When most people think about therapy, they picture sitting one-on-one with a therapist. And for good reason. Individual therapy can be an incredibly valuable space to slow down, make sense of what you are feeling, understand patterns, and work through things that may be difficult to talk about anywhere else.
But sometimes, there is something powerful about realizing that you are not the only person having those thoughts, feelings, or struggles.
That is where group therapy can offer something different.
For many people, the idea of joining a therapy group can feel intimidating at first. You may wonder what you would say, whether you would be expected to share personal things right away, or whether sitting in a room with people you do not know could actually feel helpful. Those concerns are completely understandable. But over time, group therapy can become a place where people feel seen, understood, and connected in ways they may not have expected.
At Caroline H. Schiff, LLC in Westport, CT, we offer both individual therapy and in-person group therapy for young adults and adults. Rather than thinking of group therapy as a replacement for individual therapy, it can be helpful to think of it as another kind of therapeutic space—one that offers something individual therapy simply cannot recreate in quite the same way.
One of the most meaningful parts of group therapy is discovering how many experiences we assume are unique to us really are not.
It is easy to look around and think everyone else is handling life better. Someone may seem confident, productive, social, or completely put together while privately dealing with anxiety, self-doubt, relationship struggles, low self-esteem, loneliness, or uncertainty about where their life is going.Then someone in group says something you have thought a hundred times but never said out loud. Maybe they describe constantly worrying that other people are upset with them. Maybe they talk about having a hard time setting boundaries or feeling guilty for saying no. Maybe they admit that they feel lonely even though they have people around them.
There can be a real sense of relief in hearing someone else describe something you thought was just you.
That shared understanding is part of what makes group therapy so different. You are not only talking with a therapist who understands what you are experiencing. You are sitting with other people who may be working through similar things themselves. Group members can offer different perspectives, encouragement, and sometimes simply the reassurance that another person genuinely understands.
There is also something particularly valuable about working on relationships while actually being in relationship with other people.
So many of the things people explore in therapy show up between people. Maybe you have trouble speaking up for yourself. Maybe you worry about being judged, rejected, misunderstood, or taking up too much space. Maybe you automatically agree with other people to avoid conflict, have difficulty asking for support, or pull away when you start to feel vulnerable.
Individual therapy can help you understand those patterns. Group therapy gives you a chance to notice them while they are happening.
You might realize that you stay quiet even when you have something you want to say. You may notice yourself worrying about whether the group likes you after you share something personal. You might disagree with another group member and have the opportunity to experience a disagreement that does not end in rejection or conflict.
Those seemingly small moments can become meaningful parts of the therapeutic process.
This is also one reason group therapy can complement individual therapy so well. The two do not have to be an either-or decision.
Individual therapy gives you dedicated time to focus entirely on your own experiences. You may spend more time exploring your history, emotions, relationships, coping patterns, and goals. Group therapy can then provide a place to put some of that insight into practice.
For example, maybe you and your individual therapist have been talking about how difficult it is for you to express what you need. In group, you may get an opportunity to practice speaking up, even when it feels uncomfortable. Or something may happen during group that brings up a strong reaction, giving you something new to explore more deeply during an individual session.
The two experiences can build on one another.
The format of the group can matter too. Virtual therapy has made mental health support much more accessible, and online therapy can be a great option for many people. It offers flexibility and makes it possible to attend therapy without worrying about commuting or fitting travel time into an already busy day.
But group therapy is also about connection, and there can be something unique about being physically present with other people.
In an in-person group, you are sharing the same space. You notice someone's facial expression when you say something vulnerable. You hear the small laugh when someone relates to what you said. You notice pauses, body language, tone of voice, and all of the other subtle ways people communicate with one another.
There is also something about physically showing up each week, sitting with the same people, and gradually becoming more familiar with one another that can help create a sense of consistency, connection, and belonging. Those moments can feel different when everyone is sitting together rather than appearing in separate boxes on a screen. Being in person can also make it easier to step away from some of the distractions of everyday life. You are not joining from your bedroom while emails pop up on your computer or someone walks through the next room. You have intentionally entered a space where the purpose is to be present with the group.
For someone who works remotely, has recently gone through a transition, feels isolated, or simply wants more meaningful connection, meeting with the same people in person each week can also become an important source of community.
And if the thought of walking into a therapy group still makes you nervous, you are probably not alone. Most people do not enter their first group feeling completely comfortable. Trust takes time. You do not have to walk through the door ready to tell everyone your deepest thoughts or immediately know exactly what to say. You can listen. You can get a sense of the group. You can participate more as you become comfortable.
Often, the people sitting around the room are feeling many of the same nerves.
At Caroline H. Schiff, LLC in Westport, CT, our in-person groups are designed to provide a supportive space for young adults and adults to connect, share, and grow alongside others. We currently offer a Women's Group and an ADHD/Neurodiversity Group, with opportunities for open discussion and processing as well as therapeutic tools and skills when they are helpful.
Whether you already have an individual therapist or are simply looking for another source of support, group therapy can offer a different kind of experience—one built around connection, shared understanding, and the chance to learn not only about yourself, but also about how you relate to others.Individual therapy can remind you that your experience matters. Group therapy can remind you that you do not have to be the only one experiencing it.
If you are interested in learning more about in-person group therapy in Westport, CT, we invite you to reach out for a free consultation to see whether one of our current groups may be a good fit.