Group Therapy Session: What it’s Really Like

Here's an insightful glimpse into a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) group therapy session at Lukin Center. In this video, we demystify the journey of group therapy, beginning with the all-important first session.

The video starts by outlining informed consent confidentiality before kicking off with an icebreaker, "Two Truths and a Lie." This exercise is designed to alleviate initial apprehensions and foster a sense of camaraderie amongst the participants.

Our therapist, Jessica Colucci, emphasizes the importance of vulnerability as an essential component of the group therapy experience. As participants begin to open up, we move on to a mindfulness activity - a recurring practice over the subsequent twelve-week journey. Each participant selects an object from a box, and using their five senses, deeply describes the item. This activity serves as a grounding technique to refocus attention, helping manage anxiety and encourage presence in the moment.

Between sessions, we practice different mindfulness exercises, a process that participants find calming and focus-inducing. We also delve into emotional regulation, a skill that proves invaluable in everyday life. The aim is to acknowledge our emotions, understand their underlying urges, and develop healthier responses to them.

We explore common urges associated with emotions like fear, anger, sadness, shame, guilt, jealousy, and love. The group is encouraged to respond oppositely to their innate reaction, helping to reshape how we react to negative emotions. For instance, in the face of fear or anxiety, we advocate for confrontation rather than avoidance; with anger, we suggest kindness over aggression.

We conclude the session with a round-table discussion where each participant shares their emotions, initial reactions, and how they might attempt to respond in the opposite way.

This video offers a rare peek into a DBT group therapy session and the transformative power it holds. Join us on this journey as we uncover the tools and techniques to better emotional understanding and mindfulness.

To learn more about Dialectical Behavior Therapy, visit: https://www.lukincenter.com/what-is-dbt/