Group therapy is a time-tested, evidence-based treatment that can help treat various disorders. A group therapy program helps people build community, recognize that they’re not alone, and find compassionate support from a group of their peers.
Specially trained therapists can lead conversations in the right direction, but the healing comes from the group members themselves. If you’re struggling with addiction or a mental health disorder, contact our team at 855.579.8599 to find group therapy and other treatment options at Virtues Behavioral Health in Los Angeles, California.
You Are Not Alone
Perhaps the most powerful component of group therapy is realizing that you aren’t alone in facing your problems.
You may know the feeling of sharing with somebody who can’t understand what you’re going through because they’ve never been in your shoes. In contrast, group therapy programs bring people with similar problems together. That way, you can then talk about your problems with people who really have been there.
Learning that other people who’ve had similar experiences have managed to survive and thrive can be an intensely powerful experience. It’s a significant factor in why group therapy works. You can learn from each other by sharing coping strategies, providing hope, and empathizing with each other’s situations.
Peer Support from Group Therapy Programs
Peer support is another reason why group therapy works. When battling addiction or mental illness, a therapeutic group can help you:
- Step outside your comfort zone
- Try novel coping strategies you wouldn’t have tried alone
- Lift you back up when you struggle
- Provide encouragement and advice for growth
This peer support can continue outside the therapy room as well. Many group members will build and maintain supportive relationships outside of treatment. These relationships are an important component of recovery for mental health disorders.
Professional Therapeutic Guidance
Group therapy in Los Angeles, California, means working with a licensed professional who knows how to treat your specific mental health disorder. Recovery is often a path of self-work, but a group counselor can guide you in the right direction.
It can be overwhelming to be in the midst of a crisis and attempt self-work simultaneously. Therefore, a group counselor meets you where you’re at and provides assistance when necessary.
The Power of the Group
The origins of group therapy are rather humble. Therapeutic groups started because it was cheaper to provide therapy to a dozen people at once than in individual counseling sessions. But shortly after this practice began, therapists realized that groups were often much more effective with helping each other than when attending therapy alone.
Humans are social creatures. You learn how to behave and what’s appropriate from observing others. You can also feel physical pain at being rejected from a group or from feeling like something about you makes you an outsider.
This social need is where the group’s strength comes from. It’s the power of a group of people who accept you as you are. It’s about the people who can teach you how to live a better and healthier life. Finally, it’s individuals who can remove the pains of ostracization or exclusion with empathy and compassion.
Seek Group Therapy in Los Angeles, California, at Virtues Behavioral Health
If you’re looking for a treatment center that offers group therapy in LA, Virtues Behavioral Health provides comprehensive mental health services with a team of trained professionals.
Contact our team at 855.579.8599 to learn more about our services, including group therapy in LA, individual counseling, outpatient and inpatient programs, and addiction treatment services.
Don’t let your battle with a mental health disorder stand in the way of having a high-quality life. Recovery is possible with a simple phone call and a compassionate team to help.
