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Group Counseling involves a small number of people who meet in a group setting along with one or two members from the counseling center. These groups can take a variety of different forms, from individual focus, to specific topics such as grief loss, relapse prevention, life skills, anger management, low self esteem as well as a number of different concerns. This allows persons to work through problems and learn new life skills. Group counselors recognize that individuals have different ways of expressing themselves and strive to create an environment that respectful, caring, and safe. Group members are not forced to reveal more about themselves than they feel comfortable with, but they are expected to maintain confidentiality out of mutual respect for other group members. The counselors are there to make observations from a caring, objective position.
Group counseling is a very effective means of treatment and, in some cases, the best form of treatment for an individual with a particular type of concern. Many benefits are achieved as a result including feelings of self acceptance, how to express yourself, how to handle your feelings, and handling your feelings and emotions.
Confidentiality is of the utmost importance in group therapy. Members make a pledge that nothing occurring in the group, including names of other group members, will be shared with anyone outside of the group. These guidelines are essential to the development of a trusting, respectful, and safe atmosphere which allows members to openly share their feelings.