Why group therapy?

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We are excited to announce Cindy’s new and upcoming 12-week Process Oriented Group Therapy beginning Monday, August 17th! Sharing your personal experiences, feelings, and thoughts to one stranger, let alone a group of strangers can be extremely nerve-wracking and intimidating. But what many do not know is how beneficial and rewarding group therapy can be.

Group therapy has a long and well proven record as a highly effective and useful form of psychotherapy. It is as helpful, and in some cases more helpful than individual therapy, particularly in those situations where social support and learning about interpersonal relationships are important objectives of treatment. The vast majority of individuals who participate in group therapy benefit from it substantially.

Groups provide support, both as a support network and a sounding board. Listening to others who have similar issues helps normalize your challenges, providing relief that you are not alone. Also, other members can offer help through providing unexplored options & specific ideas for your challenges, as well as offering a different perspective to your situations. Groups also provide you with accountability along the way, making sure you achieve the goals you set for yourself.

Hearing the success of other members can encourage and propel you to do the same and move forward. Group therapy promotes your social skills, interpersonal relationships and communication as you practice re-engaging with other members and see how you get along with others.

Diversity within the group is an important benefit. Members all have different personalities and backgrounds, and allowing members to look at situations in different ways. Seeing how others view you allows you to uncover blind spots you may not be aware of. Diversity also allows you to see how others tackle their problems and make positive changes (which may be very similar to yours). This can serve as encouragement but also you gain insight on numerous different ways to face your our concerns.

Some other opportunities and benefits that group therapy offers:

  • Receive and offer support and feedback
  • Gain insight and understanding into one’s own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by looking at relationship patterns both inside and outside the group
  • Gain understanding of other peoples’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
  • Improve self-confidence, self-image, and self-esteem
  • Experiment with new interpersonal behaviors
  • Talk honestly and directly about feelings
  • Undergo personal change inside the group with the expectation of carrying that learning over into one’s outside life
  • Less costly than individual therapy

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WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM YOU?

Different groups have different expectations. Sometimes the group leader will create an agenda for the group, other times the leader just allows the group to develop and grow on its own. Some expectations common in groups include

  • Participants talk about any personal or relationship issue relevant to the problems and goals that lead them to therapy.
  • Participants offer support, ask questions, wonder about things said or not said, and share associations and thoughts.
  • Emphasis placed on examining the relations between members – that is, the “here-and-now.”
  • Members will often be asked to share their impressions of one another – their thoughts, fears, positive feelings, and some characteristics of the other that creates distance.
  • Disclosure about oneself is necessary to profit from group therapy, but at the same time members should choose to disclose at their own pace.
  • Direct advice giving amongst group members and from the group therapist is not a large part of how the group helps.

WHAT AM I GETTING MYSELF INTO?

Typically group therapy does not show immediate positive benefit to its participants. Because of this fact, participants sometimes find themselves wanting to leave therapy in the beginning if it becomes stressful for them. Some group leaders will ask members to make a commitment to the group, either asking for them to participate in a certain number of sessions or trying out different groups until one becomes a fit. In order to gain the most from your group therapy experience, you must suspend your early judgments about the group’s possible benefits and continue to attend and participant about the stresses and doubts you have.

For those interested in Cindy’s group, she is asking you all, especially those who are hesitant, to make an initial commitment to attend and participate in your therapy group for at least 12 consecutive sessions. By then you will have a clearer sense of the potential helpfulness of the group.


Cindy’s Process Oriented Group Therapy only has room for 6 -8 members, so space is limited. To sign up: email Sabina Flores @ Lifeskillsresourcegroup@gmail.com or call Life Skills Resource Group at 407-355-7378 to register. You can also call the office to schedule a free phone consultation with Cindy regarding the group.

Group information: (group flyer is included below):
When: Mondays 8am–9:15am or 5:30pm–6:45pm, beginning August 17, 2015.
Where: Life Skills Resource Group, 6068 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Suite 11, Orlando, FL 32819
Cost (3 options):

  • $35 per session, paid weekly; or
  • $30 per session, paid 6 weeks = $180; or
  • $25 per session, paid 12 weeks = $300

Click to view Cindy’s Group flyer & registration form

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