"A persuasive body of outcome research has demonstrated consistently and unequivocally that group therapy is a highly effective form of psychotherapy"
From: The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 6th edition by Yalom I.D. & Molyn L.
If you are looking for group therapy in Ottawa, you have come to the right place.
Why Group Psychotherapy?
Human beings are social animals. There's no human deed or thought that can be grasped without the social context it is originated in. Our Self - or identity, if you will, is constantly shaped over time through the interpersonal interactions and relationships we establish within our social world. Some relationships, especially those we engage with our significant others in the early stages of our life, are pivotal in forging our personality which, in turn, determines how we respond to social situations.
When tied to traumatic/dysfunctional interpersonal experiences occurred in the past, these responses can affect the individual's present life, leading to psychological suffering, symptoms, and mental health illnesses. According to the theory of Interpersonal Psychoanalysis, psychological symptoms are to be considered an adaptation, to previous traumatic relationships with significant others.
The main objective of the interpersonal psychoanalytic treatment is to foster - never impose, a change through an improved understanding and awareness of the patient's conscious and unconscious experiences of themselves and the relationships they establish with other individuals. This can be obtained through psychotherapeutic treatments.
Since in our western culture therapeutic treatments are mostly represented in the form of indvidual psychotherapy, most therapists and patients overlook group therapy as a potential solution to the psychological suffering we, as humans, go through.
Group therapy is as effective as individual therapy. One of the main differences is that, not only the therapist, but also the group contributes to fostering awareness regarding each participants' way of function within a social context. Being in a group can be intimidating at first, but what most patients later recognize is that it is a warm and welcoming environment where they can learn a lot about themselves.
Riders on the Beach I (1902) - Paul Gauguin
How does it work?
In order to start, a group must be composed by a minimum of 4 patients, with 8 being its maximum capacity. All participants must be strangers to each other prior to the beginning of group therapy.
Meetings last 1h 30m and are held weekly at the same time and location.
To take part in group therapy, patients must undergo one or two psychotherapy assessment sessions. This phase precedes any psychotherapeutic treatment and allows both the patient and the therapist to get to know each other and understand what type of treatment is more suitable for the patients' current condition.
Although the duration of a psychotherapy treatment cannot be predetermined with certainty, the adherence to it represents a crucial factor for the achievement of the therapeutic goals. The therapist and the patients will commit to their best to not reschedule or cancel ongoing sessions.
Time and Location
Every Wednesday at 6:30 PM
Meetings are held at 355 Waverley St. - Complete Wellbeing Centre