Importance of Group Therapy in dealing with Trauma
You might ask if attending group
therapy would be beneficial when seeking treatment for PTSD
(or any other psychological issue). Attending a group has many advantages, and
group treatment is frequently just as beneficial as individual therapy.
According to Dr(Prof) R K Suri, # 1 Clinical Psychologist & Therapist, “Trauma
survivors who participate in group therapy gain new coping mechanisms while
also feeling heard and supported”.He further highlights the benefits as
discussed below:
1. Validation
Validation is a key benefit of group therapy. When you are in a group with people who are experiencing
the same issue, you could find that you are not the only one who struggles.
Additionally, you might discover that some group members are struggling to deal
with the same issues, such as relationship issues, substance abuse, sleep issues, or impulsive behaviors.
Additionally, it can occasionally be
challenging for someone without PTSD to comprehend what someone with PTSD is
going through. They might struggle to comprehend how difficult it is to deal
with memories of tragic events in the past. However, in a group situation,
other PTSD sufferers could be better able to understand and validate what you
are going through since they have experienced a lot of similar experiences.
2. Learning from Others
Another benefit of group therapy is
the opportunity to learn from others' experiences. You can learn about the
coping mechanisms that other people found to be successful and ineffective. You
might discover fresh approaches to handling issues in your personal or
professional relationships. You can learn about different viewpoints on your
difficulties that you might not have thought of otherwise by participating in a
group.
Additionally, you can profit from
other people's experiences who have dealt with PTSD for a longer time or who
have overcome its consequences. Additionally, simply by participating in a
group, you can pick up some useful social skills. A new skill, like
communication, can be practiced and tested before being applied to individuals
outside of the group.
3. You can help others
Your experiences in dealing with
PTSD may be helpful to other group members, just as you can learn from others
via their experiences. Your sense of self-worth and confidence in your capacity
to manage PTSD
symptoms can both rise as a result of being able to assist others.
Additionally, studies have shown
that assisting others might aid in the management of one's own anxiety.
4. Social Support
Finally, group therapy is a
fantastic approach to getting other people's social support. A critical element in
assisting people in overcoming the negative impacts of a traumatic incident and
PTSD is finding support from others. You may have the chance to create
dependable, wholesome relationships with other people in a group setting.
For many years now, group therapy
has been used with trauma survivors. It was created at the same time as
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which was recognized as a legitimate
mental condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'
third edition, published in 1980.
Trauma survivors frequently receive
trauma group therapy, which is regarded as an effective kind of treatment. In
reality, research from 2017 reveals that group therapy has several benefits
over individual therapy, including the ability to "normalize" trauma
symptoms and provide participants with social support.
An 8-week trauma-focused CBT intervention
for female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), also known as domestic
abuse, was examined in a 2021 study. PTSD, anxiety, and depression are common
in IPV survivors.
Trauma group treatment has many
advantages. It might be:
- Beneficial at easing the symptoms of PTSD
- Beneficial in managing chronic symptoms
- Less expensive than private therapy
- A place of safety for surviving
- A location where survivors can connect with others and feel a
feeling of kinship
- A method to aid in reducing the stigma or humiliation survivors
may experience
- A method to aid participants in regaining others' trust
- A method for assisting people in overcoming social anxiety or
phobia
- A checking procedure
- A method for participants to learn new coping mechanisms and
self-care techniques
- A strategy to increase
the self-esteem of participants
There are many advantages to group
therapy for trauma patients. In reality, research demonstrates that group
treatment is not only significantly more cost-efficient than individual
therapy but also just as effective.
Group therapy for trauma may be an excellent first step toward feeling
better if you or someone you love has experienced trauma and needs extra
support you can connect with TalktoAngel and take Online counselling from the Best
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To
get more support to overcome your trauma, you can also consider in-person group
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Contributed
by: - Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Best Clinical Psychologist in Delhi, NCR & Aditi Bhardwaj
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