group therapy / group counselling

[tempo]

I have read about group counselling, where people who have problems (or who are just interested in personal growth) get together to discuss their issues as an alternative to individual therapy. I live in Cardiff and would be interested if anyone knows of any such services in the region? Also, interested if anyone has had any personal experience of group therapy / group counselling / support groups ?

[Ewood27]

I'm nowhere near Cardiff, tempo, so can't help you there. However, I do have some experience which may help. I joined a group for six weekly sessions to stop smoking. It helped because no way was I going to be labelled a failure in front of the rest of the group. On my own I would have scored yet another failure. We each paired off with a "buddy" and phoned each other regularly. I made it through those critical first weeks.
Secondly, I'm an alcoholic; a recovering one only because of Alcoholics Anonymous. That worked by making me feel I was not alone any more, nor without hope.
Some people seem to have a need to do everything in groups. For myself, I'm the type who normally prefers to sort my problems out by myself. I needed the strength of the group for those two problems though.
I hope that's helpful.

[incitatus]

i found group therapy to be a powerful support through my depression. I cant reccomend it highly enough

[haha]

you can type al anon into google. There ar eworld wide listenings for this group that meets at laest once a week. Its reallyh elpful if you come from an abusive childhood or if you are codependent, or if ou are attracted to addicts. Its a great program. there are meetings EVERYWHERE it it works if you work it.