How To Feel Prepared At Your First Group Therapy Meeting
by Julia Gregory
Therapy is intimidating. Heading into an appointment for your health can be stressful in many ways, but therapy asks for you to be even more vulnerable than you already are in those appointments. On top of that, a group therapy setting can be particularly stressful. Social anxiety and fear can be quite hard to deal with in these situations. First therapy sessions are important for both you and your provider, so here are some ideas to help you feel more confident heading into your first group therapy meeting.
Introductions
Be ready to introduce yourself. This is, after all, probably the first time you will be meeting the other members of the group. Group therapy sessions will usually open with some introductions from yourself, the other group members, and the group leader. Be prepared to introduce yourself, and if you're scared to tell people about yourself, be honest. Honesty goes a long way toward building comfort between you and the other group members. After all, you are going to be talking about some very hard things together. It helps to be familiar and comfortable with each other.
Goal Setting
More likely than not, the group leader of your first session will also ask you to share your goals with the other members of the group. This helps the leader and the other members know what you're working towards. It's a good idea to sit down and think about what you would like your goals to be before heading to the session. This will help you feel more comfortable and present, as well as provide an opportunity for you to think about what you'd like to get out of the session.
Dealing With Anxiety
Nerves are very common when heading to a group therapy session! Remember that the session will likely be a bit intimidating for your other group members. Before your session is a great time to calm down and breathe for a bit. Make sure to give yourself ample time to get to the session and even possibly time to sit outside the session. Travel can be stressful; it can be really helpful to give yourself to unwind before walking into the session.
Be Prepared to Listen
The last piece of advice is to be prepared to listen. Group therapy will be a time for you to work towards your own goals, but it will also be an opportunity to work with others, strengthening each other as you go. Listening to your fellow group members will not only help them but can give you valuable insights into your own problems. Remember that group therapy is a place to heal together and you'll be off to a great start.
For more information about group therapy, contact a local company.
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About Me
The decision to move one of my parents into assisted living was one of the most difficult I have ever made. I had extreme feelings of guilt that led to me being at the facility with my parent practically around the clock. It took a few months before I realized that I could not let my own life fall apart from the guilt I was feeling. I also learned that my parent was fine without me constantly hovering around. Since that time, I have had several friends express similar feelings of guilt. I started this blog to help others in the same situation understand not only their feelings about assisted living, but those of their parents.