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littleblackdog
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Default Jun 12, 2019 at 08:46 AM
  #1
Does anyone have any experience of group therapy (psychotherapy rather than skills-based groups, such as CBT/DBT)?
I recently attempted therapy by email which didn't work out, and so my quest to find some sort of help continues

I have been in touch with a group therapy centre, had an initial one-to-one meeting with one of the therapists and she thinks it could help me BUT I am really not sure about group therapy, so I wondered if anyone here could share their experiences?

On the face of it, what she said sounds good - a group of people who are going through similar struggles, with a safe, non-judgmental place to talk and where I might feel less isolated and more accepted etc. etc. etc.

But, I am really not very good in groups of people, I have social anxiety and even thinking about walking into an established group (I would take the place of someone who has recently left) makes me SO anxious, and I am not sure I will ever feel comfortable talking about myself in any depth to a group of people.
I am also not sure if this would be more of a benefit than one-to-one therapy, and I have been told that if I go for the group therapy I cannot be doing any other therapy.

Sorry for all the questions, I am just so confused. I feel like I don't know enough about how therapy works, and which type if therapy would be best for me. Everyone I have spoken to or seen over the last couple of years (GP, psychiatrist, crisis team, psychologist, psychotherapist etc.) has told me something different about what will or won't help and now I am just desperate and also worried that because I am desperate I will just make the wrong choice and end up worse off than I am now...
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Default Jun 12, 2019 at 09:25 AM
  #2
I find it odd that they say you can't be in individual and group therapy at the same time. Is that because it is through the government health system? I guess I can see how the system might place that kind of restriction on services.

I have done groups therapy three times. Twice, I found it rather benign, meaning it didn't help or hurt. I found it rather ineffective in being in any way really helpful for what I needed to work on at the time.

However, I did participate in a fantastic group therapy for a bit over a year. I was also in individual therapy at the same time. I think one of the reasons for the effectiveness of the group therapy that time was that my individual therapist also co-led the group therapy. The group was also very focused on a particular issue so all members were dealing with similar issues. What was helpful was hearing those other stories. Much of the work and effectiveness occurred in hearing their stories and making the connections to my own issues and needs. Because my own therapist was co-leading the group, if there were take-aways from the groups session or problems came up for me personally that needed more exploration individually, we were able to do so privately.

The combination was extremely helpful for me at the time, and I made great progress during that time.
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Default Jun 12, 2019 at 09:58 AM
  #3
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Originally Posted by ArtleyWilkins View Post
I find it odd that they say you can't be in individual and group therapy at the same time. Is that because it is through the government health system? I guess I can see how the system might place that kind of restriction on services.
No, this is not through the NHS. The group therapy place are partly charity-funded and I am not sure why they have this rule.
I had mentioned that I am on an NHS waiting list for CBT and then at the end she just commented that if I did decide to go for group therapy then I wouldn't be able to do the CBT (or other individual therapy) at the same time.
I didn't have time to ask why but I have a follow-up session booked with her in a couple of weeks, where I have to decide whether to go for this or not, so can clarify then.
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Default Jun 12, 2019 at 11:48 AM
  #4
Not actual group therapy but I participated in various peer support groups of different kinds, some were quite similar to group therapy. I found it much more useful than individual therapy and I never got obsessed with it the way I did with individual therapy. Just much healthier for me all over. Many are also free and don't have rigid structures.
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Default Jun 12, 2019 at 01:10 PM
  #5
Hi LittleBlackDog,

I've wondered how you've been doing. From what you say, the therapy-by-mail thing didn't work out. I'm sorry to hear that, but I'd think that would be more likely to work if you already had an established face-to-face relationship with a therapist and were just using email to tie up some loose ends or clarify some points. Oh well, it was worth a try anyway. Now you know.

As it happens, I've had TONS of experience with group therapy, very little of it oriented to specific therapeutic skills. It was mostly pretty much of a free-for-all - that is, everybody talks about their stuff. Hopefully in turn.

Here again, so much depends on the group leader. If they are skilled and conscientious they will help to make sure that every member is heard from at one point or another, and will also help to introduce a new member into the group. There should be no scapegoating or favoritism. Communication should be encouraged to be respectful, and in fact one of the advantages of group is that you can learn new ways to communicate with others, if the ones you're using aren't working for you. You can also learn from how others communicate.

If the group starts working for you you will probably kind of bond with the other members. Not that there won't be conflicts, but here again, a good group is a great way to learn ways of resolving and living with conflicting opinions.

As always, I wish you well. Please let us know how it goes!
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Default Jun 13, 2019 at 07:43 AM
  #6
Thank you
I have had two meeting with one of the group therapists now, and she understands my concerns. She has also said that she thinks that group therapy will help me, but she has also been very honest that it doesn't workout for everyone (which I appreciate).
It does seem like they try to match you up to a group that they think you will fit into, rather than just chucking into the first group that has a space and I think I would initially have a couple of one-to-one sessions with the group therapist first (or more if it takes longer for space to become available).

I have three weeks now until my next "assessment" appointment so have some time to think, and also to talk to my psychiatrist to see what the implications are for any ongoing or future treatment through him...
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Default Jun 13, 2019 at 07:13 PM
  #7
Wait, LBD - you have a psychiatrist? I'm assuming, from what you've said, that the psychiatrist just prescribes medications for you, does not do therapy with you?

And the thing about not being able to do individual therapy while you're in a group - would that preclude a relationship with your psychiatrist?
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Default Jun 14, 2019 at 03:09 AM
  #8
Yes, I see a psychiatrist. Initially for medication but I am treatment resistant, but he is also my 'care coordinator' which means that he refers me to other NHS services (like the psychology team).
My main worry is that if I go down the private group therapy route that I would then be discharged from the NHS psychiatry service and then if it doesn't work out I will have to go back onto the waiting list.
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Default Jun 14, 2019 at 07:55 PM
  #9
A significant concern, for sure.
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Default Jun 15, 2019 at 12:06 PM
  #10
So the psychiatrist can refer you to an individual therapist? I remember when you first started posting you were going to try an individual who didn’t work out for you. Was that a referral from the Psy?
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Default Jun 17, 2019 at 08:09 AM
  #11
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So the psychiatrist can refer you to an individual therapist? I remember when you first started posting you were going to try an individual who didn’t work out for you. Was that a referral from the Psy?
He can refer me to other NHS services in my area. So, I was referred to the psychology service and am now on their waiting list for a 20-week course of CBT but they do not offer long-term therapy (or, if they do then I don't qualify for it).

He can also point me in the direction of other private services, which is where I found the therapist I saw recently, and the group therapy centre, but these are outside of the NHS, are self-referral based and I have to pay for them.
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Default Jun 18, 2019 at 03:08 PM
  #12
I see, thanks. How long do you think you might have to wait for the CBT, LBD?
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Default Jun 19, 2019 at 04:35 AM
  #13
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I see, thanks. How long do you think you might have to wait for the CBT, LBD?
The waiting list is 6-9 months (I have already been waiting for 4 months)
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Default Jun 19, 2019 at 03:30 PM
  #14
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The waiting list is 6-9 months (I have already been waiting for 4 months)
Jeez, I can see why you're exploring other options!
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Default Jun 28, 2019 at 02:57 PM
  #15
I really want to join a good group therapy where we openly talk about our problems and frustrations and whatever in front of other people.

I thought maybe this forum might have something like that. It at least offers more than what I got. My therapist put me in a group therapy last year and it turned out to be a CBT group. I was very underwhelmed and bored. I was sitting around with what looked like a bunch of depressed people, and this teacher/instructor lady was just telling us to BE POSITIVE and think positively, blah, blah, blah... when what I really wanted to do was get to know everybody in the group and hear their stories. I find stuff like that very comforting and therapeutic. I don't "get" CBT groups, from what I've seen. I felt like I was in a kindergarten class. I dropped out of it after a few weeks.
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