Speaking as a creative practitioner, the capacity of the facilitator to hold the space makes a huge difference.
It doesn't sound like the space was held particularly well in that group where everyone was reacting off one another.
One of the things I retained from my Introduction to Therapeutic Writing course was the facilitator's comment 'If you are at all unsure of your own capacity, then don't lead the group.'
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'Somewhere up above the great divide
Where the sky is wide, and the clouds are few
A man can see his way clear to the light
'You have all the grace you need for today, and today is all that matters.' - Steve Austin