Am I Ready for Group Therapy?

The #1 most important factor for making the most out of any therapeutic experience is being ready and willing to do the work. Read CMR Staff Therapist, Helen Wyatt discuss, “Am I Ready for Sex and Relationship Therapy?”

In terms of what factors are necessary to get the most out of individual/relationship therapy, group therapy is no different! Willingness, a commitment to showing up in an authentic and vulnerable way and being an active group participant are all core factors that will determine how much you get out of this experience. The best way to contribute to an enriching group therapy experience is to truly invest yourself into the process - build relationships with your fellow group members, complete the weekly “homework assignments”, ask your group facilitators questions and take brave risks outside of the group to try out your new skills you are learning.

c/o giphy: questions

Below are the answers to a few common questions we receive from clients who are curious about group therapy:

I see that there is a consultation with one of the group’s facilitators before being accepted into the group, what does that look like?

Once you’ve expressed interest in joining a specific group, one of the group’s facilitators will reach out to you via email to schedule a brief video consultation to discuss your desire to join the group and answer any questions you may have. We want to ensure that the group will be the right fit for your needs and discuss your personal goals in a one-on-one setting.  

I’m already in individual and/or relationship therapy, is it beneficial to do group therapy at the same time?

Certainly! Whether you’re currently in your own therapy or have done therapy in the past, group therapy tends to be a very different experience. For individuals that are participating in a skills-based and psychoeducational group, it can be helpful to have a different therapeutic space (such as individual therapy) to help you process the takeaways from the group and understand how this information impacts your own lived experience.

How much will I be asked to share about myself and my experiences with the group?

You’re entirely in charge of how you show up in the group space and how much you choose to share. With that being said, we have found that the participants who tend to get the most out of the process are the ones who are consistent in their active participation. Vulnerability is contagious in the best way and by sharing yourself in this intimate way, it encourages other members to do the same and feel safe with you.

Is what I share in the group setting kept confidential?

All group members are expected to respect the confidentiality of their fellow members. For virtual groups, we ask that members have their camera turned on for the duration of the group session each week and that they sit alone in a private space. Group members are asked to not share information outside of the group that would compromise the identity of anyone in the group. Since we cannot control the behavior of other group members, we are unable to guarantee absolute confidentiality, but we find that group members are very respectful of each other’s privacy.

c/o giphy: shh

What does a typical group therapy session look like?

We’ll use our signature group, The Pursuit of Pleasure, as an example to answer this one! We have structured the 9 sessions around the book chapters of Emily Nagoski’s Come As You Are. Group members are asked to read the pre-selected chapter and have been provided discussion questions ahead of the group session. During the session, our sex and relationship expert co-facilitators will lead discussions and equip group members with evidence-based information that relates to the topic of the week.  Our goal is to use Nagoski’s text as a guide and then take that new acquired knowledge further to help women understand and embrace their sexual selves. Group members will be provided with weekly journal prompts so that they can reflect on the learnings outside of the group context. Each weekly session features a mix of grounding exercises, experiential activities that we do in the here-and-now, psychoeducational teaching related to female sexuality and relationships, and opportunities to share your personal reflections.

I see that the group runs for a certain number of weeks. Is attendance mandatory for all group sessions?

Consistent and regular attendance by all group members is integral to the group therapy process, however we understand that occasionally another commitment might prevent you from attending a session. To build synergy and connection amongst group members, we ask that each group member only miss a maximum of one group session in the series. If you know that you will have to miss more than one session, we will place you on our waitlist and notify you when we are running the group again to see if the scheduling aligns better for that group term.

Can I keep in touch with members after the group ends?

Group members who are interested in staying in touch and would like to share their contact information with fellow members are welcome to do so at the end of the group. While the group is running, we ask that each member introduce themselves by their first name only and wait until the end of the group to share their personal contact information. There is certainly never any pressure to share your contact information with your fellow group members - the decision to do so is completely up to you!

If you have any curiosities or concerns about our group therapy offerings beyond the questions that were addressed here, please feel free to reach out so that we can help walk you through the process of what group therapy entails!