Why Join A Support Group?
Support groups are often a great addition to individual therapy/coaching or even a replacement depending on your needs and budget because it’s usually a much lower cost. Here are some benefits:
Topic specific - support groups usually are centered around a specific theme, topic, or focus area. For example, an anxiety group, a stress management group, people pleasing group etc. So not only will you be able to discuss the topic at hand and explore it in depth - you will likely learn tools to help you manage and cope with a challenge related or more information on a topic thats close to you. For example, my people pleasing group we will discuss how people pleasing shows up in your life and how to break those tendencies. So its often very niched material that can help you with a specific challenge you are dealing with.
Connection - support groups offer connection with other group members. You will most likely walk away feel seen, understood, and heard in a way that you don’t always day to day. You get intentional space to talk to others and listen to others and to feel connected with people who you otherwise would not have met.
Feeling less alone - common humanity which is a pillar of mindful self compassion. As humans it’s easy to believe we are alone in our suffering and struggles, however common humanity teaches us we never are. As humans we have challenges, so rather than isolate and hold the feelings in to yourself which will eventually lead to worse, speaking to other people who get it because they are going through the exact same thing can be quite impactful. In a support group, members will relate and share their own feelings and experiences with the issue at hand as well as how they’ve coped. So you will feel less alone and learn some new tools at the same time.
Learn tools, ways to cope, strategies to shift, and solutions toward change - support groups often provide information to learn about specific skills and tools to cope with difficulties and challenges and bring guidance. So you are also learning and gaining insight and discovering new ways of making shifts toward change in your life.
Cost effective - while individual therapy or coaching can sometimes be hard to afford on a weekly basis, support groups are a smaller fee over time. And many support groups are short term, so you can join for a certain amount of weeks rather than an ongoing basis (depending on the group).
Online - my current groups are all online, which I know has its pros and cons. However, a pro is that you get to join from anywhere in the world and be comfortable in your own space. You can also journal, have some tea, and just be in a space of safety for you while you talk and listen.
Is fear holding you back?
Outside of not always knowing groups exist or how they operate, I find that feeling afraid can get in the way of people joining. Which makes sense, it can be scary to show up with a room full of strangers and be vulnerable. But a reminder that you are not obligated to immedietely start sharing and talking and it takes time to get to know group members and the vibe of the group. The first group session I like to take to get to know one another and discuss group expectations as a team to decide what everyone wants and needs from the group. And you absolutely do not have to share day one. Especially if you have social anxiety, this can be tough. But trust me, over time you will warm up and get comfortable with it and end up feeling quite empowered. So in addition to the above benefits, you will leave feeling confident in yourself because you have overcome this fear and spoken up in front of what were strangers, and now trusted peers.
Still unsure?
Understandable! You have to find the right group, especially the first time. That’s why I offer free phone consultations like many group leaders do - I want to make sure its mutually the right fit. As I get to know people, I think about how the group may gel and who would get along and try to create a group of people who will ultimately mesh well. Cant always predict that of course. But the phone consultations are your time to learn if the group is even right for you in the first place in terms of what you are looking for and goals and you can ask the group leader questions and see if it could fit. Most groups start for a short amount of time like 8-12 weeks, so you can give it a go and you’re not locked in long term. I always offer extensions, so everyone can see how the group is and then decide if its worth continuing on further.
Learn about my upcoming and currently running groups here, please feel free to reach out to me and schedule a free 20 minute phone consultation or email me directly!
