Living with anxiety or depression is like having someone suck our energy, preventing us from being the best version of the person that we can be.
As a treatment for anxiety and depression, CBT group therapy successfully supports a person in learning how to challenge negative automatic thoughts; change unhelpful thinking patterns; develop new ways of thinking; and prepare action plans to resolve daily difficulties.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) teaches us a new way of learning, instructing us on how to see situations and things differently. The main concept behind CBT is, if we can change the thoughts we have about a situation, it will affect how we feel and we behave accordingly.
For example, let’s imagine a student with a group presentation they have to give to their classmates. Some students may be excited to get up in front of everyone and deliver their lines, and they’ll have fun with it. Comparatively, you’ll see others really nervous about getting in front of their class, possibly forgetting a line, or stumbling over a sentence. This is an example of the same situation affecting two people differently.
Benefits of Participating in CBT Group Therapy
A person with depression may feel lonely, isolated, and struggle with patterns of negative thinking. Someone with anxiety may feel embarrassed about what they’re going through, believing no one would understand them and how much they suffer. Depression and anxiety can both lead to avoiding activities, outings, and social experiences.
As a participant in CBT group therapy, you will get to meet others in similar situations. By sharing your experience with the group and engaging in group therapy exercises, you’ll find what you need in support, motivation, and accountability to move forward.
It might seem intimidating getting in front of a group and sharing your story with strangers. After all, many patients think their needs are best shared in an individual setting and those in a crisis may not want to share personal details in a group setting with others.
Though apprehension is understandable, participating of a CBT group is many times described by participants as being “surprisingly rewarding”, “helpful in making me feel like I wasn’t alone in my struggle”, and “connected with a network of support.”
Group therapy or Individual therapy
Although working one-on-one with a therapist might seem for some people like the preferred option, the biggest advantage to group therapy is that you get insights and support from people in similar positions. The motivation of hearing someone else who has successfully taken positive steps in their path can provide hope that you can do it, too.
If you meet someone who has not yet been able to succeed in conquering their goal, you may be able to identify yourself with these difficulties and learn something about yourself just by listening to the other participants’ experiences.
Unlike individual therapy, group therapy also eases that sense of isolation. It doesn’t force participation or sharing. It gives you the chance to move at your own pace while re-engaging with others.
Using CBT for Anxiety
Imagine a person who is driving to work and they know they are late. They may begin to experience a downward spiral of anxious thoughts. They might think:
What if my coworkers think I’m unreliable?
What if my boss sees me coming in late?
What if I am asked why I’m late?
What if they decide to fire me for being late?
Can I find a job as good as this one?
How will I pay my bills?
A daily situation can get into a catastrophic pattern in a matter of minutes of worrying. It’s not the situation that controls us though. It’s the meanings we assign to it that instruct us in how to think and act in response. These meanings are not always accurate or helpful.
In CBT, we learn how to evaluate situations rationally. By doing this, we can stop the waterfall of worries that eventually lead us to the worst possible scenario and instead, focus on the most rational. In this example of arriving late to work, this might appear like this:
I am usually on time.
I won’t be fired for coming in late one time.
I am a good, reliable employee, and my colleagues and boss respect me.
Using CBT for Depression
Someone is working on a project and has difficulties concentrating on the job that they need to do. If they are struggling with depression, they may end up experiencing a chain of negative thoughts like this:
I am too tired to do this.
I can’t focus.
I would rather be at home on the couch or in bed.
I’m not good enough to do this.
I’m worthless.
Approaching these same difficulties in concentration using CBT as your guide, there’s another way of looking at things. You might see it like this:
I’m tired and I have difficulty focusing.
I will do what I can right now, taking it one step at a time.
I am intelligent and well-trained.
I will do my best.
I can relax and rest as a reward when I get home.
If one can associate a situation with positive meaning, it breaks the negative pattern. In time, practicing this repeatedly in every situation of struggle, this minimizes the power of triggers of anxiety and treat depression.
Support for CBT Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
CBT group treatment programs were built off of what has been proven to work, based off of hundreds of scientific studies analyzing evidence-based treatments and their effectiveness over time.
CBT has been shown to prevent relapse for depression, is argued to be as effective as medication in cases of mild to moderate anxiety and depression, and has helped thousands of people to gain strategies to better manage and feel so much better and comfortable in their own skin.
For anyone suffering from anxiety or depression, CBT group therapy can help you successfully regain control over your life and conquer your mental health struggles. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to join in on our next CBT group.
Read more about anxiety and depression:
Details On The CBT group therapy for Anxiety and Depression
When?
Date: April 5 to May 24, 2018
Time: 1pm to 2:30 pm
Where?
The CBT group therapy for Anxiety and Depression is offered in the clinic at CBT Psychology For Personal Development.
The address is 7626 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L4J 1V9
What is the Fee?
The fee for the full course is $800. It is covered by insurance plans with coverage for psychological services. This group is facilitated by a Registered Psychologist. In order to see if you will benefit from this group, a phone interview is required. This is to evaluate if this group is a good fit for each person. If this is not the best option for your concerns, we will recommend other treatment options.
If you are interested in joining the CBT group, Contact Us, as this group fills up fast.
