First Group therapy session tonight, sort of

I was in a really bad PHP for two days. But the one thing I took away from it in a positive nature was the group sessions.

So after deciding to leave I started a search for a group outside of the PHP. Nothing really popped up. But I stumbled onto a husband and wife LPC team who work with other therapists and hold groups.

This gentlemen told me he was looking to start a men's group for people with similar issues, mostly depression and addiction. So he checked with his clients and we start tonight.

I'm both looking forward to it and anxious. But it will be a good thing. Only once a week for an hour I think. I'm hoping to talk him into 2 hours twice a week, get another therapist to run the second night. He didn't shoot it down right away. I think the major challenge is that the participants have wives, families, children, church, and work commitments and all that. So they only have so much time in the evenings to participate.

None the less, this is a step in the right direction.

I was in group for 5 years. It was such a great help. I was able to work through my issues in a safe environment, not just through my personal work but also through the work of the other members. As each of us has "graduated" out of the group we have remained close friends and continue to support each other.

I wish you much luck with your time in group.

I agree Shabur. Group changed my life. I was in two groups: one for two years and one for four years. It is intense and difficult at times but extremely powerful. Good luck and enjoy it! It is a truly unique human experience. I, also, have some dear friends from the experience although it takes time to build a friendship - to start with what is important is the therapeutic aspects of the work. All the best to you.

Well, it was different. I was the only non alcoholic or addict. I thought it would be about half that and about half people with mood disorders. It was the first night and they expect maybe three more people in the future. We'll see what they turn out to be. Nobody wants the group too big, 6-9.

After everyone went around the room discussing their addictions they got to me and I said I have depression. Oldest looking guy, looks 60+(turns out he's only 47) turned to me and said "Can I ask you a question, exactly what are you doing here?" So the therapist asked me to go into a little more detail. I asked how gruesome he wanted it.
The whole group responded with "gruesome." So I spilled the beans. Talked about past sui attempts and current thoughts. They kind of accepted me after that because it turns out no one in there is quite that far as me when it comes to that stuff.

But it will be cool I think.

I was the only one in my group with depression. Others were dealing with cheating husbands, a few addicts...what I would call a well rounded group. But we all had something in common. While how we got there and what we were each dealing with were different, we learned about ourselves from each others' work.