Group provides many opportunities for personal growth- it allows members to understand how and why they react the way they do to different situations. IT is ideal for people with interpersonal concerns such as intimacy, assertiveness, trust, isolation, anger and loss.

Group provides many opportunities for personal growth - it allows members to understand how and why they react the way they do to different situations. It is ideal for people with interpersonal concerns such as intimacy, assertiveness, trust, isolation, anger and loss.

Group is a social microcosm- that is, the problems that individuals have in relationships are replicated in the group. So when therapists focus on the relationship between members - they are addressing members' relationship difficulties outside of group as well. Also, the real time developments in group provides powerful and accurate data: therapists no longer have to rely solely on member's descriptions of interpersonal situations. In group, clients have reactions to each other that replicate their experiences to people in the "real world". Under the watchful eye of an experienced group therapist, group members:

• Learn new ways of interacting and dealing with people in their life: for instance, they can become more intimate or assertive. They learn to communicate in a more open and authentic way, and become less fearful about the impact on other people when they are honest -- even with expression of angry emotions. They get to witness the impact of their behaviors on others and get feedback from the group.
• Identify experiences of loss, envy, longing, and desire for intimacy. Often, members in the group represent client's family or origin, and so they have the opportunity to project these feelings onto other members and "work through" their early experiences in a safe environment.

Another powerful aspect of group therapy is the experience you have that you are not alone in the world. Group is a place where you feel connected and get support, empathy and validation from people who have shared experiences.

Therapist Details

Dr. Gardenswartz has over 16 years of education, training, and experience in her field. She received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania and went on to earn her Master's and Doctorate in Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, one of the top educational institutions in the U.S. in the field of Clinical Psychology. She completed her internship at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital in New York, (Teaching Hospital for Columbia University Medical School). She then moved to Los Angeles where she completed post-doctoral training, started her private practice, and became a Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP). In addition to working with patients, Dr. Gardenswartz consults for publications, media, and entertainment. She is a script and technical consultant for television and film. Dr. Gardenswartz currently teaches undergraduate courses at UCLA.