About Group Therapy
Group psychotherapy is a special form of therapy in which a small number of people meet together under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another. Group therapy helps people learn about themselves and improve their interpersonal relationships. It addresses feelings of isolation, depression or anxiety. And it helps people make significant changes so they feel better about the quality of their lives. Additionally, group therapists can apply the principles of group to other settings and situations such as businesses, schools and community organizations.
In studies comparing group psychotherapy to individual therapy, group therapy has been shown to be as effective. In cases of medical illness, there is substantial evidence that this form of therapy helps people cope better with their illness, enhances the quality of their lives and, in some cases, such as breast cancer, has even been shown to help people live longer.
CURRENT GROUPS at Still Waters Counseling
Nurtured Heart Parent Group: Group Facilitator, Bridget Young, MS, LLP
Kids INTEGRATED: Group Facilitators, Smita Nagpal, Ph.D. LP, Jonathan Buckman, MSW, LLMSW
Both groups are running at the same time and place, starting Monday October 8th, 5:30-7:30PM for 6 consecutive Mondays, at the Still Waters Counseling Saline location (137 Keveling Drive, behind Tim Horton’s).
Call our front desk at (734)-944-3446 for more information and to sign up. We are accepting most insurances for these groups and self-pay options are also available.
About Skills Training
Many times, therapy is not enough and people need to learn a skill or two that will help them navigate their lives more effectively. Skills training can be done during individual or family therapy sessions, but is also offered in stand-alone formats. At Still Waters, skills of mindfulness and growing attention to an object of awareness can be learned in a group setting and via biofeedback training.
Mindfulness groups are run regularly to provide education and practice in mindfulness skills i.e the skills of bringing awareness or attention to a desired object and learning to stay in the present moment, non-judgmentally, in a state of relaxed wakefulness.
Another modality of skills training is biofeedback training, which utilizes mindfulness techniques but takes you one step further, adding the dimension of being able to monitor your own brainwaves in real time. Biofeedback is a developing trend in mental health and adds another dimension to mind-body training. Biofeedback training consists of observing and manipulating one’s own body signals, usually heart-rate or brain waves (in which case it can also be called neurofeedback).Biofeedback sessions can be set up separate from therapy and are currently available at the Saline location as well as the Ann Arbor location.
While this technology is relatively new, studies are showing usefulness of bio/neurofeedback in decreasing anxiety, improving focus, enhancing mood, and aiding in sleep. It’s been shown to help kids and adults improve their present moment awareness, strengthen their mind-body connection, and increase mental well-being.
The main aspects of bio/neurofeedback training are as follows:
- Person is connected to a sensor (e.g. ear-clip or headband)
- Software is launched and connected
- Body signals are measured (e.g. heart-rate or brain wave frequency)
- Person is asked to manipulate the signals in a beneficial way (e.g. to lessen anxiety or to increase focus) using mindfulness techniques such as guided meditation, guided deep breathing, focused meditation, etc.
- Software shows whether changes are occurring (e.g. heart-rate changes on a graph or things occur in a game, such as a bridge being built piece-by-piece)
- Practice is repeated regularly (recommendations range from 2-7 days a week, varying number of minutes per day)
Bio/neurofeedback works by manipulating the dopamine system through reward. When change occurs, it can be seen on the screen, making the user feel accomplished. If so inclined, individuals can view their score after every session, allowing them to track their progress over time.
In summary, biofeedback training is a promising tool for creating lasting brain and body changes. Fortunately, its availability in therapeutic settings is increasing as well, providing a hearty tool to enhance the effectiveness of traditional therapy and medicine.
