Some of the most fascinating movies to watch have to do with a ragtag group of individuals who overcome whatever differences they have to become an effective unit. Movies like Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai or James Gunn’s The Guardians of the Galaxy series come to mind. Individuals overcome personal obstacles and learn to trust others in the group, unlocking their full potential both as individuals and as a group. In some ways, group counseling is similar.

Any given group brings people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, and perspectives into one space to find healing and overcome a particular challenge such as binge-eating disorder, depression, anxiety, grief, or substance abuse and addiction.

The Challenges of Group Counseling

Group counseling can be challenging for many reasons. Group members might not like each other due to their personalities or communication styles. Some members might be overbearing or way more talkative than others, with others being passive and unwilling to contribute.

Group counseling works best when there is a healthy give-and-take between group members, but if that dynamic is absent or misaligned, it can make the group less than fully effective.

These challenges that come with group counseling can be met in various ways. One way is by taking the group through activities and exercises that help to build cohesion. Some of those activities will be described below. Other ways to help groups become effective and safe places of healing include setting clear rules and expectations for the group from the beginning and keeping group members accountable to them.

Other ways to address the challenges include providing space in the group for feedback and evaluation of the various activities and discussions the group has. This will allow the counselor guiding the group to effectively monitor the group’s dynamics and adjust things as needed. Creating space for all group members to participate and feel safe through clear boundaries and confidentiality also makes a difference.

The counselor can also foster a safe and non-judgmental environment by modeling this for group members, as well as noting and encouraging it when group members practice it.

Activities to Foster Group Cohesion and Wholeness

Groups can be dysfunctional and face significant challenges like the ones above. The good news is that group members aren’t left to fend for themselves. One of the roles that a group counselor performs is to help the group to function like a cohesive unit. The counselor guides the group in their discussions and in helping the group interact in respectful and constructive ways.

One of the tools that a group counselor has at their disposal are activities designed to help the group grow in their ability to communicate well with each other, nurture trust and openness, and develop skills such as emotional intelligence and empathy. Some of these activities can simply help the group know one another in the initial stage of their association, and others are for developing deeper bonds as the group becomes more settled.

Group counseling activities to foster deeper cohesion in the initial group counseling sessions can take the form of simple icebreakers like a group scavenger hunt, “Two Truths, and a Lie,” human bingo, or the name association game. Activities for building trust could include trust falls and trust walks in pairs, doing a group collage or mural, a blindfolded obstacle course, solving a puzzle, or sharing personal experiences and stories.

To nurture the group’s ability to share and be vulnerable, members could do “emotional introductions,” where they introduce themselves by sharing their emotional state, such as “I’m feeling sad today.” An activity like a gratitude circle where group members share what they’re grateful for can also help. Similarly, a group can have a trust jar where members write their fears and share them anonymously.

Other exercises to foster better communication, empathy, and reflection include the following:

• Practicing reflective listening.
• Doing exercises to help group members discern cues in non-verbal communication.
• Playing emotion charades where one acts out emotions and others guess what the emotion is.
• Doing a feeling words exercise to understand which words best describe certain feelings.
• Debriefing and reflecting as a group on activities performed and insights gained from them.
• Journaling as part of reflecting on one’s experiences, emotions, and thoughts.
• Practicing mindfulness as a group.

It may take time, but every group has the potential to grow in their ability to be a nurturing, safe, reflective, constructive, space of healing for all the members. Your group therapy experience will be unique, but it’s important to remember that your counselor will be with you all the way. You can find healing and develop the tools you need to cope and nurture wellness in your group.

Group Therapy in Redding, California

If you’re struggling with your mental, emotional, or relational well-being, know that you aren’t alone. Through group counseling in Redding, California, your needs can be effectively met. Reach out to us at Redding Christian Counseling in California to find a group that will work best for you.