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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cubic_me on May 24, 2004, at 8:36:02
My T has just suggested changing over to group therapy. I'm completely undecided, and I really feel that what is inside me and what's going on with me is *mine* and I should be able to choose who I share it with and not feel obliged to share it with a group of people just for the sake of therapy.
Any thoughts/suggestions? I'd love to hear your experiences.
Posted by B2chica on May 24, 2004, at 9:12:24
In reply to Group therapy, posted by cubic_me on May 24, 2004, at 8:36:02
First of all, what's inside you IS your's. and you don't have to share anything you don't want to. You need to feel comfortable and safe.
Second, when i first got out of the hospital i had to go to adult partial (an all day thing) and this was Mostly group stuff. Some was ok, I personally am NOT, never Have Been a group type person so the main group sessions were Horrible for me. i felt incredibly uncomfortable, and actually at times it made me worse (anxiety skyrocketed)...
HOWEVER!!,
i was there off and on for about three weeks, and there were two people that said they Hated group stuff but after the first two weeks, i saw them begin to open up and it was probably the best thing for them that they've Ever experienced.
Then there were others that Really relied on the group sessions. They truly thrived here, they were able to ask their questions, get others experiences and advice along with a trained therapist to direct some of the misguided advice and add their own.
Givin this information, i would suggest at least giving it a try (but if you do, do it with an open mind otherwise it's moot.)
But don't force yourself to get involved, do it at your pace, make sure the therapist is onboard with going at your pace.Third, express your feelings about this to your T. make sure he/she knows you are unsure and see if you can overlap and do both for a while...see how it goes.
Best of Luck Cubic!
B2c.
> My T has just suggested changing over to group therapy. I'm completely undecided, and I really feel that what is inside me and what's going on with me is *mine* and I should be able to choose who I share it with and not feel obliged to share it with a group of people just for the sake of therapy.
>
> Any thoughts/suggestions? I'd love to hear your experiences.
Posted by rockymtnhi on May 24, 2004, at 12:17:19
In reply to Group therapy, posted by cubic_me on May 24, 2004, at 8:36:02
I too, am not a "group" person and like to keep things to myself so I was unsure about going to group therapy. It occurred to me that keeping things to myself has not served me well so I did consent to going to group therapy.
I have been going for about three months. It still is not something that I enjoy doing but I can see that when OTHER people open up in the group, it has helped them and watching this process has helped me. (I still cannot seem to open up).
Let your therapist know of your concerns. Please let us know what you decide and how things are going for you.
Take care.
Posted by 64bowtie on May 24, 2004, at 12:50:23
In reply to Group therapy, posted by cubic_me on May 24, 2004, at 8:36:02
Take it as a pat-on-the-back... results of a job well-done.
Rod
Posted by Speaker on May 24, 2004, at 19:39:10
In reply to Group therapy, posted by cubic_me on May 24, 2004, at 8:36:02
Cubic,
I am like you in that I don't think I would like group. I am a caretaker by nature and I'm sure I would find myself wanting to help everyone else and not reveal that I have a need in the world...just wouldn't work. However, I know several people who hated the idea of group but were willing to try. I too feel you should share this with your T. If your willing to try group I would suggest to your T that you keep your individual sessions and see if you want to give up your individual sessions or go to group or both. This doesn't have to be black or white...you can give it a color of it's own!
Posted by cubic_me on May 25, 2004, at 6:06:52
In reply to Re: Group therapy, posted by Speaker on May 24, 2004, at 19:39:10
Thankyou for the advice/insight guys, I will discuss it with my therapist next week. I have just had a therapy session but there was so much to talk about that there wasn't time to tackle this topic too.
She did say that I wouldn't be able to run the individual and group alongside each other, I had to do one or the other (because it's a free service and under resourced), but if group doesn't work out I'm welcome to go back to her. I'm trying to keep an open mind - I think that the concept is a good one.
I'll keep you posted on what's happening.
This is the end of the thread.
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