Groups teach the same skills taught in individual therapy. However, groups have some advantages over working one-on-one with a therapist. Participating in a group can help reduce the stigma people sometimes feel when they are struggling with a problem. Participation in a group can also help reduce some of the isolation people feel when they have not shared their problems with others in their daily life. Groups enable people to obtain some support from others with similar concerns. They also enable people to share strategies with each other. Finally, groups can be very beneficial for people with social anxiety as a group provides an extremely supportive environment in which to practice social skills.
Groups are popular with some clients because they are much more affordable than individual therapy. As with individual therapy, the fees are covered under all health insurance plans that cover treatment with a psychologist.
Groups at the centre typically have a maximum of 8 members and 2 therapists and typically meet once a week for 8 to 12 weeks. The groups run for one to two hours per session, depending on the group. The children’s groups have a parenting group that is run, for a few weeks, at the same time as the children’s group. Parents are provided with parenting strategies and are also taught the same skills as their children in order to assist their children when they are practicing their new skills.
Each group has a workbook that members use throughout the group program to learn new skills. The workbook becomes a reference book of new skills when the group ends.
The following groups are available:
GROUPS