Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Group vs individualized talk therapy

I don't need therapy. I have this website. And I don't have to get dressed or put make-up on, or drive anywhere, so it works for me.

I actually had CBT a few years back - in 2000 or 2001 - I forget, and it worked really well. It was expensive. 180.00/hr. but after that I worried a lot less about my vision problem.

i think people fear group session as they dont want to be judged.. some are reluctant to participate, but go to observe and learn that way.. some just dont think they need to change..

getting in with psych here is an issue as well.. myself personally prefer pychologist vs psychiatrist. but thats just me.

Conversely, knowing there are others around you with the same issues, weaknesses......being able to look left, then right and say "I know how you feel"...

For instance AA, and developing a sponsor. But I agree...who wants to necessarily share their problems with a bunch of strangers....I don't want to be examined/talked to during a physical exame in a public place...why would I want to split time with my emotions....then again, emotional repair isn't as simple as ingesting a pill to lower blood pressure..it's more intricate.

You are correct, these days, psychologists spend more quality time with patients individually. Psychiatrists are still medically oriented and their consultant notes display that. Now compare the report of a psychologist and you'll see the info is more applicable to the condition/illness.

The same could be said for midlevel providers...PA/NP..how many times have you heard "they spend more time with me then my doctor does"

wow harley, did you recently have a closed head injury or something.. two days in a row you essentially agree with me... my goodness i just dont know what to think LOL LOL

some mid level providers, not all.. i hear from most new patients, they wanna see the doctor not a PA/NP.
yes AA/NA have that group session and support , however, they are a little different as not all addicts suffered abuse, neglect etc.
honestly... i dont feel that the majority of peeps these days have effective coping or stress management.. they just cant handle their life..and they are not comfortable even admitting that to themself let alone a group of people.
we often hear, cant you just prescribe something.. i dont have time for counseling.. they kinda miss the point

So - I don't need that prescription that you ordered for me many threads ago?

Well, you know my case. A medical provider with OCD behavior, participating on a chat board with other providers who compulsive display is to disagree with all patients under all circumstances...while at the same time touting superior intellect at the expense of the common surf....I need support darn it

LOL harley... I think they may have a group for that LOL LOL
i myself am working on becoming an A- to B type personality....

double post for some reason

Yes, Harley - we are all very familiar with your "case". It's sad that Jane is no longer running the support group, because she was so very good at it, but you may find that Blake's therapy works very well for you.

The first step is recognizing the problem, and so at least you are farther ahead than some others.

You are all in my prayers.

Having done both individual and group therapy, I think what allowed me to get comfortable with attending group is working one-on-one with my therapist for awhile. One usually goes into therapy with a "preconceived" idea that their problems are unique and insurmountable. Here I learned that my "concerns" were not uncommon and there were several who had gone through similar experiences.

When I finally did go to group therapy, the "what is she going to think?" attitude had been replaced with "that was great getting that off my chest and it didn't hurt saying it" one. Sharing became easier and when listening to others, it was always easier to see some else's flawed thinking and sometimes I could see how it applied to myself.

Seriously, - why not have group CBT on a website, where people can access the help they need anonymously? (The therapist running the site would know the identity, but not the participants)

Look how far Harley has come along since he has arrived.

I know, I know - it's two steps forward and one step back, but I feel confident that he'll be cured before 666.

AE - Your willingness to share your story with myself and others has been very helpful. When I look back, I find it incredible what happened to me in 1999, and I was left pretty messed up, and I knew that a psychologist would be a good idea. And yet, I cancelled the appointment, because I was switching doctors; what a complete mess my life was; I don't know how I ever survived.

One of my sisters was seeing a psychologist, (her life was worse), and it was only because she was that I took that initiative. (And quite honestly, I really wanted to see how much he was like our deceased brother - $180.00/hr. to have your brother come alive - well worth it - especially if insurance covers most of it. )

Somehow, the whole issue of what happened to me as a child was not addressed as much as I needed it to be; I did remember things on my own, but I didn't realize the significance of it all, and how it would have affected me until I came on this site and underwent "therapy" with you. Thanks Sherry.

Interesting,Chris Aldridge. For posting....

I'm really glad that it helped you so much. I don't know why I'm amazed since it's helped so many thousands of people, it's just that that was absolutely not my experience of either group or individual therapy. I've heard you speak of it a lot Sherry, and you almost paint a picture of how it helped you. I have such a different picture.

You're welcome, Wisher.

Pam, even though your abuses were horrific, maybe how you "processed" them made the difference. It could be that you were of a stronger character in your youth than I was when I was and you "knew" what happened to you was wrong and didn't take the blame. I think that it is really relative to what degree that abuse had in your life and your psyche which makes it an individual experience, which no one can measure but you.

Or, it could be how these sessions (both individual and group) were conducted that weren't a good fit for you. I know that you mentioned that the leaders wanted you to bring a teddy bear (or the like) to group and you didn't like that at all. So that could have soured your whole experience.

I also believe that I had to have a crisis which destroyed my coping strategies that made me aware that there was something seriously interfering with my life. I just didn't know what it was, but I was determined to find out what it was and get out of the rut I was in. Sort of like an alcoholic who has to hit rock bottom before getting help. If it hadn't been for this crises, I don't believe I'd ever had gotten help.

I think the main difference was that I was hospitalized with a skull fx, and my superiors at my work likely violated HIPAA regs and obtained info that I did not give them. (If HIPAA was around back then) Anyway, they required me to be cleared by a psychiatrist to return to work following a long recovery from the skull fx. The psychiatrist made me go into this group. I suppose all therapists have their methods.... I just did not particularly care for this one. And yes, group members were on occasions asked to bring a stuffed animal, all sat in a circle on the floor, hugging their little stuffed animal. I was NOT gonna do it. OMG. All I could think about was LET ME OUTA HERE.

Maybe if I had waited longer to be able to choose to talk about something... Maybe if I had been able to choose what type of therapist I wanted to see. I know that I would have selected an individual therapist. I never could have spoken out in a group. For one thing, it ws too soon and I was still too traumatized to speak in a group. Jeez, I was not yet owning things in my own brain. It was absolutely useless........no more harmful to me.

I'm really sorry that you had such a negative experience. I would have to agree on your take of it. It certainly helped that I had worked out a lot of issues with my psychiatrist and felt comfortable discussing things that, for me, were out of bounds to all. I couldn't have imagined going straight into group therapy when I realized I was abused. It was too overwhelming. I think the psychiatrist that sent you into group really did you a disservice by not getting your take on how you felt. As well, being "signaled" out by your supervisors probably just compounded the issue.

AE i think you make a great point about one on one then transition to group.. that sounds reasonable and effective.. glad you made progress.

Thanks, Special, for both comments.

most welcome.. from what ive seen. you have a deeper well of strength than you give yourself credit for

It could be that I'm keeping some in reserve.

Seriously, though, I do know that I have strength . . . considering from where I was to where I am now, there is no comparison, but I think it took the strength to realize that I needed change and actually go through the process!

never know how deep the well is till you have to tap it... change is always painful, but stagnation is death... keep on keeping on.. you will make it

If the well ever runs dry, I can always make like a duck and flock off . . .

Do ducks flock?

Special is so right Sherry. Especially in consideration of the fact that you had Dr. Keriem standing in your way, and that only made your struggle more difficult.

In my case the timing was so wrong. I was barely over the skull fracture. All I wanted to do was hide.

You are a very strong person Sherry.

Thanks, Pam, for the compliment.

He was an obstacle, alright! LOL

If you ever think that the abuse is standing in your way, you do know that it is never too late to deal with, don't you?

I know ducks waddle and seagulls flock .. LOL

never too late for anything, ever.
Pam... you are stronger than ya think to

Don't underestimate the power of self help books either. Group therapy can be traumatizing for many who have already suffered.

You've made a believer out of me.

then i saw her face... now im a believer.. not a trace of doubt in my mind......

In Ontario, the majority of group CBT is performed by family doctors with additional training.

Some hospital based programs are run by counsellors with psychological training. A psychiatrist will supervise to
keep an eye on the medication aspect of treatment.

Here in Alberta, I suspect you would have easier access with other providers such as social workers and psychologists. However, they are not covered by our provincial health care. If there were antidepressants or other drugs involved, I would presume that then that would be monitored either by your family doctor or a psychiatrist (if your family doctor gives you a referral.)

Having said this, I don't know if either of these healthcare providers would do group.

In my neck of the woods, a patient has to be quite severely depressed to be followed on an ongoing basis by psychiatry.

Psychiatrists seem to only consult and provide a therapeutic opinion in this regard, although this is not always the case.

They will usually follow patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, as these populations can be quite challenging to treat.

Chris . . . to be honest, I don't know if it is common place here, or I was an exception to the rule.