Group therapy or group counseling is one of the cornerstones of recovery. When you seek help for addiction or co-occurring mental health disorders, the group dynamics in group therapy might be something that is intimidating or confusing for you.
Group Therapy Dynamics: How it Works
Group therapy or group counseling involves other clients who are currently undergoing treatment alongside you at the same facility. These sessions are facilitated or led by a therapist.
The dynamics of group counseling will fluctuate based on the setting and purpose of your session. The group dynamics in group therapy sessions for co-occurring depression might be different than what you get from group therapy focused on cognitive behavioral therapy exercises.
What remains the same is that one or more therapists, mental health professionals, are there to encourage participation from every member of the group, guide discussions, and lead everyone through the activities or processes. Some of the most common group therapy dynamics in activities and processes include:
- Problem-solving
- Learning from one another
- Goal setting and tracking
- Skill building
- Sharing and discussions
Within a group therapy dynamic you’ll focus on getting to know one another at first, building a sense of cohesion and working together to set up roles, improve communication, work together as you build relationships, and learn from one another.
Family Dynamics Therapy: What to Expect
Family therapy is a form of group therapy, and the dynamics of group counseling that involves your family might be slightly different.
Family therapy is centered on the concept that a family is made up of different parts, so when there is a change to one part of that system, it impacts all the other parts. As such, when one family member is negatively affected by addiction or mental health issues, everyone is.
This means that family dynamics change in an unhealthy way. For example:
- Family members might start to lie or keep secrets
- Some family members might be burdened with too much responsibility
- Family members might act out
- Some might shut down
When the conditions in the home are changed, this means family members often get stuck in unhealthy patterns. When someone seeks help through recovery, it can still be hard for the entire family system to adjust.
Family dynamics therapy is there to help the entire family unit heal, allowing all of the members to make positive changes and support the individual in recovery. This type of therapy is typically introduced after an individual has already started their recovery process and made some progress, and it is facilitated by a therapist who is there to listen and observe, helping every family member succeed in their objectives, like turning guilt into forgiveness or sadness into support.
What to Expect from a Therapist
Within the dynamics of group counseling or family counseling, your therapist will serve a few key roles.
Facilitator
As mentioned, the therapist in charge is there to facilitate, which means they are responsible for guiding everyone in the group or the family and creating a supportive environment.
This might mean that they stop a conversation that is getting too heated or is becoming unconstructive or they might interject to help point out a learning opportunity in the midst of a discussion.
Observer
Your therapist is also there to identify potential conflict and monitor how the group dynamics are working, how the group is building cohesion and interacting, and whether there are areas for continued growth based on specific circumstances.
When necessary, they might intervene to stop problematic behaviors or dynamics, pointing out in a family therapy session where addiction has resulted in the eldest child taking over the responsibilities of a parent, something that needs to stop now that the parent has gone through recovery.
Educator
Finally, the therapist within group therapy dynamics is there to educate everyone, to provide viable coping skills and other skills for the group or to encourage improved communication skills for family members.
Finding Group Dynamics Therapy with Multi-Concept Recovery
At Multi-Concept Recovery, our addiction treatment programs are designed for adults, teens, and college students. Located in Southern California, we offer partial day and intensive care programs, as well as traditional outpatient, providing a range of flexible scheduling options for those in need.
Our goal is to offer help for clients where they are, giving schedules for family therapy and group therapy that can be worked in and around work or school commitments. With two treatment locations, you also have flexibility in terms of where you get help.
No matter your program type or location, our recovery treatment plans focus heavily on incorporating viable group therapy. The dynamics of group counseling are there to facilitate collaboration, communication, trust, and open dialogue where you can both help others to learn and learn from others.
Contact our team now to learn more about the dynamics of group therapy and how it can help.
