“I won’t know what to say or worry that what i say will be wrong.”
We completely understand the very real fear of saying the wrong thing or not knowing what to say in group therapy, but trust us: nobody will judge you if your thoughts don’t come out effortlessly or perfectly! This is one of the top barriers we hear from our clients when it comes to engaging in a group therapy model and we want to dive in deeper today and explain why there really is no such thing as saying the wrong thing in therapy!
You don’t have to know what to say in group therapy
Not knowing what to say is a normal, common experience and as you become more comfortable in therapy, you will naturally adjust and open up over time. Social anxiety fuels much of this type of fear and there are many benefits of group therapy for socially anxious people.
Nothing is wrong to say in group therapy
A phobia or fear of saying the wrong thing is real for many people. We understand that you still may have a fear of what you share being wrong, once you overcome the fear of not knowing what to share to begin with, and to be quite honest: there really is nothing “wrong” that you could say in group therapy!
Our licensed professionals are highly educated with master’s degree experience and are trained to handle all sorts of social scenarios that may occur during group therapy. Additionally, the main goal of working in a group setting is to share your unique perspectives and journey with others, so that you all learn from each other. This is an important skill to have across all areas of life.
If you’re going to worry, worry productively
All of these fears of making mistakes can be productive, if you worry about the processes and solutions needed rather than focusing on the threat’s presence. Ask yourself: Is this helpful rather than is this true? Our intervention changes the focus from ruminating about what is a fact to what might be helpful to act on. It can be helpful to recognize that thoughts are not facts and to break apart our choices from our thoughts and/or feelings.
Group therapy helps you admit your fears and work to identify/accept them
When you have fears of making mistakes, these fears are there to remind you that you’re facing a difficult situation! It is okay to admit to your fears, and oftentimes saying them out loud helps get rid of them. Try to avoid feeling shame around your worries and concerns. It’s likely that someone else in your group will be experiencing very similar, if not the same things.
Group therapy helps you gain confidence in your social skills
Cultivating strong social skills is so important and engaging in the group therapy approach allows you to gain confidence in them. By way of increased social interaction, you are offered more frequent opportunities to practice your interactions with a diverse group of individuals.
This allows you to cultivate deeper empathy for others and get a better understanding of a wide variety of life experiences, navigate collaborating with others, practice effective verbal and non-verbal communication, and learn how to more effectively resolve conflicts with others. All of these wonderful social skills are key in all areas of life.
For so many individuals, the fear of making mistakes is the root cause of many of these smaller, unique anxieties we’ve listed throughout this article. When you are able to move past this ultimate fear, the rest of your worries begin to break apart and become less prominent in your day-to-day life. Group therapy can encourage this process and allow you to address and conquer your fears head-on for a better quality of life long-term.
Want to learn more about group therapy and see if our services are a good fit for you? Reach out! We’re here for you and would love to help.