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Old Apr 03, 2019, 01:56 PM
Anne2.0 Anne2.0 is offline
Grand Magnate
 
Member Since: Aug 2012
Location: Anonymous
Posts: 3,132
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bcefbc View Post
My therapist wants me to go to a support group or group therapy. It’s not like connected to her or anything she pulled up a list of a bunch of groups in our area and said that I would really benefit from them. I will not go to group therapy. It’s not even something I’d consider. It feels like a violation of my privacy to talk about extremely personal and painful things with people who aren’t bound by HIPPA to keep my privacy. She was really pushy about me going. This isn’t normal for her, she’s never like this but for some reason she feels like I need to do this. I’m not sure how to explain to her that this not something I will do. It is a hard boundary of mine. Any help appreciated.
Long ago, my second therapist suggested group therapy. I think that for CSA survivors, it is considered useful for connecting to others with shared types of experience. Every group has a confidentiality policy and while it might not be HIPPA, I think it's good enough to ensure your privacy. Personally, I think it's worth a try to see how it goes, or even just being willing to talk to the group therapist and find out more about it. Getting more information rather than being closed minded about something might be a useful way to proceed. You can explore the idea further without committing to actually do it.

I spent about 9 months in group therapy before I decided the therapist didn't work for me. But the group experience did do something important for me that individual therapy did not, which was give me a better sense of my impact on other people. I learned that my intentions sometimes fell outside my mark and that sometimes people had weird reactions to me because of their own stuff. And it went a good distance in helping me with the shame and disconnected from people feelings of my past. After my group therapy, I joined a support group that was led by someone (can't remember who) for about 6 months and then we continued meeting on our own until I moved out of town 6 or 7 years later. I'm still in contact with these folks from time to time, and have visited when I've returned back to the state.

You only have to take it one step at a time. Investigate and see if it might be right for you, if you would be comfortable given your concerns about privacy (they are reasonable concerns). You don't have to commit to doing it, but maybe you would be surprised and find out that it might appeal to you.