Group Counseling

Christian group counseling is a form of psychotherapy treatment where one Christian counselor conducts sessions for a group of 4 to 8 individuals who struggle with the same issues. Group counseling is sometimes advised along with individual Christian counseling depending on the needs of the client. Christian group counseling provides guidance from the therapist as well as from others in the group. With common goals, the group can help one another succeed through offering support and understanding.

Christian group counseling offers the ability to connect with others who are experiencing similar struggles. Everyone is allowed to share their story, which not only provides healing for the individual, but the whole group. Goals of Christian group counseling fall into two categories: process goals and outcome goals. Process goals deal with how well the group functions as a whole, while outcome goals focus on the progress of each individual. Outcome goals vary depending on the focus of the group.
Process goals of Christian group counseling include:

• The comfort of each group member.
• Open communication within the group.
• Learning how to handle confrontation in a healthy manner.
• Building good listening skills.

Outcome goals of Christian group counseling include:

• Building better social skills.
• Improving self-esteem.
• Learning skills for managing negative emotions and behaviors.
• Overcoming symptoms related to the focus area of the group.
• Connecting with self, God, and others.

At Tacoma Christian Counseling, the kinds of groups offered vary from time to time. However, virtually any problem a person faces can greatly benefit from Christian group counseling. Some of the many issues treated with Christian group counseling include:

• Addiction
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Couples issues
• Depression
• Divorce
• Grief and loss
• Trauma

Christian Group Counseling: A Story of Transformation from Abuse and Fear to Wholeness.

Christian group counseling offers people a place of compassion and companionship. Here is the story of Beth, a woman who thought she would always feel alone, worthless, and fearful. Through Christian group counseling, she found her voice and healing for wounds of the past.

Part 1: Abuse
Beth struggled with anxiety for as long as she could remember. She grew up in a home that was very volatile at times. The fighting and emotional abuse she endured caused her to become nervous from a young age. Her home life impacted her self-esteem, and other children seemed to have radar for detecting and attacking kids like her. Beth had difficulty interacting with other children for fear of being teased, so she kept to herself. Beth carried her self-image and anxiety issues with her into adulthood, affecting her life both socially and professionally.

At Tacoma Christian Counseling, we see stories like Beth’s often. Our aim is to help people like Beth find support while learning tools for dealing with tough issues. Christian group counseling is designed to provide members with a safety net of compassion, strength, and friendship for overcoming life’s obstacles.

Why Choose Christian Group Counseling With Tacoma Christian Counseling?

Benefits of Group Counseling

Group counseling is becoming more commonplace. People are learning the benefits of sharing their story with like-minded people as well as offering support to others. There are many benefits of Christian group counseling such as:

• Comradery – Knowing there are others like you can be very healing. Hearing other people talk about their struggles can make you feel validated in your own experiences. While communication is encouraged in Christian group counseling, sometimes just being in the presence of others who understand provides you with strength.

• New perspectives – Observing how others deal with similar struggles can be enlightening. Talking things out in a group can set off a snowball effect of good ideas, resources, and positive change.

• Learning to better relate to self and others – The way we interact in groups can reveal a lot about ourselves and how we interact in relationships. Christian group counseling will illuminate issues such as how you handle conflict, what parts of yourself you hide and which you show others, and whether you take a more active or passive role in how you communicate. Through self-discovery of these things, you will learn how to relate and connect with yourself, others, and with God on a deeper level.

• A place to find your voice – Christian group counseling gives you strength, builds your social skills, and shows you how to express yourself in a healthy way. Having people to talk to who understand can encourage you to share your story and work towards healing.

• Lasting support – People often leave Christian group counseling with new friendships. This is helpful in many ways. Not only can you find people who you can connect with, but you will also have new allies who will support you during the difficult times after counseling ends.

Why Tacoma Christian Counseling?

If you are considering therapy of any kind, it’s crucial that you find a counseling group you can trust. At Tacoma Christian Counseling, we are passionate about helping people find strength and healing in times of adversity. Here are some of the many reasons to attend Christian group counseling with Tacoma Christian Counseling:

• Over 10 years’ experience in Christian counseling.
• Christian values and support.
• Client-centered counseling approach.
• Compassionate counselors for every age, background, and need.
• Highly-trained counseling professionals.
• Risk-free initial session.

Understanding The Christian Approach to Group Counseling

If you want a counselor who understands and supports Christian beliefs and values, then Christian counseling is the best option for you. Christian counseling for groups offers everything other secular groups offer such as science-backed counseling methods and more. Faith is the cornerstone of our approach. Through faith in Christ and wisdom found in God’s word, you are given the opportunity for lasting healing and growth in all areas of your life.

Part 2: Fear
Beth’s social anxiety made it nearly impossible for her to form close friendships or to excel professionally. She froze in almost every social situation. On the outside she appeared aloof or at the very least very shy. On the inside her mind was ablaze with activity. She knew she seemed odd because she couldn’t talk to anyone, but she was afraid of saying the wrong things or being disliked. These feelings magnified her symptoms, causing her to have panic attacks anytime she was around a lot of people she didn’t know well. Job interviews were a nightmare, dates didn’t happen at all, and Beth spiraled into a cycle of depression and anxiety.

Anxiety is just one of the many issues which greatly benefit from Christian group counseling. Tacoma Christian Counseling is made of a team of highly-skilled therapists, many of whom conduct group counseling sessions for a variety of issues. In these groups, you are assured results-driven counseling and support so you can overcome the hardships you face while helping others do the same.

People are sometimes hesitant to join Christian group counseling. The idea of sharing your most personal parts of your self can be scary. Understand that everyone in your group is in the same boat, and once you all open up you will find great support and strength. If you are undecided about Christian group counseling, it might help if you know what to expect.

Group Counseling Techniques and Approaches

Before the sessions start, the counselor will meet with each group member individually to discuss their reasons for therapy and whether the group suits those needs. There are many techniques and theories for Christian group counseling. Depending on the focus of the particular group, the counselor will decide which approach is best. Typically the group will meet with the counselor in a private room while seated in a circle to encourage communication. The counselor will work to build an environment of trust so members can speak openly about their emotions with one another. No one is forced to share anything with which they are uncomfortable, but all are encouraged to speak freely.

Counselors will help members learn how to develop more effective communication and problem solving skills, as well as find tools for dealing with the issues at hand. The counselor might use different group activities to facilitate trust and communication within the group while having a little fun too.  Most groups meet for one to two hours weekly for a preset number of weeks.

Confidentiality in Group Counseling Sessions

People often wonder how rules of confidentiality are maintained for Christian group counseling. There is a set of guidelines each member is asked to respect, including how they treat each other’s information. Members are asked not to share any personal or identifying information about members of the group. If group members talk outside of the sessions about anything related to the group, they are asked to bring this back to the group in the next session. As with all forms of counseling, the counselor is required to maintain client-counselor confidentiality to ensure that each person feels safe and their privacy respected.

Part 3: Wholeness

Beth found hope when her sister told her about a Christian group counseling for anxiety. Beth was hesitant at first because talking in a group setting sounded horrific. Despite her fear, she found the courage to attend the first session. Five others were in her group. She was surprised to find that two of the group members also suffered from social anxiety. They supported each other and together began to unravel the pain of their past that led to their anxiety. Beth felt companionship and acceptance for the first time in years. Through Christian group counseling, she found friends, self-respect, strength, and love in Christ, and learned tools for managing her anxiety.

From the counselor’s perspective, one of the best things about Christian group counseling is watching the participants blossom. God wired us all for a strong need for connection with others. Sometimes things like trauma, abuse, or neglect can make it hard for us to let people into our lives, no matter how we might long for that companionship. Christian group counseling is perfect for those who want to learn how to tear down their protective walls in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

How is group counseling different from individual counseling?

Group counseling is different from individual counseling in many ways. Christian group counseling usually costs less than individual counseling, offers the ability to learn from others, and allows the counselor to observe how the members interact in social settings. Groups are a great way to find extra support and to boost your counseling results.

Is group counseling open or are the groups closed?

Sometimes groups are open, meaning a person can begin attending the group sessions at any time. Usually groups are only open for a time and scheduled in a block of 6-8 weeks. Once the sessions start, they are closed. Closed groups offer a pre-registration period. If you are unsure of whether a particular group is open to new participants, simply contact the organizer of the group for more information.

How many people are in a group?

The number of people in a group vary. Ideally, there is a minimum of four participants. Too few or too many will impede the effectiveness of the group. Ideally, a group will contain five to eight people.

Is Christian group counseling enough for me?

It can sometimes be hard to know whether or not group counseling will work for you. If you already attend counseling, your counselor might advise that you add group counseling to your treatment to increase your chance of success. Individual counseling coupled with group counseling leads to faster recovery and lasting results for most clients. However, for many, Christian group counseling is enough to get the results they want.

Contact us today to learn more about Christian group counseling

If you are considering group counseling and would like to hear more about our about which groups are currently available, please give us a call at (253) 777-1997 or contact us online.