In group psychotherapy, the doctor, therapist, or counselor, runs the group and directs them to a known or unknown goal. Group psychotherapy, like indidvidual therapy, is intended to help patients who would like to improve their ability to cope or indeed to cope differently with difficulties and problems in their lives. The objective of the psychotherapy group is to encourage the personal development of the patients within the group.This kind of group is facilitated by a professional.
In support groups, the people come together on their own and are supported and guided by patients that suffer the same condition or disorder. In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help; usually non professionals facilitate the groups. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others’ experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks.
The major difference between group psychotherapy and support groups is cost; The support group, on the other hand, is usually free and is monitored by people that have the same experiences. Group psychotherapy is run by a professional that is most of the time paid for their time.
