Therapy treatment in a group setting might increase your chance of healing and feeling better faster. In fact, more than50 clinical trialsand several decades of research have shown that group therapy can be just as effective as individual therapy.
Read on to learn what types of group therapy topics can be helpful so you can see if group therapy sessions might be worth trying.
- Family IssuesMany people use group therapy counseling to help them navigate challenging ordysfunctional family dynamics. Family can be some of the most difficult relationships we have in life, and group therapy sessions can help us understand that we’re not alone. Delving into how you interact with your parents, siblings, and other family members might explain a lot about your behavior and relationships with others.Topics that may be addressed in a group therapy session specific to family issues includes:Parent-child relationshipsSibling interactionsFeeling supportedResentmentForgivenessJealousyAbandonment issues
1. Family Issues
Many people use group therapy counseling to help them navigate challenging ordysfunctional family dynamics. Family can be some of the most difficult relationships we have in life, and group therapy sessions can help us understand that we’re not alone. Delving into how you interact with your parents, siblings, and other family members might explain a lot about your behavior and relationships with others.
Topics that may be addressed in a group therapy session specific to family issues includes:
2. Substance Abuse
One of the more popular group therapy topics, substance abuse can be discussed in a group setting quite successfully. You can learn more about your addiction and discover the triggers that might be contributing to why you engage in addictive behavior. Understanding triggers for addiction can be hugely beneficial in your addiction recovery.
One of the benefits of group therapy is learning exactly what types of things, events, or situations tend to cause you to crave drugs or alcohol means you can avoid them. By doing so, you can increase the chance that your sobriety will last, decreasing the risk of relapse.
Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchingsnotes that substance abuse group therapy discussion topics can include the following additional subtopics:
“In group sessions, substance abuse can be addressed from a peer-to-peer perspective or as an illness that affects the individual. In group therapy, the help and experiences of the therapist and peers may benefit the person more than individual therapy. Group therapy is an essential part of effective mental health and substance abuse treatment. When in combination with individual therapy and/or medication, the results can be visible within a few weeks.”
- Mental Health ConditionsGroup therapy can be effective for people with many different types of mental health conditions. It can be used in combination with individual therapy, or on its own for people who have conditions likedepression,anxiety,social anxiety, panic disorders, and more.Somemental health group topicsthat can be covered in a group therapy setting include:Education about a specific mental health conditionCoping skillsSocial skillsAcceptanceSetting boundariesDeveloping self-worth and confidenceOvercoming fearDealing withanger issues
3. Mental Health Conditions
Group therapy can be effective for people with many different types of mental health conditions. It can be used in combination with individual therapy, or on its own for people who have conditions likedepression,anxiety,social anxiety, panic disorders, and more.
Somemental health group topicsthat can be covered in a group therapy setting include:
- Emotional WellnessEmotional wellness, or emotional health, is your ability to successfully navigate the stress you face in life in a healthy, positive way. It’s also how you can learn to adapt and course-correct during difficult times. Emotional wellness groups can help you deal with challenges you may be facing — from loss, to love, to grief.Some topics that can be covered for groups supporting emotional wellness can include:Being more mindfulReducing stressHaving a more positive outlook on lifeHow to develop healthy sleep habitsStrengthening social connectionsDealing and coping with loss
4. Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness, or emotional health, is your ability to successfully navigate the stress you face in life in a healthy, positive way. It’s also how you can learn to adapt and course-correct during difficult times. Emotional wellness groups can help you deal with challenges you may be facing — from loss, to love, to grief.
Some topics that can be covered for groups supporting emotional wellness can include:
5. Grief
At some point in life, you’re going to have tocope with grief. We tend to think of grief as relating only to the death of a loved one, but in reality there are manytypes of grief.
You can grieve any significant loss in life. Leaving a home or town when relocating, losing or quitting a job, the end of a relationship—all of these can result in grief. It’s so important to learn how to navigate the grieving process in order to heal from loss in a healthy manner.
Some topics that can be covered in grief support groups can include:
- Criminal BehaviorCriminal behavior, especially once someone has been convicted of a crime and is in the criminal justice system, can be addressed through specific forms of group therapy. Differenttypes of cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) have been foundeffectivefor adult and juvenile offenders, violent offenders, and those who’ve committed substance abuse-related crimes.Group therapy topicsthat can be covered to address criminal behavior may include:Social skillsCritical and moral reasoningMeans-end problem-solvingImpulse control and managementSelf-controlReintegrating into society outside of prison
6. Criminal Behavior
Criminal behavior, especially once someone has been convicted of a crime and is in the criminal justice system, can be addressed through specific forms of group therapy. Differenttypes of cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) have been foundeffectivefor adult and juvenile offenders, violent offenders, and those who’ve committed substance abuse-related crimes.
Group therapy topicsthat can be covered to address criminal behavior may include:
- DivorceDivorce can be painful. If individual therapy isn’t enough, group therapy might be helpful as you grieve the loss of your marriage and begin the healing process. Being with like-minded people, who’ve experienced the same struggles as you can be a great way for you to start rebuilding your life. It doesn’t matter if you initiated the divorce, your partner did, or if it was mutual, it’s still a difficult time to navigate on your own.Some topics covered to address divorce during group therapy may include:Divorce depressionDating after divorceCoping with lossLonelinessPracticing social skillsFinancial freedomSingle parenthoodForgiveness
7. Divorce
Divorce can be painful. If individual therapy isn’t enough, group therapy might be helpful as you grieve the loss of your marriage and begin the healing process. Being with like-minded people, who’ve experienced the same struggles as you can be a great way for you to start rebuilding your life. It doesn’t matter if you initiated the divorce, your partner did, or if it was mutual, it’s still a difficult time to navigate on your own.
Some topics covered to address divorce during group therapy may include:
- TraumaHealing from trauma takes a lot of work, which is why trauma might be one of the most common group therapy discussion topics out there. Dealing with past trauma is important to recovering and healing mentally and emotionally.If you’ve experienced any sort of trauma — such as abuse, assault, the death of a loved one, illness, or anything else — and you’re having a difficult time healing, group therapy might help you tremendously.Topics that can be covered in group therapy for trauma can include:Sexual assaultFinancial abuseMental abusePhysical abuseAcceptanceForgivenessAnxietyDepressionFearTrust
8. Trauma
Healing from trauma takes a lot of work, which is why trauma might be one of the most common group therapy discussion topics out there. Dealing with past trauma is important to recovering and healing mentally and emotionally.
If you’ve experienced any sort of trauma — such as abuse, assault, the death of a loved one, illness, or anything else — and you’re having a difficult time healing, group therapy might help you tremendously.
Topics that can be covered in group therapy for trauma can include:
- Domestic AbuseDomestic abuse can be incredibly difficult to recover from. Many people assume domestic abuse is violent in nature, but the truth is abuse can come in many forms. It can be psychological, physical, financial, or anything else that’s the result of behaviors meant to scare or control you.The power dynamic that’s created in an abusive relationship can be tough to overcome, but group therapy can help you realize thereisa different life out there for you and you deserve to live it.Topics that can be covered in domestic abuse group therapy can include:TrustEstablishing or rebuilding your social networks and connectionsSafety planningUnderstanding how power and control work in a relationshipFinancial freedomForgiving yourselfLove shouldn’t hurt youFear and isolation
9. Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse can be incredibly difficult to recover from. Many people assume domestic abuse is violent in nature, but the truth is abuse can come in many forms. It can be psychological, physical, financial, or anything else that’s the result of behaviors meant to scare or control you.
The power dynamic that’s created in an abusive relationship can be tough to overcome, but group therapy can help you realize thereisa different life out there for you and you deserve to live it.
Topics that can be covered in domestic abuse group therapy can include:
10. Phobias
We’re all afraid of something. However, when your fear becomes detrimental to your daily life, or when it holds you back or prevents you from achieving your goals, something more might be going on.
If you have phobias that are bordering on the line of being debilitating, or they’ve crossed that line altogether, group therapy might be able to help. Group therapy can cover several of themost common phobias. Through your sessions, you can work to identify the root cause of your phobia along with coping skills to allow you to move past it.
Group therapy discussion topics for phobias can include the following:
- Self-CareSelf-care is important at every stage of life. Whether you’re a student, working your way up in your profession, a new parent, fighting for your marriage, in your golden years, or at any other phase of life, taking time for yourself is important.Self-care makes you stronger in any situation or relationship. Working with a group to discuss topics like self-care can help you come up with ideas about how you can take better care of yourself.Topics that can be covered in self-care group therapy might include:How to practice mindfulnessHow to meditateBenefits of exercise like yogaJournalingGoal Setting
11. Self-Care
Self-care is important at every stage of life. Whether you’re a student, working your way up in your profession, a new parent, fighting for your marriage, in your golden years, or at any other phase of life, taking time for yourself is important.
Self-care makes you stronger in any situation or relationship. Working with a group to discuss topics like self-care can help you come up with ideas about how you can take better care of yourself.
Topics that can be covered in self-care group therapy might include:
- Weight & Body ImageWeight loss or body image support groups can be extremely effective in helping people figure out why they have the relationship with food that they do. Food and body image issues can be overwhelming. It might be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but working in a group can remind you that you’re not alone and that you can achieve your goals.Topics that can be covered in a weight loss group can include:Learning how to identify and conquer your triggersUnderstanding the weight loss processKnowing how to fuel your body for exerciseFinding the types of exercise that work for youDiscussing your relationship with food, exercise, and self-image
12. Weight & Body Image
Weight loss or body image support groups can be extremely effective in helping people figure out why they have the relationship with food that they do. Food and body image issues can be overwhelming. It might be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but working in a group can remind you that you’re not alone and that you can achieve your goals.
Topics that can be covered in a weight loss group can include:
- Anger ManagementAnger management is a tough mental health group topic, but group therapy can be very helpful if you struggle to manage your emotions. By talking with other people to learn coping skills and how you can control your feelings, you might be able to get to a place where you’re no longer feeling out of control when it comes to your anger.Topics that can be covered in anger management groups can include:Conflict resolutionStress managementCommunicationPositive thinking skillsPeople and social skillsHow to handle the unexpectedTherapy isn’t going to be easy per se, but the right style and technique — like group therapy — might make it easier for you to commit to the process. Group therapy is a great technique for many people who’re looking for additional support on their journey to becoming the best version of themself possible.“My group therapy participants have shared that coming to the group is important because they feel empowered and motivated to keep working towards recovery or healing.”Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, CFTP, CLYL, CMHIMP
13. Anger Management
Anger management is a tough mental health group topic, but group therapy can be very helpful if you struggle to manage your emotions. By talking with other people to learn coping skills and how you can control your feelings, you might be able to get to a place where you’re no longer feeling out of control when it comes to your anger.
Topics that can be covered in anger management groups can include:
Therapy isn’t going to be easy per se, but the right style and technique — like group therapy — might make it easier for you to commit to the process. Group therapy is a great technique for many people who’re looking for additional support on their journey to becoming the best version of themself possible.
“My group therapy participants have shared that coming to the group is important because they feel empowered and motivated to keep working towards recovery or healing.”
Sources:1. Novotney A. Keys to great group therapy – Seasoned psychologists offer their expertise on the art and skill of leading successful group therapy. American Psychological Association. 2019;(Vol 50, No. 4):66.https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/04/group-therapy. Accessed November 2, 2021.2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. National Institute of Corrections.https://nicic.gov/projects/cognitive-behavioral-therapy. Accessed November 2, 2021.
Sources:
Novotney A. Keys to great group therapy – Seasoned psychologists offer their expertise on the art and skill of leading successful group therapy. American Psychological Association. 2019;(Vol 50, No. 4):66.https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/04/group-therapy. Accessed November 2, 2021.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. National Institute of Corrections.https://nicic.gov/projects/cognitive-behavioral-therapy. Accessed November 2, 2021.
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