Group therapy

Group therapy is a new and likely vulnerable experience for many. On this page, we try and address some of the most common questions we’ve faced about this experience.

 FAQs: How groups work

  • Group therapy is an psychological intervention delivered by a psychotherapist to multiple persons at the same time. It brings together persons who have some shared experience, or wish to work on a similar concern. The group is created with thought and assessment, and is usually for a predetermined period of time. Once it begins, new members cannot join in.

    Support groups are more informal, need not necessarily be run by trained therapists, and their members can keep changing. They are meant to do exactly what they say - support - but don’t address the psychic workings of their members.

    Both are useful and important group modalities and it’s important to determine which one is right for you.

  • Both are different modalities of healing. Asking this question is like asking if you should jog or walk, or do yoga or hit the gym. Each has its own place in our lives, and we need to choose what will best suit what we need right now. Your needs can change, and so can your choices.

    Group therapy is for people who are looking to now work on interpersonal issues (not just intrapsychic ones alone) and want to bolster their wellbeing through a therapeutic connection with others.

    There is no right or wrong answer here. You are welcome to do either or both. Discuss this with your therapist as well. Ideally, your week should not be flooded with various therapies.

    Group work is not suited for life-threatening situations.

  • Groups work the same way. Just like you trust your therapist to not share your personal details, each group member is entrusted with confidentiality. We are all guardians of each other’s stories.

  • Groups work by giving everyone space to share as well as listen to each other. Additionally, our groups are for 1.5 hours and the number of members is always small, ensuring that everyone gets a chance to speak, should they wish.

    The more important way to look at this is - can the group setting enable you to claim the space that you would like to take in an interpersonal setting? The aim is to use the group to make yourself visible, or let others take space, depending on what your concern is.

  • Groups are a new format of wellness for many of us, and media and other social clues tell us to go for individual therapy, so our reticence is understandable. The only way to know if it’s for you is to try it – lean into it as you would any new experience, and see if it works for you. We are here if you want to talk a bit more about it.

 FAQs: Logistics

  • Working towards our mental well-being needs consistent effort. In the same way that going to a gym once is ineffective, attending one session may not be enough for you to experience the powerful sense of care and support that you will co-create with your group. You will also not have enough of an opportunity to share or listen, nor witness any significant change in yourself or others. Spending consistent time with the group is also necessary to feel safe and comfortable with the other members and your facilitator.

    Group therapy is thus a commitment for the entire duration offered. The payment is divided into monthly payments (usually 4 at a time) for ease of administration. You are welcome to discuss a different payment schedule with your therapist.

  • Missed sessions are chargeable in full, should the group still meet in your absence (see our refund and cancellation policy).

    This will be discussed with you before the group begins asd/or in your first session.

  • At the moment, our groups are offered in English, in the hope to accommodate people from across the world. However, everyone is welcome to bring in a flavor of their local languages as long as they can include the others in the meaning.

    As and when we begin to offer our groups primarily in other languages, we will indicate that on the group pages

  • At the moment, our group offerings are limited. We do hope to offer various times in the future, but for now, each group is offered only at the times mentioned.

Why groups?

We are not alone in our distress.

Often in the face of challenges, we feel alone and isolated from the world. It feels like no one will understand us. This is partly true. A lot of people may not share in your pain. When we share in a compassionate space, however, we immediately begin to feel better because we feel understood.

In each group, you are amid others who will understand exactly what you’re going through.

We learn to cope & feel hopeful.

Too often we’re left only to our own resources even though our problems and circumstances are bigger than us. Being with others as we all go through similar circumstances exposes us to the many ways in which each person is coping. This gives us clarity and perspective about our own lives. Seeing others get better makes us hopeful about our own situation.

We learn to listen and share - both.

Sometimes we don’t have words for our own distress; we can find these words from the stories of others which helps us make sense of what is happening within us. We may even re-evaluate our own approach or reframe our own story. This is the essence of all therapeutic change. In return, we offer this comfort to the others in our group.

The group – your KindSpace – is a source of support and knowledge. Everyone contributes towards a collective intelligence and emotional strength for all to use. What is put in determines what is taken from it. We hope you will feel heard, feel seen and feel safe in the group by affording the same experiences to all others.

We will feel better, together. 

Each group is carefully brought together, and maintains an environment of respect where everyone is welcome. Violence, intimidation, bullying or harassment towards anyone is strictly not tolerated. Group members cannot participate while under the influence of alcohol or any mind altering substance.