What is Group Therapy?

When most people think of therapy, they envision a private one-on-one conversation between a therapist and a client. But group therapy, while often overlooked, offers a distinctive therapeutic approach with unique benefits that individual therapy simply can't replicate. So, what exactly is group therapy? Simply put, group therapy involves a therapist (or sometimes two) working with a small, structured group of clients. 

Picture this: you walk into a small room with several chairs arranged in a circle. The therapist will sit in the circle, among the group participants, not at a desk or behind a barrier, but as a facilitator in the shared space. Then, someone speaks. Sometimes it takes a while to break the ice. Other times, the conversation starts flowing right away. Most importantly, in group we are very curious about what emerges organically.
The power of group therapy lies in this dynamic: the ability to witness and participate in real, unfolding emotional experiences. The therapist’s job is to moderate without getting too involved. We kick the ball back in the game, rather than playing too much soccer ourselves. The therapist knows when to guide the conversation without controlling it. Think of the therapist as a moderator, not the main player in the room. Over time, group members begin to respond to one another in authentic, unscripted ways, and this is where the true healing begins. Like anything worthwhile, the benefits of group therapy build over time. I invite anyone seeking group therapy to cultivate as much curiosity and open mindedness as possible as you navigate the process.

While there are similarities to individual therapy—such as the focus on emotional well-being —group therapy introduces its own set of therapeutic factors that can be especially helpful for certain populations, such as gay men. Because gay men share unique experiences and face similar challenges, their journey toward healing and building healthy relationships within themselves and with others–can be more effectively and efficiently addressed within the context of a group of individuals who personally understand these struggles. 

Hence, there are many therapists who designate certain group therapy groups to be for a certain population.