*** Dr. Savage is not currently accepting new patients **
I provide therapy groups from time to time. Group therapy has been shown to be very effective for a wide range of issues. Relationships are both hard but can be incredibly rewarding and healing.
Group therapy can be powerful. Often changes can occur from group therapy at much faster rates than in individual therapy, for certain issues, because the issues with relating to others occurs right in the room and we can work on the issues in the moment they occur.
Group therapy can be a powerful addition to individual therapy or a stand alone treatment. Group therapy can help people grow in their comfort and skill in relating with others.
My philosophy and training in group therapist is based on this: we were raised in groups, we live in groups, so relating to others is critical in healthy life functioning. We also learned from our earliest group (family) much of how we view ourselves, others, relationships, emotions, connection and trust (or lack thereof). Group therapy is a great way to learn and try out new ways of relating before trying them out in “the real world.”
If I am not currently advertising groups but this is something you really want, please let me know and we can look at starting up a new group.
Duration of groups vary based on the specific group type, and I usually require at least 2 individual prep session before the group starts to prep you for the group. Not only is group therapy incredibly effective,* it can be more affordable for those who cannot afford individual, and many insurances cover group therapy.
* Summary of some research on the effectiveness of group therapy:
- Burlingame et al (2003) conducted a meta-analysis of 111 experimental studies that compared various group therapies with control groups and found substantial evidence to indicate the benefits of groupwork. For example, the overall group therapy versus control group effect size of 0.58 indicated that the average person attending a group was better off than 72% of people who received no group intervention (e.g. remained on a waiting list).
- A meta-analysis by Tillitski (1990) combined results from nine studies that incorporated 75 outcome measures taken from 349 group members. Only studies that contrasted group, individual, and control conditions with a pretest-posttest design were selected. Results indicated that both group and individual therapies (of various models) had a measurable effect that was consistently greater than that of controls.
- McRoberts et al (1998) conducted a meta-analysis of 23 outcome studies that directly compared the effectiveness of individual and group therapy formats when they were used within the same study. Their results matched previous reports that indicated group and individual interventions are equally effective.
http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Group_psychotherapy
REFERENCES
- Burlingame, G, Fuhriman, A & Mosier, J (2003) The differential effectiveness of group psychotherapy: A meta-analytical perspective. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, 7, 3-12.
- McRoberts, C, Burlingame, G & Hoag, M (1998) Comparative efficacy of individual and group psychotherapy: A meta-analytic perspective. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, 2, 101-117.
- Tillitski, C (1990) A meta-analysis of estimated effect sizes for group versus individual versus control treatments. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 40, 215-224.