Patrick
B. McGinnis, PhD, LMHC
Psychotherapy, Sex Therapy, Couple's Counseling, Addictions Counseling, Psychological & Psychosexual Assessment and Polygraph Testing
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Psychotherapy, Sex Therapy, Couple's Counseling, Addictions Counseling, Psychological & Psychosexual Assessment and Polygraph Testing |
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Stumbling Blocks
You may feel puzzled and discouraged during the early meetings. You may be unclear about how working on group problems and intragroup relationships can be valuable in solving the issues that brought you to the group. This is to be expected. STAY IN THE GROUP. Commit to at least 12 sessions before trying to evaluate the usefulness of the group to you. Therapeutic goals are ambitious; you are trying to change behaviors and attitudes which took many years to develop. Treatment is therefore gradual, subtle and long. At least a year of treatment is usually needed.
Many members find it difficult to reveal themselves, or to directly express their negative or positive feelings and/or thoughts. Many members experience an initial tendency to withdraw emotionally, to hide feelings, to let others express feelings for them, and to form concealing alliances with others. These are issues you will want to talk about in group. If you do talk about them your therapy will progress more rapidly.
No treatment offers immediate gratification. In group your anxiety and frustration will tend, initially, to increase. Because of this most people who drop out of group will do so within the first 12 sessions. Resisting this impulse is important to long term change.
You will likely develop frustrations or annoyance with the therapist. You will expect answers from him that he will be unable to give you, or you may expect him to protect you from uncomfortable situations. Talking about these feelings is important. Help also comes from other members, although it may be hard to accept this.
Over socializing. Group is an opportunity to learn about one's problems in social relationships but it is not a place for meeting and making friends. The group will lose its effectiveness if you give in to this desire. The group will help you learn how to develop intimate, long-term relationships, but it does not provide these relationships. If you meet with other members outside the group it is important to discuss important aspects of this relationship in the group. Secrets and secret sub-grouping will sabotage your treatment.
Copyright © 1991 Patrick B. McGinnis, PhD. All rights reserved. |
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