Group therapy for these problems has many advantages.  

·     Group members realized they are not alone when hearing other people talking about similar problems.

·     Group therapy helps you develop new skills when relating with other people.

·     Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy techniques taught in group therapy help members develop strong  

              positive coping skills that help eliminate the anxiety and mood disturbances previously experienced as a

              reaction to the many pressures in life that people experience.

·     By improving interpersonal relationships within a group therapy setting this helps members transition their

              group experiences to their lives outside of group.

·     Members of the group benefit from supporting each other and offering suggestions on dealing with a

              particular problem from their own experiences.

·     Group therapy elicits a strong sense of community caused by a closeness and a high degree of relatedness

              amongst group members.  This is a clear advantage over individual psychotherapy.

·     Group therapy enables a healing process that addresses prior trauma caused by toxic interpersonal

              relationships in one's past. This helps members learn how early experiences caused distorted beliefs about

              themselves that help form maladaptive ways of coping with life's stressors that often led to self-destructive

              behaviors.

·     Group therapy provides a safe community where members can discuss personal problems without the fear of

             being judged.  This helps members increase their confidence interacting with others and simultaneously

             increase a sense of positive self-esteem.

·     Group therapy provides an environment where members can release pent up anger and conflicted feelings.

·     Group therapy enables members to hold each other accountable for attendance, positive interactions with

             other members, and to provide positive support for progress observed in fellow members.

·     Group therapy is less expensive than individual psychotherapy enabling more people to receive help for

             anxiety and mood disturbances.

·     Members in group are often at different stages of treatment.  This enables members to feel hopeful about their

             own treatment when observing different stages of progress in other members.

While group therapy is an effective intervention for anxiety and mood disturbance problems, some people benefit from combining group therapy with individual psychotherapy sessions.  All prospective group members are initially evaluated to determine that best possible treatment plan for their individual needs.