Support Groups

Power in Numbers

Noelle Sanders- Salt Lake City, Utah

Since the age of 19 (I'm now 27) I have been in and out of group therapy programs called intensive outpatient programs, group therapy, inpatient programs, and rooms affiliated with AA, CA, NA, HA, codependency support groups, eating disorder groups; the list goes on and on. Therapy has been in my life since I was 15 and while 1:1 therapy has benefitted me I've seen the real change within myself occur in group rooms. On October 5th I was arrested for intoxication, a night I don't remember at all but changed my life. The weeks leading up to this, as well as the last year, had me spiraling. I didn't know what was my imagination vs the real world. I felt alone, scared, helpless and did not feel I could talk to anyone. I was blacking out almost everyday or was sick on my off days from withdrawal. I could not keep a job for the life of me, was ignoring good friends and my hobbies, didn't feel safe in my own skin, hated the life I was living and really just couldn't control my emotions anymore. I reached out to Laura, and with her help got into a treatment center that has changed my life. I am sharing my story so maybe someone else realizes their struggles are shared by others and maybe just maybe you won't feel so alone anymore. I did 5 days of detox, 28 days of residential rehab, a month of php(5 days a week of group therapy 9-1), and now am currently residing in sober living and attending intensive outpatient programing for the next three months(4 days a week of group therapy 9-12) aside from all the treatment programming i have found a family within the rooms of CA & AA and got in touch with a sponsor who is also helping shape my sobriety and recovery. This may not be for everyone but it's working really well for me.

Group therapy and meeting rooms are benefitting me everyday. I am reminded just because I may have lost a lot about myself. I gained a new healthy life filled with learning and creating a space to thrive. There's parts of the group program that allows me to have a safe space and receive safe feedback, I can relate to others with my struggles, I have made a healthy group of friends on the same journey, I also have people to look up to or people that lean on me in the hard times, lessons to retrain our brains to healthy thinking patterns and we do fun things like art, equine, and recreation therapy. Another benefit is group therapy tends to be way more affordable since it's a group and not just you. The anonymous community like Laura's meetings are also free!!!

Below is information from the internet on types of group therapy, actual statistics on why it works, and why it's becoming so popular. Thank you for letting me share my story and I hope someone reading this will try attending a free meeting if needed or if you would like resources on a group therapy program or treatment facility to retrain your brain- please reach out <3 You are loved and just because shits hard doesn't mean it's forever. ~ Noelle

Individual therapy is 1 type of psychotherapy. It involves a trained professional helping a single individual work through the therapeutic process. Group therapy involves a group of individuals with similar experiences and issues that are all treated at the same time in a group setting being able to lean on one another with advice of a professional.

Types of Group Therapy:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): works to change your thinking and behavior by recognizing negative patterns and reevaluating them. Group sessions can consist of identifying the situations that are triggering for people and working to develop skills for managing those situations.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): is an evidence-based psychotherapy that began with efforts to treat personality disorders and interpersonal conflicts. Evidence suggests that DBT can be useful in treating mood disorders and suicidal ideation, as well as for changing behavioral patterns such as self-harm and substance use. DBT evolved into a process in which the therapist and clients work with acceptance and change-oriented strategies, and ultimately balance and synthesize them. (retrain the brain)

Support Groups: (kinda like Laura's mental meetups) could be in person or online. You give and receive support from other group members who are going through the same thing. They tend to be more peer facilitated and don't have to be run by a professional.

Process groups: doesn't necessarily have an agenda or topic but is a safe space to talk about what you are going through that day, week, month and get support from your peers and a therapist to help guide you.

Psychoeducational groups: This type of group stands behind the “knowledge is power” mantra. There’s a specific focus on defining, providing coping tips, and building your knowledge base on your specific mental health condition. Psychoeducational groups tend to focus on particular conditions. A 2017 study involving people with bipolar disorder found they experienced improvement in symptoms with this type of group therapy.

Skills development groups: In a skills development group, facilitators focus on introducing and developing new skills you may need to make the best choices for improving your mental health. In a 2016 study involving adults with intellectual disabilities, study authors found that participants were more likely to acknowledge their own progress when the input came from their group peers versus a professional.

Experiential Therapy: is an approach to psychotherapy that includes the use of recreational activities, various expressive modalities, and other physical and emotional activities. By using hands-on activities or role play, children, teens and adults can learn to identify and focus on what they're feeling.

Anonymous groups: attending AA and engaging in the program can help people achieve sobriety, develop confidence in their recovery, and improve their relationships. Treatment from the twelve-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings can help reduce the effects of alcohol abuse on the alcoholic attending the meetings, other alcoholics, their friends and family, and improve the overall health of the community. AA INFO AND MEETINGS

** Group therapy may be a great fit for you, even if you’re not 100% sure at first. If it’s something you’re considering, it might be a good idea to look into finding a group near you. You can also ask your healthcare team for recommendations. Whatever you decide, know that making the step toward a treatment decision is something to recognize and be proud of. Better together.