Participating in a supportive and understanding community fosters a sense of belonging and validation.
A client can access up to 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year. If the referring practitioner does not specify the number of sessions on the referral, the allied health professional can use their clinical judgement to provide services under the referral up to the maximum number of sessions allowed in a calendar year (currently 10 sessions).
Group therapy offers a number of advantages over individual therapy, including social support, cost-effectiveness, multiple perspectives, improved communication skills, increased self-awareness, normalisation, and personal growth. For example, MBCT has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment approach for individuals experiencing depression and anxiety. The program integrates cognitive therapy techniques with mindfulness practices and has been found to decrease feelings of loneliness, enhance social support and connection, and decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Group therapy can also be an accessible and cost-effective option, particularly in situations where waitlists for individual therapy may be long. Under the Medicare Better Access program in Australia, funding is available for a limited number of group therapy sessions in addition to individual psychotherapy sessions.
WHAT DOES GROUP THERAPY INCLUDE?
Group therapy can offer a number of advantages over individual therapy. Some of the benefits of group therapy include: