Group therapy is a powerful tool for fostering personal growth. It is a safe place where you can discuss shared issues, practice new ways of expressing yourself and modify how you view yourself. Many find this type of therapy helpful in learning about themselves and improving their interpersonal relationships; it can also bring relief to unpleasant feelings of isolation, depression or anxiety. Group therapy can also be a great way to complement the individual or couples work that you may already be engaged in.
Groups are a great place to interact with others while obtaining direct feedback about any distortions in your thinking that you may be having. You will be able to obtain guidance and different perspectives on how to handle specific challenges that you are dealing with.
Led by Sam Fogarty
Led by Don McCarthy, LCSW
Group is a safe place to explore yourself and your way of relating to other people. Over the course of the group, powerful feelings may emerge between you and other group members. Group is a place to learn about how others view you and to experiment with different ways of being with other people.
The Gay Men’s Therapy Groups are “interpersonal groups.” This type of group focuses on the relationships between group members. Participants can use group sessions to experience and experiment with different kinds of interaction within the group. Group members use a here-and-now, process-oriented approach to heighten self-awareness. You can think of it as a laboratory, a place where people explore ways of relating to others and then receive feedback on how those interactions feel.
Unlike an interpersonal group, “support groups” are designed to give people skills or resources for coping with particular problems in their lives. Rather than focus on the group process, support groups tend to focus on members’ lives outside of the group. Although these groups aren’t support groups, those in our interpersonal groups tend to feel a tremendous amount of support from other members.
Almost anyone who identifies as a gay man can benefit from participating in an interpersonal Gay Men’s therapy group. Group is a safe and inclusive place to talk about important issues affecting gay men, including dating, building community, navigating the straight world, expressing vulnerability and quieting our inner critics. Members can also explore how different aspects of identity (such as race) lead to different experiences within the gay community. Members have the opportunity to connect with other gay men who are also committed to feeling more comfortable and self-assured with themselves and others. Together, group members learn to express feelings of vulnerability, conflict and connection. Anyone looking to increase the depth of their interpersonal relationships will benefit from group.
Groups are insurance reimbursable, much like individual therapy. We are an “in network” provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna insurances. Group therapy qualifies for reimbursement for those with other insurance plans that offer out of network mental health benefits. Also, we offer a sliding scale for those who who do not have insurance or have out of network benefits.
Therapy groups are ongoing and usually do not have a set point of termination. Individual members determine their length of participation in the group based on their own individual needs. Many choose to leave these groups when they feel that they have derived sufficient benefits. This process can range anywhere from a few months to several years. In order to give the group a fair chance and maintain some sort of continuity, the group therapist requires a minimum of a six-month commitment.
Each group member will have the opportunity to meet with the group therapist for a private initial meeting prior to the start of the group. This initial meeting provides an opportunity to address immediate concerns and generally alleviates some of the anxiety and discomfort that can occur when entering into a group. Consistent attendance and participation in the group also allow for members to get to know one another and develop trust through group sessions. Many find that meeting with others who are experiencing similar issues can be comforting, and this often sets the stage for discussing one’s own difficulties among familiar faces.
We encourage group members to participate in individual therapy in tandem with the group. Individual therapy can help you explore and unpack what triggers you during group sessions. If you already have a therapist, the group facilitator will ask to collaborate with your individual therapist to best support you and your needs. And, some members choose to work individually with the same therapist who runs the group. By observing how you interact with others and how you act one-on-one, your therapist can continue to help you resolve any interpersonal issues you are struggling with.
Contact us for a free 15-minute phone consultation. Before you join the group, we would have an individual initial session to assess if the group is right for you.
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