Group therapy can be extremely helpful, affordable adjuncts or alternatives to individual therapy. They carry the added benefit of helping group members to be able to gather insight and support from people who are in similar situations, and allows people to be challenged when they cannot see how their maladaptive behaviors contribute to their relationship problems. Over time, it also allows group members to evolve and shift roles to be sources of support and insight to newer members of the group. It can be a highly dynamic and impactful experience that can facilitate significant growth and personal development.
Dr. Goldwasser facilitates two weekly therapy groups that very much complements the individual therapy experience of its members. The most long-running, which has been ongoing consistently for over 25 years, is for men who grew up in traumatic, abusive, or neglectful families, and developed narcissistic traits that have affected their ability to achieve stable, successful relationships. This group consists of up to 15 highly motivated, intelligent men, some married, others who are divorced or single, who want to heal themselves and the damaged relationships in their lives. Some have addictions, others have anger management issues, and some are estranged from their children and their wives.
Some of the more long-term members have been in the group for as long as 18 years, and have literally transformed themselves into mature, other-centered people, who have succeeded in rebuilding their relationships, or building newer, healthier ones. They stay with the group to maintain their progress, and to prevent regressing back to their old patterns of behavior, as well as to support newer members of the group. By helping others, they actually strengthen their own recoveries.
The other therapy group is for women who are struggling in their relationships with difficult partners. This is a selective, more intimate group of high-level women who support and challenge each other, help to clarify goals, and help to cope with the challenges of their relationships. For these women, it is a literal lifeline. It allows for them to have a safe space to share their burdens and challenges, and to often be able to gain much-needed relationship and coping skills. The group also can often help to facilitate changes in perspectives, which can lead to improved emotional wellness and personal empowerment.
