Psychotherapy is not just a process of pensive lying on a couch in anticipation of discovery. In our conditions, in general, the therapy of the soul rarely passes this way. But when to you friends or even the psychologist to whom you addressed, recommends not just psychological counseling, but group psychotherapy - how to treat it?
What in practice is a psychological group and how does it "work on yourself"? What to expect from the "group"? How can it help, and what does not?
What are groups for?
Psychological counseling and group psychotherapy are interrelated. Group therapy is one of the types of counseling, or rather, personal training.
Everyone is given time on the group - and he has a unique opportunity to speak and be heard, to get feedback not only from one person, but from many. After all, "truths in the last resort" does not exist, and it is better to find out how different people can perceive certain actions or even words.
While you are "on the couch" (and in fact - in the chair opposite the therapist or psychologist) "crucify" about life-tin, you talk about yourself. Maximum - about absent friends in the office, acquaintances and relations with them.
In the group there is a lot of dynamics. There are processes in it. And if the process of relations "psychologist-client" is studied along and across, decomposed into different stages with a detailed description, then in the group everything is much less predictable.
Psychological counseling - group psychotherapy - is effective in two cases:
- When you have worked out some kind of a stereotype of communication, "thanks" to which you can not move beyond a certain point (or with specific people - teachers, sellers, hams ... each individually).
- When you have more or less figured out "with yourself", and you can not wait to try out new ways of communicating and presenting yourself in a safe environment.
Group is a good company
It's rather difficult for adults to get together with like-minded people. Friends of childhood and adolescence, classmates and fellow students have fled to anyone ... And now a person who has already formed has only two main places where you can show yourself as a person - work and home.
But often, even if a woman has time for a collective hobby or a "circle of interests" (even if she was organized by herself or her friend), then communication there is strictly limited to the discussion of the hobby and domestic affairs. And this is not enough for a modern woman.
Psychological counseling - group psychotherapy in the course of time collects exactly such a company, in which they want and are glad to see each other not only at the appointed time. Moreover, one of the indicators of the "health" of the group and its development are meetings outside the therapeutic space.
A group is a workout
A safe place where you can talk or fool around, try an unusual role for yourself or work out an important moment. For example, say "no" to your interlocutor or adequately accept compliments. You say, these skills are natural and easy to work off? Well, try saying no to your boss or mother ...
With these social skills can not cope during individual psychological counseling - group psychotherapy works many times better.
Groups are different!
Groups can be different, based on the goals and objectives, the positioning of both the therapist and the group itself. But in general, they can be divided into supportive and "motivating." In the first often very trustful, gentle, careful attitude to each other.
Work here is at the deepest level, discussing those things and intimate details that you will not tell even the closest person. But if you want quick changes - choose a different type.
The second type of group has the following feature. Members of the group tend to compete with each other, "nudge" and suddenly "poke" in painful places. To participate in such a group requires more mental strength and a desire to develop. But progress is more significant.
The group is a safe place
How mysterious is the individual psychological counseling, just as group psychotherapy seems too "open". And to come to the group without the desire to open - the same as not to come at all.
The safety of the group is determined by many factors.
> From a certain time the group is considered "closed" - i.e. its composition becomes permanent.
> "Open" all the group members - it's almost impossible to keep silent. So, the secret knowledge of each other will be mutual.
> You can discuss everything that happens on the group with friends, relatives, colleagues, but according to the rules of the group, you can not name specific names and give precise instructions, "who" it can be. Without details, the situation as a whole and on its own behalf can be told.
> Persistence is something that a modern person often lacks. So, weekly (or bi-weekly) meetings, at a certain time, help to feel this place and this group as something safe.
What to learn?
It is difficult to predict the process of psychological counseling in advance - group psychotherapy - this is the kind of therapy where the most surprises are.
The coach can prepare his "program" - what to offer the group, or go for her interests. Mutual relationship of an adult daughter with an elderly mother who still commands her child what to do and how; productive interaction with the boss, instances, teachers in the child's school - all this can be brought up for discussion.
Surprisingly, over time, when there is a lot of trust within the group, the interests of its participants begin to coincide. And those who do not "bother" with a certain type of problems, leave the therapy or go to other groups.
Therefore, the group will not be able to name the classical training, although it is with the coach, and with regular "studies". Each solves either current issues, or global, or both, and others.