Empowering You to Live the Life You Want
Pacific Marriage & Family Therapy Network
Group Therapy
Pacific MFT Network is dedicated to providing outstanding service to all of our clients. Support and process groups are an excellent way to feel connected, get support, and develop skills for improved coping and a healthy lifestyle. Groups are a safe space where people with common interests participate in weekly gatherings to share their experiences and find a sense of community.
Myths and Facts about Group Therapy
Myth: It's the same as therapy
Fact: A group is not designed to offer professional counseling or psychological therapy. It's a place for people experiencing similar things to come together and discuss with each other how they have been impacted and share what has worked for them.
Myth: I'll have to bear my soul to strangers
Fact: It's up to you how much you decide to share. There are ground rules set up by the group leader, but no one is ever forced to speak. Group members are carefully chosen to promote the best possible group dynamic.
Myth: Joining a group will just make me feel worse
Fact: Sharing your experience with others that have had similar experiences in an extremely healing process. You will be surprised by how much more "normal" you feel once you've participated in a group.
Myth: People just sit around and complain
Fact: The talk in a group is monitored by the group leader who is a mental health professional. Sometimes the group has a predetermined topic to discuss and at other times participants foster their own topics. You will have a chance to learn about things you didn't know about before from people that have the life experience to tell you how it impacted them; treatments, medications, coping skills, programs, etc.
Myth: My personal and confidential information be shared in a way I cannot control
Fact: Confidentiality is essential to any therapeutic experience. Confidentiality is protected not only by the policies of Pacific MFT Network, but by law, and each group member must sign a confidentiality agreement which specifies the civil and criminal penalties that can result from breaches of confidentiality.
MYTHS
FACTS
Groups are the same as therapy
A group is not designed to offer professional counseling or psychological therapy. It's a place for people experiencing similar things to come together and discuss with each other how they have been impacted and share what has worked for them.
I'll have to bear my soul to strangers
It's up to you how much you decide to share. There are ground rules set up by the group leader, but no one is ever forced to speak. Group members are carefully chosen to promote the best possible group dynamic.
Joining a group will just make me feel worse
Sharing your experience with others that have had similar experiences in an extremely healing process. You will be surprised by how much more "normal" you feel once you've participated in a group.