Devon Therapy Hub

mindfulness-based Group therapy

  • Welcome
  • About Psychotherapy
  • Our Therapists
    • Jo Phillips / Exeter
    • Katherine Jordan / Paignton
    • Sue Blackburn / Plymouth
  • Contact Us

Mindfulness-based group therapy

Led By Katherine Jordan
(online)
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Thursday Evenings 5.30-7pm GMT weekly
The groups run termly.

Our next Group begins on Thursday 6th May 2021
(first week is an open session for you to try before committing to the rest of the term)
Then will close the group and continue each week through until 29th of July 2021 (13 weeks in total)

Cost: £12 per session
(13 Sessions @ £12 per session + £7 admin cost)
Can be paid in instalments or in block payments, contact us for more information.

Group size is a maximum of 6-8.

Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy is another way to experience the benefits of Mindfulness in therapeutic work. 
Group therapy can offer a potent experience compared to individual work. Here are some of the benefits:


1. Group therapy helps you realize you’re not alone.
According to research, many people enter therapy feeling they are unique in their struggles. They are the only one having the problems they have. When you work with your difficulties in a group setting such as this, these illusions can quickly be dispelled. While it’s true that each of us is unique and may have unique circumstances, none of us are alone in our struggles. Group therapy tends to reduce isolation and alienation.
It increases the sense that “we’re all in this together,” and can normalise suffering.

2. Group therapy facilitates giving and receiving more support.
With some types of difficulties, in can be really hard to see reality on our own, to work out what is true, and how we are really perceived by others. One of the benefits of group therapy is is can help to dispel myths we may have created about ourselves. A misconception about group therapy is that members take turns receiving individual therapy from the therapist while others observe. However, members are actually encouraged to turn to each other for support, feedback and connection, instead of getting all of that from the facilitators. See more about the format below.

One example of how a person might find more support in Group Therapy is that one member may feel isolated and lonely, and doesn’t know how to make friends. The group supports her by listening when she talks and engaging with her through the session, which by itself decreases her sense of isolation. The members also share their own experiences. And they share how they’ve navigated loneliness or overcome isolation, which can offering hope, inspiration and encouragement.

3. Group therapy helps you find your “voice.”
Our definition of the word "voice" here is "becoming aware of your own feelings / needs and being able to expressing them.” In our sessions you will be strongly encouraged to notice how you're feeling throughout the session and to share this in the group.
It's true that many people don’t know how they are feeling when they are interacting with other people, because it can be challenging to be self-connected when connecting with others. Developing self awareness is a key part of these group sessions, and will be what enables you to make changes to your life. 

4. Group therapy helps you relate to others (and yourself) in healthier ways.
Often people don’t understand why their relationships aren’t working. In the safe atmosphere of group therapy, members can get honest feedback from others, in a caring and compassionate way, which can help to illuminate some unhelpful ways that we have been unconsciously relating.  
Groups provide the opportunity to see just how people relate to others in the moment, and how they relate to themselves.
This is often a positive process as how we see ourselves often has layers of self judgement. This format can enable us
to see ourselves with clarity through awareness itself. 
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Group therapy can illuminate what relating styles we follow, and give us opportunity to review if they are helpful or not. For example you might see if you are someone who typically hangs back until someone invites you to speak. 
Or you might take the leap in often. Do you only share positive information about yourself or things you’re struggling with?
What parts of yourself do you let others see? What parts of yourself do you hide?
​How do you handle conflict? How do you get your needs met?

By exploring things in this way through mindful awareness, it helps us to see our tendencies
and be empowered to make changes if these tendencies are unhelpful. 
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5. Group therapy provides a safety net.
As a group forms and develops, it becomes a safe place to reveal more of ourselves. 
Members might struggle with being authentic and speaking up for themselves in their lives.
By engaging with group therapy, you become part of a held, supportive space where you are more fully seen than you are in day to day life. Of course, in the short run, this can bring challenges as it can be uncomfortable to be seen, but in the longer term this offers deep riches to personal healing and growth. It can help to build confidence within and outside of the group.

Some groups decide to create more support outside of the sessions, by creating a WhatsApp group for example.
​The group will decide on any out of sessions communication, this can be additional help and ways to keep in touch.

In addition to strengthening your relationships skills, reducing isolation and finding your voice, group therapy also can be especially valuable for individuals dealing with depression, social anxiety and life transitions. 



Group Therapy isn't for everyone, it may not be suitable for you if:
  • If you do not get along with meditation / mindfulness practice
  • If you feel unable to receive any feedback, even if its supportive
  • If you feel unable to tolerate the process of others
  • If you are unable to commit to the group and the process longer term
  • If you have a severe psychiatric condition.

It takes strength and some recognition of the needs of others to function well in a group.

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mindful awareness

Mindful Awareness of a key skill that will support you in realising the benefits of Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy. We will support you to develop this inside and outside of these sessions.
We will encourage you to develop a daily mediation practice, which can be for 15-20 minutes a day.
​If sitting is a difficulty for you for some reason, you can develop mindful awareness in daily tasks or whilst walking,
it doesn't have to just be developed on a meditation cushion. In fact, as you develop the practice of Mindful Awareness, it will start to be part of each moment of your day, enabling you more opportunities for choice about how you function yourself in the world.

In your initial interview we will speak to you about this more personally, and support you to develop the best way for you.
​As part of the first group session, we will guide you in ways to develop mindful awareness in your daily lives. 

​What is the format of the sessions:

* The very first session will be setting up the group space together;
discussing mindfulness practices and getting to know each other a bit before we begin
(and having a bit of fun!)


* Each session will begin with a 10-15 minutes of mindfulness practice.
This maybe a guided meditation, or practicing mindful awareness a variety of different ways.
We will use different practices at different points over the course of the term. 

* We will work together to explore our feelings and experiences as we sit in the group together.
Everyone will be encouraged to take an equal amount of time participating in this.
We will guide you into a way of sharing your experiences,
which empowers you to be aware of what is happening in the moment, and what does happen for you,
when connecting with a group.
This is often a powerful modality for healing relationship patterns. 


* In with this, over the 13 weeks, we will cover a range of different skills including
​Focusing, Emotion Regulation and Awareness Practices. 

* Each week we will end with 5-10 minutes of relaxation
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​How and when does the group run?

Thursday Evenings 5.30-7pm weekly
The groups run termly.

Our next Group begins on Thursday 6th May 2021
(first week is an open session for you to try before committing to the rest of the term)
Then will close the group and continue each week through until 29th of July 2021 (13 weeks in total)

Cost: £12 per session
(13 Sessions @ £12 per session + £7 admin cost)
Can be paid in instalments or in block payments, contact us for more information.

Group size is a maximum of 6-8.

If you commit to joining the group for the term, please make sure you can attend every week, only with exception of sickness.
If you have planned holidays in this time, please look to join the following term.

how to join...

If you would like to be part of the next group therapy term, we will need to begin by having a 30 initial meeting with
Katherine Jordan, who is the group facilitator.

This will be chance for you to get to know each other a bit, and get a sense if the group would be suitable for you.
This will also be a chance for you to ask any question.
She will also talk to you about Mindfulness practice and advise of suitable ways for you to develop this.

Appointments are now open to book your initial meeting. Appointment slots are available From
Thursday 25th March between 12-6.30pm. We will keep them open and available until the group is booked (6 max). 

There is a £7 admin fee charged for this session,
we will send you details for this once we've agreed a time for your appointment. 

You can book an initial meeting directly 
​by emailing Katherine on: katherine@devontherapyhub.com or calling on: 07874 068870

Locations:

Exeter - Jo Phillips

Paignton - Katherine Jordan

​Plymouth - Sue Blackburn

All our therapists are UKCP registered

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  • Welcome
  • About Psychotherapy
  • Our Therapists
    • Jo Phillips / Exeter
    • Katherine Jordan / Paignton
    • Sue Blackburn / Plymouth
  • Contact Us