Group Councling? Good Or Bad?

[cadoink]

my sis died 3 weeks ago and my parents want me to try this group councling. my family and i are supose to go to the place where they talk to the whole family first and then they seperate u into groups by age with others that have gone through the same thing i have....then we go back into a big group and then u can leave...its once a month.....my ma wants to know if i want to go or not or if i think its a good idea to try....i have never had group councling and i want to know ur opinions and thoughts on this topic....is it like one of those stupid things where u sit in a circle and go around saying ur name and ur story or what? it is ran by the boys and girls club so if u have opinions from experiance or if u just plain out have an opinion let me know....

thx lots

[Michie]

Sorry. No, I have never done group counselling though I think it would have been a good experience if I did. You can share stories with people who are in a similar state as you are, and get advice and support. Getting over a family death isn't easy and I'm sorry your sis passed away. Talking about it can help ease the pain, as cliche as that sounds.

[nevermindmylife]

I think it would be a good experience.... it is amazing how much better you can feel about somethign when you know that you are not the only one who is in pain, and that other people understand you...



I mean, when I was younger, and my dad was an alcholic, the most comforting fact out of everything was the knowledge that apparently 1 of out every 4 kids come from a family with an alcoholic in it.... so I would look around in my class, and even though I didn't know who, I took comfort in knowing that someone else knew what it was like to be me, to some degree



by-the-by, I am really sorry to hear about your sister

[CausticTears]

Hey.



I have never been to group counseling, but I have heard from reviews that it is, indeed, quite helpful. It's a good way to understand that you aren't the only one to deal with this and you can relate to others. I think it's wonderful.



I'm not quite sure how the grouping is arranged, sorry.



Good luck and take care.

[Beautiful]

I've never been to group councling, but i've been to councling. I think it would be a good experience for you. You should try it and see how you like it. It couldnt hurt but try, and if you dont like it then leave it or something.

[belis]

I have done sth which was a bit similar (just a bit). Basicly my friends mental unit rans sessions to which people afected by patient suicide attempt in some way are invited and are supposed to disscuss their feelings. I was realy scared about the idea and I did not want to go but the psychiatrist was asking me so nicely that I finaly agreed. It was quite interesting experience. They talked to the families first (I am not a family and as his parents refused to come I asked if I can skip that bit, I could not and I had to talk about my feelings which I did not like) than they put parents together in one room, siblings together in another and friends/other relatives in 3rd. We talked and played some stupid games. Not to bad. Hospice where I work now organize group sessions for young people who lost sb due to cancer. Those are different. They just come, drink tea, eat biscuits and talk about what they want. There is a psychologist there but is not generaly involved and do not make them talk about certain things. I have never come to those sessions so I do not know the details (I just make tea for them ). How it is going to be organized depends on the place, maybe you can ask sb who goes there if they like it.



Basicly if you feal that you would like to talk with people in simialar situation than it is great. If you do not like talking than it is not so great but you may still listen and maybe find a couple of things you hear useful. Worth trying, I think.

[cadoink]

thx much...uve all helped...i think im goin to try it but im not sure yet...i dont know if i want to talk to ppl but its a good idea to just sit there and listen too...but the one i am suppose to go to we do lots of hands on activities to show how we feel.... i guess it might be interestind and helpful.

[5a5]

i think it might be a good idea , i've done individual counseling and it's uncomfortable sitting in a room with someone and being forced to talk, i think it'd be easier if u talk to people ur own age who went through the same thing, they wont try to feed u theories from psychology books and try to fix u, they'll just listen to u and tell u how they deal i think that might do good