Humans are biologically social creatures. We naturally form groups and communities, knowing on an evolutionary level that we are not designed to live on our own. We rely on each other for help and support, particularly when we are vulnerable due to injury or illness. Years of research surrounding mental health therapies shows that this principle extends to mental injury and illness, too. While advances in clinical technology and medication have allowed us to target the neurobiological aspects mental health disorders, simple talk therapy remains one of the most effective ways to treat addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and many other concerns. In a group setting, in particular, talk therapy allows you to form these meaningful human bonds with others as you share your stories and experiences.
At The Guest House, group therapy is one of the many ways we encourage our guests to learn trust, to express themselves and to build a community with their fellow residents. As an addiction and mental health treatment center that focuses on traumatic pasts, we frequently welcome guests who have been hiding or suppressing deep negative feelings for some time, even many years. The simple act of voicing these emotions aloud to others who are ready to understand and support you can be incredibly healing. Over time, group therapy helps you clarify and process how you feel while finding that you are not alone on your journey to recovery.
Group therapy seems simple in principle, but for it to be successful, it requires skill, thought and preparation by a professionally-trained therapist. Each session is guided by a therapist and consists of a small number of therapy clients who work together to express their concerns or feelings. Unlike one-on-one therapy, these sessions are primarily controlled by you and your peers — your therapist’s role is to observe and keep your conversations constructive, but their ultimate goal is to help you connect as a group and offer your own ideas or solutions based on your personal experiences. It is your therapist’s job to first carefully select a group of individuals that they believe will be honest and helpful towards one another; then, it is their responsibility to hone in on and keep track of significant themes from group discussions.
If you are unused to letting yourself be vulnerable with others, the idea of group therapy can be daunting. But the act of trusting others with your story has been shown to be incredibly helpful, particularly in the early stages of your recovery. A 2009 review in the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy found 40 different studies that pointed to the effectiveness of therapy groups, particularly those that could identify a shared purpose or sense of community. What’s more, the clinical protocols and documented efficacy of group therapy exceed treatment recommendations from the Society of Clinical Psychology for conditions including PTSD, depression and anxiety, eating disorders and personality disorders.
Sharing these very personal events with others takes great courage. But, while therapy will challenge you in many ways, an expert therapist will know how to guide your group sessions with compassion and empathy. When it comes to group therapy for those who need to share deeply emotional and sometimes troubling stories, the right therapist leading a group session makes all the difference. The therapy staff at The Guest House is specifically trained to work with clients who have difficult experiences to share and are here to help you as you find the right words to express your thoughts and feelings. We are here to build you up, restoring your self-confidence by working at your speed and allowing you to process your experiences at a pace that is right for you.
We pride ourselves on our ability to create a supportive and thriving community among the guests in our programs. We strive to be a family to you while you begin your treatment journey with us, and we work hard to foster healthy and beneficial relationships between all the members of our household, both guests and staff. Our group therapy sessions are a vital part of this community-building effort, and we believe wholeheartedly in the importance of opening yourself up to others as you come to terms with your innermost feelings.
Some of our guests worry that their stories are too painful to share, or that no one will understand their difficulties. But at The Guest House, our therapy staff is uniquely trained to work with trauma survivors and will expertly place you among a group that can take away your feelings of self-doubt or isolation. We also provide numerous other therapies that will help you get to know your peers outside of the more intensive group therapy setting. Some of these therapies include activities that can feel just like an ordinary outing with friends, such as:
We know that deciding to seek treatment for whatever is troubling you is one of the hardest things you may ever do. We provide our signature high-quality treatments and amenities because we want to make the rest of the treatment process easier on you and your health. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable and safe at all times during your stay with us, and this includes ensuring that you are surrounded by people who you feel you can trust, both in and out of your group therapy sessions.