Spring and summer oftentimes bring about renewal and change. In many ways, this is true for individuals as well. Throughout life, you may encounter challenges that feel too big to handle on your own. Getting help from others can make all the difference in feeling supported and empowered to face life’s challenges head-on. Group therapy has been proven effective at reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, substance abuse, and more by connecting folks with similar experiences. Validating and sharing resources, as well as supporting each other’s success, can have a positive impact on the groups’ collective journey toward healing.
Benefits of Online Group Therapy
Online group therapy is a treatment modality that has been around for a long time, but it’s still one of the most effective ways to help you learn how to interact with others in a new way–and it can help you cope with stress, too!
Online group therapy is a form of treatment that, in part, uses the power of group dynamics to help people overcome their problems. It can be an especially good option for people who benefit from seeking support from others to help them work through their issues.
In group therapy, you’ll meet with other individuals who are facing similar issues or problems in life. You’ll have time to share your thoughts with these others and talk about how they affect you, which can be very helpful in gaining perspective on things that may be difficult for you alone. Group members will share their own experiences and listen as others talk about theirs. This helps each person feel less alone with whatever they’re going through, which in turn helps them find new ways of coping with their problems or trauma.
The group setting also provides opportunities for growth through interactions between members of your group as well as between members and leaders (group therapists).
Online Group Therapy versus In-Person Group Therapy
Online group therapy is a great option for people who need help with their mental health but can’t get to a therapist’s office. It’s also a good choice for those living in rural areas or who have trouble getting to an office. Likewise, it can allow connection with a broader, more diverse group of people to allow for richer conversations and perspectives.
Online support groups are often cheaper than individual therapy, which means that you can save money on treatment without sacrificing quality. You’ll have access to both professional guidance, and support from other members of your group. Depending on the group, you may even have the opportunity to exchange contact information and connect with members of the group once the group has ended (dependent upon group members’ and therapists’ preferences – but if you are hoping for the ability to have ongoing connection with your groupmates following the conclusion of your online group therapy space, ask your group leader about this)!
Differences Between Online Individual Therapy and Online Group Therapy
Online group therapy is a great way to feel connected with others and learn from them. It also provides acceptance, support and encouragement as well as opportunities for growth.
In group settings, people often feel more comfortable sharing personal information than they do in individual sessions because the group can provide a sense of validation and “normalcy,” offering a different sense of safety than what might be experienced in individual work. Group members also report feeling less vulnerable sharing in a group space than in individual therapy, given the companionship and sense of camaraderie that if oftentimes experienced in a group setting. Knowing that someone who hears you might be able to say, “Me too,” can be a powerful differentiator between online individual therapy and online group therapy.
Group therapy can help you:
- Feel less alone in your struggles
- Develop a sense of belonging
- Learn new skills
- Find acceptance and support from others who are facing similar challenges
When to Consider Online Group Therapy Over Individual Therapy
Online group therapy can be a great addition to your individual therapy. The following are some reasons why:
- You need a safe place to share and process difficult experiences with others who may also experience similar struggles.
- You’re ready to learn new skills but don’t have the time or money for individual therapy.
- You want to be part of a community that supports you and your goals
- You’ve been doing individual therapy for a while now and would like some additional perspectives on how best to move forward
- You are seeking advice from other’s who “just get it.”
- It is time to take a break from individual therapy and see how group therapy can be used as an adjunct or new way to “get over a hump” or “break through” a potential stuck point.
Online group therapy is a great option for people with busy schedules, as it is oftentimes time-limited or less frequent than weekly individual therapy. It can be a good option for those who are nervous about individual therapy, or who need more support than they can get from one-on-one counseling. Group members learn and practice coping skills together, which helps them develop a support system.
Spring and Summer Options for Adults and Adolescents in NC
Spring and summer are perfect times to consider online group therapy!
Oftentimes clinicians may have new groups they are launching in spring or summer, or maybe YOU have some new goals you are ready to initiate with the switching of the seasons!
You may also have schedule changes that now allow for group therapy to be an option! Perhaps school is out, and you do not need to pick up or drop off? Or, your adolescent is now able to attend a group because they are on summer break!
Summer is a great time for youth, adolescents, and teens to be able to get additional mental health and peer support. Especially for those who have a summer break, it can be challenging not to have the daily structure and opportunities for social connectedness offered through schooling. As an option, consider a teen virtual therapy group! It is a great chance for adolescents to continue to prioritize mental wellness, while also getting the structure and social support they may be missing during the summer break!
Types of Online Therapy Groups Available at Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting
There are many types of online therapy groups available at Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting. In fact, you can choose from several different types of groups:
Online Coping Skills Groups
These are designed to help you learn new ways to cope with stress, anxiety, ADHD, grief, and depression. They usually meet weekly for six to 10 weeks and each session includes a portion on learning, reviewing, and discussing a coping skill or two. Oftentimes, there are discussion, support, or “process” components as well.
Examples of online coping skills groups at Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting:
- Mindful Awareness for ADHD and Anxiety Coping Skills Group
- Building Better Coping Skills: A Group for Women and Nonbinary Folx
- Adult Virtual Grief and Loss Group
- Teen LGBTQIA+ Virtual Group
- Teen Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender-Diverse Virtual Group
- Seasonal Depression Coping Skills and Support Virtual Group
Online Therapeutic Support Groups
These focus on providing emotional support and encouragement while helping members build healthy relationships with one another by sharing personal experiences that may be difficult to talk about otherwise (such as grief after losing a loved one). Coping skills and psychoeducation may also be included throughout.
Examples of online therapeutic support groups at Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting:
- Adult Queer+ Virtual Therapeutic Support Group (open/ongoing)
- Adult Grief and Loss Virtual Therapeutic Support Group
- Separation Support – Virtual Therapeutic Support Group
- Blending, Parenting, and Your Partners Children -– Virtual Therapeutic Support Group
- Caregiver Fatigue Virtual Therapeutic Support Group
- Survivors of Sexual Assault Virtual Therapeutic Support Group
Online Interpersonal Process Groups (IPGs)
The goal of this type of online group is to help participants better understand their own feelings through observation and discussion with others who share similar experiences–such as members dealing with addiction challenges, or survivors of trauma, or those with shared experiences relating to surviving abuse or assault. Many of the groups offered at Be BOLD, noted above, have an interpersonal process group component.
Keep an eye out on our group therapy page, our Instagram, and our Facebook for a list of our upcoming groups each season! Many named above will be registering for Spring and Summer!
Start Group Therapy This Spring or Summer in North Carolina
With all the benefits that online group therapy can offer, there’s no reason not to give it a try! You don’t have to be alone with your struggles anymore! You can find support from others who are going through similar situations and work together on overcoming them in a safe environment. If you’re interested in finding out more about our online support groups or scheduling an appointment with one of our therapists, please follow these steps:
Contact us today at (919) 525-1873 or email info@beboldpsychologync.com.
Discuss with one of our caring staff what the best support group is for you
Start connecting with others who understand your struggles
Other Online Therapy Services We Offer in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, & Throughout North Carolina
Our therapists are dedicated to supporting every person. Regardless of race, size, abilities, religion, sexual orientation, and gender. So all of our online therapy services are inclusive and affirming for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent clients. This includes support groups, individual therapy, couples therapy, marriage counseling, and relationship counseling.
We are here to support you if you are struggling with loss, grief, trauma, or PTSD. Or if you are living with anxiety or depression. Our online therapists can help with a variety of therapies including EMDR.
