Group Therapy in a Pandemic!?

As a social worker, I am excited by what Group Therapy can offer in the way of social support and regular debriefing from the daily stress of social distancing, isolation, confinement, economic anxiety, frustration or loneliness associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contact me to discuss your needs (Wendywood, ZA).

I love that that Group therapy and Support Groups are increasingly being recognised for their value in proactively protecting and maintaining emotional wellbeing during extraordinary times like these.

Conferencing platforms like Zoom have made group meetings possible, accessible, safe and effective online, when face to face meetings are not possible, safe or feasible.

The purpose of any personal therapy is to become more self-aware, to re-discover yourself, make more conscious choices that improve or empower your quality of life. What you learn in group therapy about yourself and others tends to stay with you, travels with you to other group settings, professional team meetings or family groups: a long-lasting “take-away”!

“What? In a Group?!”

The suggestion of Group Therapy often evokes nervous surprise. A decision to engage in psychotherapy of any kind is usually made when you are feeling vulnerable, or in pain. The decision to consult a therapist is such a positive sign of hope, and the hope is to feel better. You may find the idea of discussing personal challenges in a group strange at first. So, group therapists usually advise several individual sessions to explore your needs and expectations, and help you make an informed decision before joining a therapy group.

Sometimes group therapy is part of a larger therapy programme, like in a clinic. Earlier group experiences, in the family, at school, at work or wherever, may have left a fear of judgement, humiliation or shy self-consciousness. Some people dread encountering the pain of others, or worry about how they will behave or be perceived in a group. Some join a group precisely because they find being in groups difficult and want to learn to manage them better, for the sake of their careers, or their personal relationships. Others seek out and enjoy group experiences as part of their personal EQ development.

People are often surprised by how soon they feel comfortable in a new group, as they get to know and trust each other and the therapy process. No one is expected to share anything unless, and until, they feel safe to do so, but members are expected to participate in group conversations. Confidentiality and privacy are a crucial group commitment.

It is often the sharing of difficult or hurtful experiences with another or others, in a safe environment, that is therapeutic: You learn you are not alone or “weird” in feeling or thinking the way you do. You may notice aspects of yourself “mirrored” in the behaviour of others and decide to make some changes. Group members don’t judge you but tend to respond with interest and respect, or to offer occasional challenges and valuable feedback.

How is Group Therapy different to individual therapy?

Therapy in a group, like individual psychotherapy, offers opportunities for learning, healing and personal change. However, some specific features make it special, and distinguish it from individual therapy:

• the normalising and healing power of group thinking and support;
• a “reparative” group experience: if previous significant groups were hurtful, or dysfunctional, a therapy group can offer a positive group experience, to help rebuild faith in yourself and in relationships with others;
• more than one mind, for creative thinking about shared or individual problems;
• experiential learning and real-time practising in a safe space, of social skills like communication, dealing with differences, managing anxiety or other difficult feelings;
• facilitation by a professional group conductor guides and empowers the group to think about underlying issues and dynamics in the group and within each other.
• affordability: at a fraction of the cost for individual therapy, this is an obvious, but not the only advantage of group therapy in a tough economic climate.

Therapy, by definition, has to do with healing and recovery, learning new or healthier ways of living or relating, changing some life habits. Therapy groups differ somewhat from Support Groups though they are also supportive. It is important to choose the kind of group that suits you in terms of its purpose, style, the group therapist and the envisaged outcome goals. Group Therapy has a long history with theoretical roots in ideas and observations of human behaviour and relational life especially during or after times of trauma, like World Wars.

A psychodynamic or Group Analytic therapy mode reflects an interest in the deeper underlying meanings and dynamics, often below usual awareness, which influences and characterise interactions between and within people. Free-floating group conversations replace one-way “teaching” or structured agendas, to encourage the group to become the therapist and to develop its own insights about itself and its members.

As an example of how group therapy is valued during this time of social isolation and stress:

For almost a decade I have been conducting a small personal growth Therapy Group called “Getting it Together”, which meets weekly and moved online during the COVID-19 lockdown. Members vary in age, gender and occupation, with a shared interest in self-development, especially in their relational lives.

As a small ongoing “slow-open” group of up to 6 members, it is usually “closed”, with new members joining from time to time as ‘older’ ones leave and spaces become available.

During this pandemic, members have maintained regular attendance, in spite of various technical “hiccups” like network interruptions. They repeatedly stress its importance to them and make a point of attending, even when away on work travels or faced with other challenges - an upside of meeting online!

Referral Guide: A group like this best suits adults with:

• Relatively stable functioning in their daily lives (e.g. not actively drugging)
• A serious interest in personal growth, especially in social settings and relationships
• A wish to develop self-confidence and effectiveness in groups
• A capacity to relate to others who have had hurtful experiences, like loss or trauma
• An ability to sustain relationships, and commit to regular group attendance over time
• A willingness and ability to share a group space and conversation in English
• Respect for privacy and confidentiality boundaries in a “stranger group”: In some therapy groups members are discouraged from interacting outside of group.

The need for empathic and effective social support during this pandemic time of multiple losses and isolation seems obvious. Group support helps people feel less alone, whether mourning or adapting to major changes and trauma. Being able to help others has its own benefits for self-esteem, a sense of empowerment and evidence of resilience and potential for recovery. A group culture of respect for privacy, boundaries and individual inputs, helps people feel safe and valued, enhances self-esteem, and helps develop respect for others.

Comments of my present and past group members perhaps say it best:

“The Group is my regular “go-to place”… it’s become like a family for me”.

“My family and colleagues see changes in me since I started therapy.

“It’s good to find I’m not alone in feeling or thinking the way I do sometimes”.

“I’m surprised… I used to be so afraid to talk in groups”.

“I love the way we discuss difficult issues in such a respectful way”.

“I like what we learn about and from each other in this group”.

“I find I understand my wife and family better. I listen more carefully, even at work..”. “It’s like a journey, with new discoveries every week”.

Would you like to join a group like this? Contact me to discuss your needs (Wendywood, ZA).

Heidi is a Social Worker and Group Analyst with extensive experience as a counsellor, couple therapist and group facilitator. Her group is currently open to new members, and she is available for individual and couple therapy.