open up, then following with individual counseling to explore issues on a deeper level.

A less powerful tool than individual counseling

We have learned that both individual counseling and group counseling have their merits. They can both work powerful and positive change in a patient’s life, whether used separately or together. Neither one is better than the other.

A closed environment without room for growth

Group counseling is a natural environment where people can evaluate their growth skills before introducing them to their problem situations. They are an excellent place for people to learn and grow before venturing back into relationships and circumstances that have caused much hurt before. Group sessions hold the possibility of much growth for every individual member.

Groups often form around common issues with which all members are struggling. Here are a few of the issues for which group counseling can be useful.

• Addiction recovery
• Adolescent issues
• Anger management
• Codependency
• Divorce care
• Grief recovery
• Marriage support
• Ministry support
• Sexual abuse recovery
• Women’s issues

Meeting with others who share these issues can help you feel less alone in your struggles. Group sessions can help you feel supported and uplifted by the other members. You will also feel safe as you are guided in these sessions by a qualified Christian counselor.

Sometimes group counseling is mandated by the court system. In these cases, checking in with your group will be an important way to stay on track with your goals for seeking freedom and healing. It’s important to attend each group session and participate as much as possible to adhere to the guidelines set out in your sentencing.

If you have never tried group counseling before, you may be pleasantly surprised at its effectiveness. It can take the pressure off you sharing for a dedicated hour in an individual counseling session. Group sessions are perfect for people who want to meet other like-minded individuals who will offer support and prayer. They are good for helping you broaden your horizons and learn more than you ever expected.

There is a group ready and waiting for you to join. Check with our offices today to learn which group is best for your needs. Within a few sessions, you’ll experience the unique blessings that a group counseling setting has to offer.