Group Therapy: Should I try it?

If you’ve ever wondered, “Would group therapy really help me?”, you’re not alone. It’s a common question, and a very human one. The idea of sharing your inner world with strangers might feel intimidating, even overwhelming. But here’s the truth: group therapy can be one of the most transformative experiences on the path to healing.

Why? Because in a group, something powerful happens. You begin to realize that the fears, patterns, and emotions you thought were only yours are actually shared by others. You get to witness growth, not just your own, but in the people sitting next to you. And maybe for the first time, you feel less alone in what you’re carrying.

Group therapy isn’t about performing or fixing anyone. It’s about showing up as you are, being met with empathy, and discovering that healing often begins in connection. So if you're on the fence, this post is here to help you explore what group therapy offers and how to get the most out of it.

Why Group Therapy Works

1. You See Yourself in Others.
When you hear someone voice a fear or pattern that mirrors your own, it can unlock self-awareness in ways individual therapy might not. There’s something profoundly normalizing about seeing your experience reflected in someone else.

2. You Learn by Watching.
You don’t always have to speak to grow. Watching how others confront their discomfort, set boundaries, or open up can teach you new emotional skills, often before you’re even ready to try them yourself.

3. You Get Real-Time Feedback.
In group, your interactions aren’t just talked about, they’re lived. If a certain tone or behavior you use creates distance or confusion, group members may reflect that back to you. That feedback, while sometimes hard to hear, is also incredibly valuable.

4. You Practice Connection in a Safe Space.
For many people, group is the first place they experience healthy vulnerability. It becomes a kind of emotional gym where you practice being seen, heard, and accepted, even with your messiness and shame.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Group Therapy

1. Let Yourself Warm Up
It’s completely normal to feel hesitant, anxious, or even skeptical in your first few sessions. Give yourself permission to just observe at first. Group therapy is a slow-blooming process.

2. Notice What You’re Feeling and Share It
You don’t have to have the “right” thing to say. Often, the most powerful moments in group happen when someone simply shares what’s true in the moment: “I’m nervous,” “I don’t know what to say,” or “I felt really connected to what you just said.”

3. Be Curious, Not Perfect
You don’t need to perform or “get it right.” Therapy groups are designed to hold space for the messy, vulnerable, in-process parts of you. Approach the group as a place to explore, not impress.

4. Lean Into Discomfort, Gently

Discomfort isn’t a sign that you’re doing something wrong—it’s often a sign that something important is happening. That said, there’s no need to dive in all at once. You can lean into discomfort at your own pace. Maybe it’s saying one vulnerable sentence, or even just staying silent but present when the group touches on a topic that hits home.

5. Respect the Space
Confidentiality, kindness, and presence are the backbone of every good therapy group. When you honor the space with your attention and your honesty, it becomes stronger for everyone, including you.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone

Group therapy is not always easy, but it is always real. It offers something our culture too often withholds: a shared space to be human together. In group, you don’t just receive support, you learn to offer it. You become part of something bigger than yourself.

And sometimes, just knowing that someone else sees you, sits with you, and says “me too”, that’s the beginning of healing.