Group Therapy on Long Island
“Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.”
— Erik Erikson
Group Therapy
While group therapy might sound scary or overwhelming at first, the reality is that we yearn for meaningful connections. Sitting in a room with strangers is the ideal way to share your concerns without feeling judged. You have more in common with other people than you think, and as the weeks go by, you’ll get to practice sharing your own feelings and listening to others talk about their experiences, helping you feel more confident and connected.
You Are Not Alone
While you are a unique person, your problems may not be unique. Many other people struggle with issues like anxiety and depression, and they yearn to talk about it with others who feel the same mental anguish.
Group therapy is a special opportunity to join a safe space where a select group of individuals are gathered to help each other talk through their problems. And of course, there’s a professional in the room guiding the conversation, moving the group towards healing.
More often than not, group therapy participants find they have more in common than they imagined when they first met. As the weeks go by, you’ll develop a bond with your group mates and you’ll see that opening up to other people doesn’t make them run away—it makes them appreciate you even more. You are not alone, and group therapy is a brilliant example of that.
Learn to Talk About Your Problems
One of the biggest concerns people have when coming to group therapy is the inability to speak up for themselves in front of other people. That’s the cliché first group session—most people are quiet and timid, afraid of saying too much or not enough.
Group therapy is excellent at making you aware of your feelings and giving you time to practice how to talk about them. Watching other people have the courage to share their issues is inspiring and often motivates other group members to share their own stories. By opening up in a comfortable space, your confidence and self-esteem will evolve and strengthen your voice outside of therapy.
Spotlight: Process Oriented Group
Process-oriented group therapy consists of a group of no more than 10 people talking about their concerns and struggles with a therapist as a guiding force. These groups are called “process groups” because the goal is to help each other process their feelings in healthy ways.
While the format of the groups might not be meticulously structured, group members are encouraged to bring up any issues they may be encountering at the time. Since the other members are unbiased strangers, this is a great opportunity to get honest feedback from a third party. The other members aren’t being paid to tell you anything, so their words come from a truly authentic place.
Usually, these process groups can last between six and eight weeks, and they are private and closed to the general public.
Current Groups
COVID Bereavement Group
Psychotherapy Book Club Groups
Chair YOGA & Meditation
FAQs
Is group therapy confidential?
Your privacy is important to us, and we talk about confidentiality as a significant part of group therapy. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee other group members won’t break that stipulation, so it’s best to maintain good sense when sharing with a group. Group therapy works best when there is an atmosphere of trust and open communication. When each member shares their personal story, they are making themselves vulnerable, and this often creates stronger bonds between members and reduces the likelihood of sharing personal information outside of the group.
Can I be involved in both individual and group therapy?
Of course! Some people find individual therapy to be more helpful, others prefer group therapy, and a third set of people would rather do both. Individual and group therapy provide different benefits, so it would not be out of the question to attend both.
What if I’m shy and can’t participate as much in the conversations?
Anxiety and stress is normal at first, but new members often see the benefit of sharing pretty soon after joining and the awkwardness of talking to strangers dissipates. Group therapy is actually the perfect environment to practice new skills and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
What happens if I know someone in the group?
Not to worry—this kind of thing can happen from time to time. We ask that if you know someone in your group to please inform your group therapist privately and we’ll discuss the best way to move forward. Sometimes, after discussing the situation, both parties agree to stay in the group together, but if you or the other person don’t feel comfortable being in the same group together, we can work together to find a solution.