[zouzou16]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum, and I was hoping to get some pointers on ending group therapy. I have been in group therapy for almost two years,and I don't think it's been helping me and I've been wanting to leave for a while. I brought it up a couple of times, and feel like I was pressured by the therapist and by at least one group member to stay. So I've stayed longer to see if I could make it work.
Any advice out there on how to end therapy? I find it difficult and anxiety provoking... and I almost need to get into new therapy to deal with this!

Are you seeing a therapist?

If going to group is making your life worse, that is hardly beneficial. They advise, but you have the final say.

Good luck.

[ECHOES]

Do you know why it doesn't feel helpful? Is it possible you are being encouraged (which could feel like pressured) to stay to help you get to a place where it would be helpful?

For example, if a person is holding back, that makes therapy feel unhelpful. That can also can be felt by the group and therapist, so they might encourage the person to stay so they can find their voice. So, rather than quit, they would encourage a person to stay and discover how it can be helpful. Explorieng the desire to quit can uncover some very useful stuff

If you want to end, tell them you are and thank them for their concerns.

[Mike_J]

I go to a peer support group, like you I don't know if it has helped or not. For some reason I feel somewhat responsible to be there to try to help others. But in your case if it is causing you anxiety then it is probally not the best, I might not be getting much out of my group but there is no down side that I see either.

You don't have to have some confrontation with the group, you can just stop showing up, though I would suggest sending at least one member of the group either the therapist or just one group memebers and let them know you are OK but won't be attanding meetings any more. You don't have to go into details, you don't have to justify yourself to others.

You just need to do what is best for you.