Group Therapy in Simi Valley, CA
Life can feel so isolating. You may be struggling to feel seen and understood.
Do have you have thoughts of “What’s wrong with me?” or “Am I the only one that feels this way?”? These are so common when we are struggling. It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of negative thoughts and self-doubt. This inevitably leads only to feeling more isolated and alone.
A shared component of many of our struggles is that we are really struggling to connect with others in a meaningful way. For example, anxiety and depression can keep us stuck in our own heads and feel further disconnected from those around us. Struggles with connection are a core component of many of our emotional difficulties.
Individual therapy can be very helpful in learning to understand yourself, and your own responses, and start to build coping strategies while improving your self-esteem. However, individual therapy is limited in its ability to allow you to experience how your emotional responses affect your capacity to connect with others.
Group Therapy Gives You The Opportunity To Work Toward Your Goals
Group therapy provides an opportunity to work toward your goals in a setting that allows you to experience dynamics that are more similar to real life, which then allows you to learn to relate to others differently. Therefore in group therapy, you are able to challenge your negative thoughts and learn you are not alone. In fact, there are many others who experience the same struggles and are here to support your growth as you are also supporting theirs.
Simi Psychological Group is proud to announce we are now offering therapeutic groups! There are countless benefits to participating in group therapy. Our Group therapy near Thousand Oaks is provided to those within the communities of Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Porter Ranch, Northridge, Westlake Village, and more.
Exploring growth with others who have similar goals is a powerful way to gain insight, make deep connections, and move toward creating real and lasting change in your life.
What Does Group Therapy in Simi Valley Offer?
Benefits of Group Therapy Include:
- An opportunity to create meaningful change in your life
- Surrounded by a supportive community of individuals with similar goals
- A safe and rewarding environment where being accepted by others leads to greater self-acceptance
- Building awareness of emotion, patterns, and relationship dynamics
- Learn more about relating to others and your personal patterns in relationships
- Feel less isolated as you are surrounded by a supportive group
Our Approach to Group Therapy
At Simi Psychological Group, we understand the immense value group therapy can provide to its members. We also know how important it is to approach group therapy in a way that allows for growth and healing to the group participants. That is why we keep these important factors as a priority when creating groups within our practice:
1. Meaningful change:
Our groups are designed based on common issues or struggles many people are facing. When we bring ourselves into the group, we are allowing an opportunity to experience many of the same uncomfortable feelings. The reason for this is simple: so many of our struggles involve difficulties relating to people. Feeling misunderstood, judged, or less than are all common things we may all feel. However they typically are not things we tend to talk about with others. The purpose of groups is to provide a safe environment where all these feelings can be talked about, explored, and felt. This allows you to experience these same feelings differently, and change your perception about what it means about you. By doing so, you can start to see yourself and relate to others around you more confidently.
2. We purposely choose themes for our groups
Themes that are important and experienced by many but may be misunderstood or simply not talked about enough. By exploring these themes within a group, you allow growth in your life.
3. Finding the right fit:
We provide a free and comfortable screening process to ensure the group is the right fit for what you are looking for and that group members are invested in pursuing similar goals. Ensuring that the group is the right fit for you will help you feel comfortable in joining and knowing you are in the right place to achieve your goals.
4. Passionate and trained professionals:
All of our group therapists are passionate about the groups they lead. They have seen the growth that comes from working through our struggles in a supportive environment. The topics of the groups they lead are specifically selected based on their areas of expertise and passion for helping others grow.
Common Questions About Group Therapy:
What will be expected of me in group therapy?
Our group therapists are trained to help everyone feel comfortable. Even though it may feel uncomfortable at first, your therapist will encourage you to participate without “forcing” you to share more than you are willing. With guidance and support from both the therapist and your group, we are confident that you will find leaving your comfort zone in a supportive environment will be rewarding.
Who will the other group members be?
Our careful screening process is designed to ensure that the group is the right fit for all members. You can trust that other group members in your group will have similar goals as yours. Our screening process will help you feel comfortable that you are in the right group for your needs and that other group members also fit those needs. Our groups consist of up to 8 people maximum to ensure everyone feels they have the space to share and feel connected to their other group members.
What if I try it but don’t want to continue?
Most members who are accepted into the group, attend the entire group session. However, we know that committing to something unknown can be anxiety provoking, so we ask that group members make a commitment to attend the first 4 sessions, if the group does not feel like a good fit after the first 4 sessions, we ask that you discuss your concerns with the facilitator(s) or bring it to the group.
Members often feel anxious about participating in groups and seeing the results can take time. If you decide to leave after at least four sessions, and have explored your concerns with the leaders and other members, we ask that you come back to the group to say goodbye. Though perhaps hard to imagine now, members will begin to care about one another and will feel unresolved if you leave without any explanation.
Does insurance cover group therapy?
Just as with individual therapy, many insurances cover group therapy depending on your out of network benefits. We are able to provide you with a superbill with your sessions listed. Submitting this to your insurance can lead to reimbursement based on your out of network benefits.
What can I expect in group therapy?
It can be uncomfortable to share your thoughts and feelings with other people. Especially at first, you can expect to feel some level of discomfort. However, this discomfort has an important purpose. We are unable to grow when we only stay within our comfort zone. As you experience a bit of discomfort sharing with others and hearing from others, you are likely to start to feel supported and more confident within yourself.
In life, we often find ourselves concerned about what others might think of us, feeling something is wrong with us, or fearing judgment. Group therapy provides an opportunity to experience these same fears but in an environment where you feel safe and supported. This is what makes group therapy so valuable–when you learn you are capable of working through these feelings in the context of group therapy, you become much more capable of carrying this confidence out into the world.
Our therapists will never “force” you to share or talk about something you are not comfortable. Instead, they will encourage your engagement in a supportive way. Along with your other group members, your therapist will help foster a sense of safety and support within the group.
Current group therapy offerings
Space is limited and slots are expected to fill quickly.
Women’s Anxiety Group
Men’s Support Group
Child Social Skills Group
TEENS GIRLS GROUP
