The Power of Peers

I wanted to talk about group therapy today, and the impact it had on me. I never was one for groups of any size, and I’m still not. When I was about to be enrolled into Rogers for the first time, I knew it involved a lot of group therapy, and I was not thrilled about it. If you’ve ever had a conversation with me, you know that I am 100% socially awkward. So, the idea of having to sit in a room with a bunch of people and discuss my most personal feelings made me want to crawl under a rock. What I did not anticipate from the group setting was a strong sense of belonging. Within the Rogers program, we were always with the same group of people, specific to our reasons for being there. We had art therapy, DBT therapy, and CBT therapy together. A majority of our days were spent together, primarily learning from the therapist, but also learning from each other. Group therapy wasn’t always depressing and dark. Yes, a good chunk of the time was spent discussing the topic for the group and having a discussion while learning the skills, however we also did other things. Sometimes we would play a game in the beginning to ease into the topic, or a team building exercise. When you spend 6-8 weeks with the same people, it’s hard not to form a supportive bond with them. I listened to their stories and their struggles, and I could empathize with them and understand where they are coming from.

As much as I have benefited from individual counseling, nothing compared to everything I have gained from participating in group therapy. The great part about the group aspect is your peers being in a similar position as you are. I don’t mean that I was happy to know other people were struggling just as bad as I was, but it was comforting to know I wasn’t alone. Everybody’s story may not be exactly the same, but the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors are something they have also experienced at one time. And they are able to share what has worked for them, in the hopes that it may work for me too. In the group, you are never left out. The conversations include everybody, and everyone’s feelings are valid at all times. Which brings me back to my previous statement about the sense of belonging I felt there. Even though all of us were going through our worst times to bring us to this treatment program, we had each other five days a week. However, it was always sad when the time came for someone to be discharged, but it was also so reassuring to know they were in a stable mindset to transition to outpatient counseling.

Each time I went to Rogers, including residential, I was part of a different group. All the people were different, but the strong peer support never changed. I am grateful to have experienced the benefits of group therapy, and not only all the things I’ve learned, but what I was able to give back to my peers as well. Due to my positive experiences with group therapy, I am pursuing a career down that path as a DBT group therapist.

Ciara