Group Therapy is a style of therapy in which the group itself is the main instrument of therapeutic change, and one or more therapists facilitate the group with several people synonymously. Group therapy is a dynamic process that encourages and utilizes relationships between members and therapists to create insight, build skills and work toward overall improvement. Therapy groups tend to be vibrant and full of life; one is never the same as another. It is common to feel alone in the process of healing, and a group can offer valuable community and validation when working through your traumatic history. Both individual and group therapy are powerful methods of working through trauma and can be done in conjunction with each other as there are some differences that make them each valuable in different ways.

Individual Therapy vs. Group Therapy

Group Therapy

• Many different issues may be on the table on any given day

• Different members may enter different roles on different days

  • E.g. one member may offer listening and support during one session, whereas she may actively process a personal dilemma during the next session.

• Members primarily gain therapeutic benefit from each other while receiving guidance and input from a trained group therapist.

Individual Therapy

• The flow of sessions is primarily guided by the patient, with input and guidance from her therapist.

• The therapist provides the primary therapeutic benefit.

➕ Research continually tells us about the importance of trusting relationships in the healing process. This is true for all types of psychotherapy. Therefore, trust-building and relationships are at the heart of group psychotherapy as well.  

➕ In any kind of therapy, the relationship between therapist and client is foundational to success. Without therapeutic rapport, there can be no trust, and this bond is necessary to form a collaborative relationship that can withstand the inevitable challenges that present over the course of treatment.  

➕ One of the key challenges and joys of group therapy is in building relationships not only between group members and facilitators, but between all members of the group. A unique type of healing takes place as group members learn to trust each other, develop the courage to express their true thoughts and feelings, learn to receive feedback, and learn to use the group to help regulate strong emotions.  

3 Considerations for Finding Group Therapy

in Los Angeles

Type of Group

• Most therapy and support groups are organized specific ways, with one or more qualifiers. Some examples include groups for:

  • Men

  • Women

  • Women with postpartum depression

  • Single fathers

  • Single mothers

  • Sexual abuse survivors

  • Bereavement

  • COVID coping

  • Chronic pain

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Age-specific issues

  • LGBTQ+ concerns

  • And many more.

➕ Find a group that resonates with where you’re at in your life and healing process. 

Online or In Person

Consider your comfort level and relative desire for in-person services as well as the feasibility of committing and commuting to 60- to 90-minute groups in person versus attending online.  

If you’re geographically bound and want in person groups, narrow your search as much as possible (e.g., finding group therapy in Santa Monica), to reduce potential stress related to the commute.

Therapy or Support Group

Group therapy is often considered synonymous with support groups, but these are not quite the same.  Here are a few typical distinctions, with some overlap:

Goals

✨ Group Therapy: Help members change. 

✨ Support Group:  Help members cope. 

Accessibility

✨ Group Therapy: Groups must be attended by residents of the state in which they are being held, whether the format is online or in-person.

✨ Support Group: While support groups can be therapeutic, they aren’t therapy, and therefore can be attended by anyone, in any geographic location.  

Organization

✨ Group Therapy:

• Structured around mental health issues.

  • Individual members may be working through unique challenges not shared by the group.

• Typically occurs for set amount of time and number of sessions; time commitment is required from each member.

✨ Support Group:

• Structured around shared experiences, challenges, or mental health issues.

• Less structured than therapy groups.

  • Sessions might be limited or continuous.

  • Facilitators may or may not require time commitment from members.

Support

✨ Group Therapy:

• Members are primarily guided by therapist(s), while receiving support from each other as well.

• Facilitators are trained therapists.

✨ Support Group:

• Members are primarily supported by each other, with some guidance from facilitator.

• Facilitators can be many different types of mental health professionals, including trained therapists and mental health professionals from other disciplines.

➕ In a support group, your facilitator will likely refer you to a skilled therapist to work through any deeper issues that may arise during your time in the group. 

➕ Group therapy and support groups are excellent adjuncts to individual therapy work.

If you still have questions, add your name to our group waitlist to be contacted by one of our therapists.

Not sure if the symptoms you’re experiencing equate to trauma in your history? Read the 3 Steps to Identifying Trauma