Group therapy, done well, is an excellent adjunct therapy for many reasons. I've always found it helpful.
In group therapy, we get to learn how to discuss difficult things with a teacher/moderator/advocate right there, unlike in real life. Practicing how to stay calm and speak for ourselves without crossing others' boundaries is a very valuable and necessary skill in having a stable, peaceful existence.
We also learn that a lot of what we think is abnormal or strange about ourselves is actually pretty common, whether or not it is healthy. It combats the narcissistic defense of "I'm too smart/mature/messed up/unique for anyone else to be able to help me." Believing we're unique helps us push help and loved ones away, but it also leaves us alone in our suffering.
We learn how others handle difficult feelings, events, emotions in their lives, and receive tips on how we can manage such things in our lives. Having several options to choose from empowers us to be more personally effective in knowing and achieving our goals.
For those who have social phobia, it's an exposure therapy in a controlled environment, unlike everywhere else. For those with depression and/or suicidal ideation, it's a safe space to speak about difficult feelings without alarming our loved ones. For those of us with multiple triggers to people, or tones of voices, or certain words, it is effective prolonged exposure to the trigger so it can be extinguished and no longer hold such power.
It's a safe place to learn how to express ourselves and be heard without monopolizing the discussion. Many do not know how to do that when they were never heard growing up, so when they have the floor, they run with it. That's great in a dysfunctional environment, but not good at all in our day to day interactions with adults.
We learn that not all people are bad. Not all therapists are incompetent, nor perfect. We are made aware of cognitive distortions that interfere in our everyday life and increase our suffering.
Occasionally, we might make a friend. The first group I was in, an Adult Children of Alcoholics group, was the turning point for me in successfully separating from my sick family. The people I met in there have remained lifelong friends, though most have died premature deaths. I'm still friends with the counselor, long since retired. We don't get together or anything, but when we run into each other it feels like we've just seen each other.
Another big benefit of group therapy was running into the group members at the doctor's office, or shopping, or out in the world. A simple smile and knowing "look" helped me feel like there were others out there who knew what I deal with. Sort of like finding safe waypoints in my travels.
I highly suggest it for anyone with PTSD. It has greatly increased my positive experiences in my life, and helped me successfully manage conflicts big and small with the new tools I learned.
