Posted by shar on August 18, 2000, at 23:07:44
In reply to Re: One On One Therapy or Group....or both? - All » Chris A., posted by Greg on August 18, 2000, at 19:35:06
Greg,
Probably one of the big issues in 1:1 versus group is that the dynamic is extremely different. In 1:1 you can work on issues that are important to you, and you get to know yourself and feelings well. AA probably helped there, too. (A lot of people don't actually realize what feeling they're experiencing at the time they have it. They may realize it later or not. It's like the person who laughs when talking about anger (I still do this at times), or is saying yes while shaking their head no, or talks about "you" instead of "I", etc.)Group can be run like everyone has an mini-session with the therapist, but by and large that isn't the case.
In group, my therapist puts a big emphasis on interactions within the group (ie, telling others how you honestly feel about something they did or said (this is very hard for me), or learning to value differences, or not changing yourself because someone might get mad at you). Plus, a group will usually be a place that can bring out family issues, or authority issues. Plus, other members may stimulate in you things from sibs or other important family members, that you can work on.
In my group, storytelling is not encouraged unless needed for background, very different than AA! She uses the Agassarian (?) method with other stuff thrown in. Primarily, she says group is like a laboratory for the real world. And, I do find that to be true.
With my current therapist, I saw her individually (storytelling allowed) for about a year, then to group (coed vs. same sex is another question) with occasional individual appointments, then quit for a while, then to individual again after about a year (some of this was pre-AD stuff), then went with soon-to-be-ex-husband (now is ex), then saw her individually some more, now in group again with rare individual appointments.
We also e-mail each other, and I can call her if needed to talk. We've talked a lot in and out of group about my unemployment (that's a BIG stressor).
This is long, isn't it?! More than you ever wanted to know!!
Take care,
Shar
poster:shar
thread:45
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20000813/msgs/70.html