Why Group?
Why not?
Group provides:
- An opportunity to take emotional risks and to grow personally
- A sense of not being alone in bearing life’s struggles
- An opportunity to look at the things that stand in the way of connecting with others
- An opportunity to have access to a range of perspectives about your personal situation
- An opportunity to find out how other people see you and to get information about it
- A way to connect without bearing all the responsibility of problem-solving (because it’s shared)
Research indicates that intimate relationships buffer from pathogenic effects of stress and reduce risk for a variety of illnesses; while a lack of intimate relationships increase risk for mortality, accidents, and developing illness (Prager, 1995).
Groups for cancer patients have been known to significantly increase quality of life and enhance survival times (Siegal & Classen, 2000).
What do you think a group could do for you?
Resources
Prager, K. J. (1995). The psychology of intimacy. New York: Guilford Press.
Spiegel, D., & Classen, C. (2000). Group therapy for cancer patients: A research-based handbook of psychosocial care. New York: Basic Books.
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