At MindMovers we provide Group Therapy interventions. Group therapy typically involves six to twelve individuals who meet face to face once a week with two trained psychologists to learn and practice skills and further develop their knowledge. Each group focuses on a specific aspect of personal growth to empower each individual to navigate the ups and downs of their own lives. The interactions within the group give each member an opportunity to notice their unhelpful patterns and practice healthier ways of interacting.
How does it work?
Individuals re-create the unhelpful dynamics and behaviours that are currently occurring in their lives when amongst their peers, and psychologists help facilitate understanding, foresight, and change. Additionally, the process that occurs when peers get together in a group format enables what we have termed "positive peer modelling". This process not only normalises life experiences but it also enables each individual in the group to start to faciliate their own change and growth from the encouragment of their peers. Each group is uniquely tailored to the needs of its members through the use of various activities, interventions, and discussions.
Benefits of group therapy
Groups are a unique and important aspect of self-growth for children and adolescents. Creating guided peer-to-peer interactions is specifically beneficial in learning skills in emotional and behavioural interventions in the following ways:
The power of the group enables change becauseindividuals feel less alone in their struggles and are offered a sense of community and connectedness
Groups offer support and normalisation of both psychological and normal life difficulties and growth
Groups reflect real-life interactions, making the skills transferrable to everyday life
Group members are inspiredby the changes they see in others "Positive Peer Modelling"
Groups facilitate learning to give as well as receive support
Groups allow a chance to actively participate in one’s own self-growthand receive immediate feedback from one’s peers
Self-efficacy is developed through learning emotional regulation and feeling emotionally connected to others
Confidence is developed through the flexibility to try out new solutions within a safe environment
Socialisation techniques are learned through the modeling of behaviours of psychologists and other group members
Less costly than individual counseling
Self-confidence with peers is developed through a social identity provided by the community
Groupswork as effectively as individual therapy for many issues, and can also be used to complement individual psychological interventions