Group Therapy at Queen Mary
Therapy groups here at QMUL are run as 'slow open' groups which means members join throughout the academic year. Once started, members continue to meet weekly at the same time and place until the end of the academic year (with some breaks over the traditional holiday periods).
The groups comprise up to 8 students plus the group therapist. Each session lasts 90 minutes and group members commit to attending all sessions.
What is group therapy?
If you’ve had any counselling before, you may find that group therapy is much like individual counselling except in a group! You’ll have the space to talk about the things that are going on with you, your feelings, experiences and your difficulties. The big difference is that you will be sharing this with other students and, in turn, both receiving and giving support to each other, with the help of the therapist.
Who can benefit from group therapy?
Many of the difficulties we struggle with have their source in problematic relationships we have had in the past. Despite our best efforts to make our own lives, these relationships contribute strongly to how we think about ourselves and relate with others. In turn, this can make it difficult for us to make the changes we would like to in our lives. In a therapy group you have the opportunity to explore and reflect on how you relate to yourself and others; through shared reflections, shared understandings and communication – all experienced within the supportive environment of the group. Members can thus discover new and more creative ways of thinking, feeling, behaving and relating. In short, together, group members construct a space in which they get a chance to creatively experiment with new ways of being and living.
How do I join a group?
When you complete a self referral form you can let us know you're interested in group therapy - all students first meet with a individual team member to understand more about your situation and you can ask them any questions you may have about the group. If the team member thinks a group may be helpful for you they may also raise this and discuss it with you first. If you both feel that finding out more may be helpful, you would then meet with Emma, the group therapist initially. You would then have a conversation with Emma to help decide whether group therapy would be a good fit for you and to start the process of joining a group.
Testimonials from previous group members
It was a relief to share my worries in the group. This enabled me to put them in perspective and to find constructive ways to change things. Others in the group had been through similar experiences and were able to make me feel understood and see ways to regain my confidence. It felt good that they also felt helped by me sharing my feelings with them.
Since I’ve been in the therapy group I’ve seen how each individual is themselves and special for it - and so am I. This has made a great difference to my relationships. I can now get on with and value lots more people and feel the same from them.
Attending the group helped me to have better relationships. It made me aware of some self-defeating patterns I had in relating to others so I could get beyond them and enjoy my time at uni more.
Being in the group has helped me to develop many life skills. I feel better equipped for the world out there. I am excited about putting the new me into practice in different contexts. I feel that as I have been able to overcome the struggle with my past habits and social anxieties, I will overcome whatever life throws at me. I know that I can keep picking myself up when I get knocked down and keep going, doing my best in each situation and having fun with it!
