Support Groups Are Different from Group Therapy Often, group therapy and support groups are used interchangeably in our day to day lives. However, it is worth noting that these two concepts and practices are as different as chalk and water. This is mainly to do with pop culture. Right from Fight Club to Jerry Maguire, movies and TV series show support groups in different contexts. Due to the popularity of these movies and our genera tendency to get influenced by pop culture has led to this perception that group counseling is the same as support groups. However, there are some very key factors that differentiate these two practices from each other. Let’s first understand what these two practices mean. Group therapy is when two or more therapists get together to treat ten to fifteen people with similar illnesses. A support group, on the other hand, is when a group of people with shared experiences or concerns come together to give each other encouragement and comfort. Now, here are 2 main differences between group therapy and support groups. 1. Different goals - One of the main differences between a support group and group therapy is the goal. You go for group therapy to change, but you go to a support group to cope. Group therapy activities are designed to help people get better at dealing with their trauma to one day get rid of it or at least be better equipped to deal with it on a daily basis. Support groups, on the other hand, are for when you realise that your coping skills are not strong enough to help you through a difficult phase in your life. It is all about getting support and encouragement from people who are on a similar ship as you are. It is a blessing to be around people who have similar experiences and getting their support can mean a lot and make a huge difference in your day to day life. With group therapy, the goal is to help you understand yourself better, and moreover, help you understand yourself in context to your issue a lot better. 2. Commitment varies hugely - Due to a lot more casual nature of support groups, the commitment required from a support group member is minimal. Members can drop in for a session as and when they feel like. However, with group therapy, due to the amount of work that goes into it, a lot more serious commitment is required. Irregular members can disrupt the group dynamics. Different group therapies have different activities planned. Group activities for teens would differ from those of a group full of war veterans. Hence, it is extremely important for members to be regular and more than that, stay committed to the cause. Also, in a support group, the dynamics are different. Not a lot is expected out of a member, apart from mutual respect and maintaining a decorum. However, it is a lot more different in group therapy. There are roles and responsibilities for every member that they must adhere to.
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