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Psychotherapy Groups for Relationship Issues
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What kind of relationships are right for me?
What can I do to feel closer to others in my life?
How can I overcome shyness and bring more people into
my life?
These and other issues can be addressed in a Psychotherapy
group. The groups are for:
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• Discovering relationship patterns
• Improving communication/social skills
• Learning to have close and rewarding relationships
• Overcoming shyness |
A screening process is required prior to joining the group.
Fee: $60 per weekly session. The groups
meet weekly Tues: 6:30 – 8:00 P.M., Wed: 6:30-8:00 P.M.
Group therapist: Nancy Wesson, Ph.D. is
a licensed psychologist in private practice in Mountain View.
She has 20 years of counseling experience. For further information
about group psychotherapy, please see these articles:
The Unique Benefits of Interpersonal Group Psychotherapy
How Can I Benefit From
The Psychotherapy Group on Relationships?
The
Unique Benefits of
Interpersonal Group Psychotherapy
© Nancy Wesson, Ph.D.
Interpersonal group psychotherapy offers many unique and important
therapeutic benefits and some of these benefits are quite distinct
from individual psychotherapy.
Interpersonal group psychotherapy can even be considered an "applications" phase
of psychotherapy. The sense of self is strengthened and dysfunctional
relationship patterns are identified in individual therapy. Group
therapy offers the opportunity to change these dysfunctional
patterns as they occur with peers and to raise self-esteem by
increasing interpersonal skills.
These are some of the significant advantages to interpersonal
group therapy:
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Group therapy is a microcosm of one's own interpersonal
world. Interpersonal difficulties, i.e. projections and distortions
emerge in the relationships with others in the group. Through
group participation, one comes to understand how these interpersonal
difficulties create barriers to closeness with others.
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Group therapy is an interpersonal learning environment, Effective
communication styles and healthy behavior are modeled by peers.
As these more effective patterns are learned, a group member
receives increasingly positive feedback from others in the
group and this feedback increases self-esteem.
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Group therapy is a "corrective emotional experience." For
many people, prior to joining the group, relationships
have been painful and difficult. Childhood patterns of
abuse have often been replicated in adult relationships.
In group therapy, one become part of a community which
is like a healthy family. There is the opportunity to
experience positive and healing relationships.
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Learning
to reflect on the "process" in relationships
and handle conflict successfully are very important process
skills that are acquired in group psychotherapy. Many people
have not known how to resolve conflict in relationships
and as a result have avoided conflict and missed out on
intimacy, closeness, and commitment.
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Group therapy is team
approach and a truly cooperative effort. One has the opportunity
learn about problem solving, trusting peers and community
spirit.
Interpersonal group psychotherapy offers many
significant therapeutic benefits. For many people, peer feedback
and support as well as in vivo interpersonal learning are essential
to the change process. Group therapy can be considered another
aspect or phase of the psychotherapy process. In this phase
of psychotherapy, one has an opportunity to take the insight,
self awareness, and newly strengthened sense of self gained
from individual therapy out into the world of peer relationships.
Through this essential work group therapy participants learn
how to have close and rewarding relationships.
How
Can I Benefit From The
Psychotherapy Group On Relationships?
© Nancy Wesson, Ph.D.
A psychotherapy group is a “learning
lab” for intimacy and relationships. The group provides
countless opportunities for personal growth and relationship
enhancement.
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In the group, relationship and intimacy issues
are discussed such as how to develop and maintain healthy
relationships with friends, co-workers, and partners. These
issues are brought up as group members discuss their current
relationships or attempts to develop relationships within
the group, and outside of the group. Related issues such
assertiveness, self-esteem, boundaries, compulsivity, codependency,
Adult Children of Alcoholics issues, or shyness emerge
as the discussion leads to deeper issues and feelings and
dysfunctional family and/or relationship patterns. |
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The group is used to get feedback
and valuable perspective from others on your relationship
patterns. In the therapy group you will be encouraged
to work on expressing your feelings and getting your
needs met more effectively. This means you will be developing
new healthier patterns and improving your communication
skills.You can also work on patterns and issues related
to dysfunctional family patterns for example: fear of
getting close, feeling guilty around others, Adult Children
of Alcoholic and codependency issues. |
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You will be expected to participate to the best of
your ability to do so. This means you gain valuable experience
with risk-taking in a supportive environment. Honesty
with others and yourself, and trusting others make the
group function effectively. |
The group is a caring, nurturing support system
and an opportunity to learn about bonding with others.
Fee: $60 per weekly session. The groups
meet weekly Tues: 6:30–8:00 pm, Wed: 6:30-8:00
pm
About the psychotherapy
groups:
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Most group members
have had some previous psychotherapy prior to joining a
group or are in concurrent individual psychotherapy. |
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The age range of the groups
is between 30 and 70. |
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Many different types of issues
are worked on in the group including: marital conflict,
divorce, shyness, assertiveness, gender and sexuality,
boundaries, codependence, and ACOA issues. |
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Group members increase awareness
and learn interpersonal skills by working on their relationships
with others in the group. |
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The group psychotherapy experience
serves as a corrective emotional experience for clients
who need to learn how to have healthy, satisfying relationships. |
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A weekly clinical summary of
the previous group session is provided for every group
client. |
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There is a screening process
prior to joining a group that includes a no-cost 20 minute
phone interview followed by an individual screening session
(for a fee) which includes preparation for the group
psychotherapy experience. |
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Every effort is made to insure
that there is a good fit between the potential group member
and the group. |
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For an appointment for counseling for relationship issues, shyness,
self-esteem issues, codependency, or other psychological concerns call:
Dr. Nancy Wesson at (650) 965-7332 • E-mail Dr.
Nancy Wesson
Professional background & approach to counseling
of Nancy Wesson, Ph.D.
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