Group therapy

wyldblumusic

Group therapy

wyldblumusic

Hello, ladies.

Every day that I go to rads, I see postings for group therapy at the hospital.  On one hand, I think that it would be good for me to go.  On the other hand, I'm a bit...hesitant.

If you'd be willing to share...

Have you tried group therapy?  Was it a good experience?

Thanks a bunch!

sweatyspice

I've never done "group therapy" but I have been to "support groups."  Now that I think about it, I honestly don't really know what the difference would be.  Sometimes I've found them helpful, sometimes I've found them a complete waste of time.

I guess it mostly depended on whether I liked the other people in the group and how the group was run. 

I'd say to find out whether it's the kind of group you need to make a long term commitment to, and if you don't and can just go once to try it, give it a shot.  If you do have to make a long term commitment, then ask more questions - how many people, how long, who runs it, is there a specific focus, etc.

3monstmama

I've done group in other areas and it helped. I would agree with sweatyspice that part of it depends on if you like the people in the group or not HOWEVER, I think you have to go more than once to really get a grasp of what its like.  For example, I finally buckled down to attend a cancer support group that focuses on knitting and just talking.  Everyone in the group is either a cancer survivor, cancer patient or supporter of a cancer patient.  The first time was hard, the second time I had a really nice time talking to a women who had my same surgeon.  I am looking forward to going again on Thursday and I think I will try to continue to go at least one time per month when I am done with Zaps but dealing with tamoxifen.

I wouldn't mind having a regular more theraputic group to attend but I wasn't able to find one that worked with my schedule.  I did find a therapist and that helped enormously. 

I think it depends on what resources you have to talk about what is going on in your life and whether you feel you can really share how you are feeling with those around you.  If you can't share OR if you are the sort of woman who is used to having it all together and being a "superwoman" a group can be a good way to really deal with the changes and complications that breast cancer brings to your life.

Deirdre1

I went to Group (my primary care doc wanted me to - encouraged me STRONGLY) but I have to say that because I "only" had DCIS I wasn't really included into the conversation.  I brought that up with the facilitator and suggested that she try to put together something for DCIS women (since it is such a different disease - at least it is perceived as such) she wasn't interested.  Yup it's the same old situation - DCIS is the fosterchild of breast cancer...  So, I didn't go after the 3rd meeting..... I did however pursue individual counseling and was very pleased with the help that it brought into my life at a time I was literally turned on my head!!!  Best!