[northgirl]

I'm sick of this crap.

northgirl...if you wanna vent , we are all listening

[Perna]

You need good leaders and a good group; some group leaders are just anxious to get anyone/everyone in the group it seems, the more money they can make or they don't have a good pool of potential members to pull from to match them better. I had group therapy three times and only one was good and I was in that one for over 10 years (and there was very little turnover so we got to know one another and learn to work well with each other).

Originally Posted by northgirl

I'm sick of this crap.

Feel free to vent, but I am wondering if you edited your original post about screening for group therapy because you hadn't gotten any replies after a few hours. I hope not, but it crossed my mind.

Your question is pretty specific and only a few people who post regularly here on the psychotherapy forum have ever been in group therapy, so there just aren't many who would have an answer for you. It isn't that we don't care (if that was what you were thinking); we just don't have the background to help you with your question.

I've been in group therapy, but I never went through a screening so I didn't have any information for you. I'm not even sure what that would entail.

Maybe after I bump this up, someone might have an answer for you about what would be involved in a group therapy screening.

My only guess would be that the therapist would interview you to be sure your needs are a "fit" for the type of group he is running, and perhaps to see that you would be a "fit" for the already existing group dynamics? That's all I can think of.

[sunrise]

I took a class in group therapy a few months ago and we learned about the screening process for groups. It is not universal, but also not uncommon. It helps identify people who can benefit from the group, whose personal goals are consistent with the group goals, and who can function well enough in a group setting. Sometimes a person may not be ready for certain groups and can work toward that in individual therapy. Other times, a person may not have the right symptoms in order to be part of a group. For example, if a group is for people who have challenges with emotional regulation and the focus will be on learning regulation skills, then someone without that issue would not be a good fit for the group. I work in an inpatient setting, and that is a place where we cannot sceen for groups. Whoever is hospitalized gets to go to group.

If you were not a fit for a recent group you wanted to be a part of, you may find a better fit with another group. Hope you will keep looking. I think group therapy can be very helpful.

[adel34]

Hi Northgirl,
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with this.
At my day program we have to sit down with one of the staff and register for groups we're interested in. That means talk about why we want to be in the group and learn more about each one. That's the only experience I have.

[northgirl]

I'm sorry for holding back, just having a really hard time deciding whether to go through with it or not, especially considering it would interfere with some of my school responsibilities. I did go to the screening with one of the co-facilitators (my T was out sick which really sucked) and it was mostly just to tell me about group rules (confidentiality, etc.) Now it's up to me to figure out if I can do it

[TheWell]

I was screened for my group the group T asked me a lot of questions about what I was looking for and what I hoped to get out of it. I actually had to go to two screening appointments before he told me I was in if Imwanted to be. I LOVE my group. I am so glad that I have it.

[wotchermuggle]

I just wanted to let the OP know that I went through a screening for a DBT group. It was hard, filling out lots of paper work, handing it in, then being told that they were going to rate your need. I was mortified. I would have lied more and made my situation seem less needy. I didn't choose to do the group though, because I would have had to give up my current T and only see a DBT throughout the group and individual therapy over the course of 6-8 weeks I think it was.

I liked my current therapist enough that I didn't want to give him up to try group.