Group Analytic Therapy in Bolton, Greater Manchester

Welcome

If you're here, you may be at a low point in your personal or professional life, perhaps feeling sad, anxious, lonely or burned-out and wondering if group therapy can help you.

Perhaps you've tried therapy before. Maybe you had a few individual sessions over the years, picked up some useful self-help strategies, made some changes and are now at a stage in your life when you feel ready to embark on some deeper, long-term, therapeutic work. 

You may be someone who has fought really hard to get where you are, juggling family, professional and social commitments. Always feeling a little over-stretched and tired, never feeling quite good enough and rarely having time for yourself.  Then you hit a setback or major life-transition. The familiar doubts and self-criticism come back louder and you realise you need some longer-term support as you rebuild your life, career or relationships.

You may find yourself struggling, your self-confidence eroded, unsure how to move forward. You realise that self-help is no longer enough, you would like something more, are ready to invest in yourself and are wondering if a therapy group might be a good next step.

If you're looking for group therapy then you may have already decided that you would like the support of others on this journey. Perhaps you're interested in learning from the experiences of other group members and receiving their insights and perspectives on your difficulties .

If you're considering group analytic therapy then it is likely you are seeking a deeper, long-term approach. You will be ready to commit to weekly, in-person attendance, for at least a year and potentially longer.  This group is offered as part of my ongoing training in group analytic psychotherapy, please continue reading to find out more. 

What could group analytic therapy offer you?

This analytic therapy group offers a safe, welcoming and confidential space to explore your current difficulties in the company of others.

You will receive support, containment and insight from other group members as well as from me as the group conductor.

We will work on the principle of therapy for the group, by the group.  Each group member contributes to the therapy of the other members and to the development of the group as a whole.  This means that you gain from the multiple perspectives of others and other group members benefit  from hearing your perspective and insights.

Listening and bearing witness as others share their struggles can shed light on your own struggles. An analytic therapy group is sometimes compared to a hall of mirrors. Listening to the difficulties and setbacks of other group members, seeing their emotional responses and coping strategies can help you see your  own difficulties more clearly and may offer you different ways of responding.

The experience of being in a therapy group can help you gain a better understanding of yourself,  your ways of relating and the choices available to you, so that you feel more confident, connected and resourceful.

This group offers you a place to explore issues of identity, resolve family, social and professional challenges, build self-esteem and self-agency, navigate important life transitions and process feelings of grief and loss.

Participating in a therapy group, has the additional benefit of building your social confidence.  It is an opportunity for you develop a deeper understanding of how you might be in other group and family situations and to experience different ways of relating to others.  Group therapy can help you to feel more grounded, assertive, boundaried and able to express yourself confidently in other social situations.

This long-term analytic group offers you  opportunities to experience a sense of community, belonging, insight and personal growth. It promises to be an enriching and potentially transformational experience.

How can group analytic therapy help?

Group analytic therapy can help you:

• Enhance your relationships and improve your social confidence.
• Reduce anxiety, depression, social-isolation and loneliness.
• Process feelings of guilt, shame, anger and frustration.
• Cope with bereavement, loss and traumatic events.
• Develop your confidence in groups and your understanding of group dynamics.
• Explore aspects of identity, diversity, community, cultural heritage and fostering a sense of belonging.
• Successfully navigate career transitions, retirement and relationship endings
• Address professional or academic difficulties.
• Recover from work-related stress and burnout.

You will benefit from being in group analytic therapy with me if you are:

• Looking for long-term, weekly, in-person therapy in Greater Manchester.
• Willing and able to commit to regular weekly attendance.
• Interested in experiencing therapy in a group.
• Seeking connection with others.
• Willing to share your experiences and hear the experiences of others.
• Open to receiving the perspectives and insights of others.
• Prepared to listen respectfully to others and offer your perspective and insights.
• Respectful of the confidentiality of the group and its members.
• Curious about your way of being and relating to others.
• Wondering how your past experiences might be affecting your feelings, choices and relationships in the present.

Practical arrangements

This group is limited to a maximum of eight participants, plus me as the therapist.

We will meet weekly, on Thursday evenings for 90 minutes. 

Sessions will be held in a therapy room in Bolton, Greater Manchester.  The room is located in the town centre a short walk from the bus and train stations. I will provide you with the address and directions, when you sign up.  

Bolton is easy to reach from Bury, Radcliffe, Salford, Preston and Wigan.  There is parking close to the venue, for those traveling by car. 

My usual fee for group therapy is £30 per session. 

Some thoughts on attendance

Regular attendance is important to the life of any therapy group, providing continuity, consistency and supporting group cohesion.

Joining this group requires a commitment to attend regular weekly sessions and to remain in the group for at least a year.

To assist in this, the sessions are programmed twelve months in advance with breaks in December, in Spring and a longer break in Summer.  Before you join, you will receive a programme of dates, so that you can plan your attendance.

My approach to group analysis

If you join this analytic therapy group with me, you will find a safe and containing space where communication, sharing and thinking together are actively encouraged.

There is emphasis on putting thoughts, feelings, ideas and reactions into words through free-floating dialogue and discussion.

As with all of my groupwork, creative expression through the sharing of dreams, stories and metaphors is warmly welcomed.

I offer a free, initial consultation. This usually lasts around an hour and is an opportunity for you to tell me about yourself, your background and reasons for seeking group therapy.  We can think about how a therapy group might work for you and I will answer any questions you have about my approach and training.

If we decide group analysis is a the right therapeutic approach for you, we will meet  1:1 several times to help us prepare for you joining the group.

These individual session are an important part of the process. They provide an opportunity for us to get to know each other better and for me to learn more about you and what you would like to get out of therapy. We will think together about your previous group experiences and how I can best support you in succcessfully navigating this new group experience.

About me

I am a student on the IGA Qualifying Course in group analysis. This is an advanced level training and I am offering this analytic therapy group as part of my training.

As a trainee in group analysis, I will receive regular clinical supervision from an experienced group analytic supervisor throughout our work together.

Although, not yet qualified in group analysis, I am an experienced individual therapist and this group is offered as part of my private practice KN Psychotherapy and Wellbeing.

You can read more about my background, training and therapy qualifications here.

I offer a number of other therapy groups and therapeutic dream-sharing groups as part of my private practice.

Next steps

If this sounds like it might be of interest, I am currently accepting enquiries for this therapy group. Contact me to find out more and to request a free consultation.