group

group therapy (noun) : the place where individuals sit at a table filled with food possessing only extra long utensils that prevent them from bringing food to their mouths and therefore they go hungry
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Ideally, these people eventually are supposed to learn to feed each other with those same utensils. You may have heard this story as the difference between heaven and hell - it's the same thing really.

Joining a group helps the therapist see how you actually interact with others (and not rely simply on what you tell him or her). More importantly, the group dynamic is supposed to present the individuals with a safe place to hear how you communicate or act and how you are perceived, in case you want to make some changes here. Nice theory but very difficult to do with a group of people who all have different issues that they are working through. One basic and recurring theme is the need to feel heard and understood.

In an episode of the US reality television show, Survivor, the host Jeff Probst actually showed how group therapy works best (and to his or his producer's credit, he even noted this). Take a look at tribal council on episode 10 - http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/
and Jeff's input as to his role as therapist -
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/04/21/jeff-probst-on-episode-10-of-survivor-redemption-island/

Until next time...