Group Therapy With Sally

Monday evening 6-7.30pm. £35 per session. 3 Mondays per month
Location TBC but it will be in Clifton, Bristol.

This is a course of 10 sessions from (dates to be added)  Members commit to attend the whole course. 

I think groups are a wonderful opportunity to learn about who you are, how you relate to others, and to understand how you are in the wider world. Most of our relational difficulties come from unhelpful past relationships, particularly during childhood, and we can get stuck in an old way of behaving. Groups help us see how we relate to others individually and in a group and also how we can stop sabotaging ourselves and our relationships. 

This group is suitable for people who have experienced individual therapy. It is a very different experience to individual therapy where you have your therapist’s undivided attention. In a group you share the experience with others and this can be challenging but also very healing. It can complement individual therapy or stand alone. 

How many people will there be in the group and what is the cost?

The group is for a maximum of 7 people.

The group costs £35 per weekly session. Signing up for the course is an agreement to pay for all sessions of the course regardless of whether you attend. I will ask you to pay for at least the first 4 in advance. You are welcome to pay for the whole course upfront or any later sessions 48 hours ahead of the individual session. I will ask you to sign a contract to this effect. It is important that we all commit to following through the group process, however hard that might feel. You and others in the group may decide to continue in subsequent groups or stop after this course. There will be no session the first Monday of each month. 

What are the goals of group therapy?

You can build a very supportive and safe group together, where you can share things you would not normally talk about.

To improve your communication in relationships, learning how others perceive you, understanding your own and others’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. 

You will have the opportunity to experiment with new interpersonal behaviours and build greater self-confidence as outdated self-images and expectations in relationship are challenged, resulting in changes that can be witnessed by others in the group. This will also benefit your relationships inside and outside the group.

What can I expect to happen in a group?

Groups go through stages – “forming, storming, norming, performing”. This theory was developed by Brian Tuckman, a professor of educational psychology in the US in the 1960s. It reminds us that groups are not cohesive from the outset and it takes time to build rapport, trust and safety. There may then be a period of “storming” when members are still thinking individually and pushing back against the group. But in the “norming” stage, the group comes together and members increasingly engage and rely on each other. In the performing stage, the members have solid trust in each other and show empathy and support. This may feel very unfamiliar as we are not encouraged to be collaborative in daily life. In a group we learn that working as a team can bring great self knowledge, confidence and joy. The group itself becomes almost another member with themes, responses and feelings. 

Participants are encouraged to talk about personal or relationship issues that led them to therapy. Emphasis will be placed on examining the relations between members as things arise. Members will be asked to constructively share their impressions, thoughts, fears, and positive feelings of one another. It may be daunting, but you will not benefit from group therapy if you do not participate.  Sharing our experiences and hearing others’ makes us feel less alone, more validated and accepted.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an essential part of what makes a group work. We will agree not to discuss others in the group outside of the group. Relationships with group members outside of the group are not encouraged. This allows issues to be resolved within the group and prevents divisions or cliques forming.

Exceptions: if any information is disclosed of criminal activity or that suggests you or others may be at risk of harm then the group leader may need to disclose it to relevant authorities. 

How do I apply for the group?

Email me and we will arrange to meet for an introductory session so we can discuss your experience, and what you are hoping for and whether the group is the right place for your therapeutic needs. This meeting will last 50 minutes and costs £50.