Types Of Ventura County Group Counseling

By George Powell


Not everyone enjoys working in groups. It means that you have to open up. You have to learn to work as a team. Some people enjoy a one on one approach. However, when it comes to Ventura County group counseling, you will find that it is a little different that a group at college or work where you are focusing on team building.

There are people who will especially take advantage of this. Many therapists have been trained especially for this type of therapy. Working with groups is not a walk in the park. You are dealing with a lot of people at once. Some people will want to take over and other will want to bottle up their feelings. A sense of balance needs to be created within the group.

Of course, you don't have to feel that you should say something. In a more organized environment that you are playing a lot more for, it can be to your advantage to make the effort and communicate. It is not easy at first, especially for someone who is reserved and introverted. However, you will find that there are long term rewards to look forward to. You are not judged in any way either.

The same applies to the therapist that you have a one on one session with. You may have an intimate relationship with a person like this. However, it can be different because they are professional in what they do. They are understanding, caring and understanding. But they have not been through the same thing, so you may feel that they can't identify with you.

This is the difference with that of a group. This is not to say that a group is not professional. It is led by a psychologist or counsellor who has been trained to work with group members. It is not always an easy task because you have to know how to deal with conflicts which may come up. There are different personalities which sometimes can cause complications. Some people are extroverted and others want to keep to themselves.

The therapist will encourage quieter members to open up. However, he or she won't force them to talk. Often, over time they will begin to share. They are encouraged by the other members who share their side of the story. Compassion will develop, and this is sometimes the way in which the introverted folks begin to share their stories.

They will connect with others because they will feel the same way when someone expresses him or herself. They will feel that this sense of identity brings them closer together. The relationship strengthens and often they feel that the support will lead to additional backup outside of the group. It is more of an informal type of support that they can look forward to.

There are sessions for people who seem to fit into same sectors. For example, teens will feel more comfortable when they are talking in a group with other kids of the same age. There are groups for men who will usually talk about issues that relate to men. There are also groups for single moms who need the support because of obvious reasons.




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