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Groups

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Loneliness is at an all-time high. Research shows we need close relationships to have a high quality of life and good mental health. Sadly, the most painful loneliness can occur even if we are surrounded by others, but we are not connecting well. Feelings of depression, anxiety, or leaning on addictive behaviors are more likely to occur when we are not getting our relational needs met.

 

Secure, meaningful attachments help us “co-regulate” our emotions and help us cope with life’s challenges much better. There is an old Swedish proverb “Shared sorrow is half sorrow, and shared joy is double joy”.  When we naturally go through life confiding in those close to us, and  there is trust, mutuality, and warmth, things seem to go much better for us. However, many of us did not grow up in securely attached, emotionally close families or communities. Working on improving our relationships with others is what group therapy is all about. Group therapy and attachment theory share the same premise: the essence of being human is social.

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The overarching goal of our groups is to help members achieve satisfying relationships. As we learn about and discuss our relationship patterns with the group, we begin to see some of our patterns play out during the group sessions. Because of the group’s safety and acceptance, we begin to experiment with new behaviors, and expand our capacity to get closer to others—with others on this same journey! It is a rich and exciting experience to watch us all grow. Together.

Healthy Attachment

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Generally, groups consist of five to ten participants who meet weekly for approximately 90 minutes at the same time each week. Groups are an affordable way to participate in ongoing, in-depth, relationship-focused help, and are approximately half the cost of individual therapy. Upon joining a group, a contract is signed assuring that confidentiality and anonymity are strictly observed.

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Your experienced therapist can help you to:

  • Understand your longstanding attachment patterns

  • Choose a group that would be a good fit for your needs

  • Explore what seems to be working and lacking in your relationships

  • Explain how a group might benefit you, and what to expect

  • Come up with goals for a group that ultimately improve your outside-of-group relationships

  • Assess your interpersonal style using the IIP-32 (the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems) to increase awareness of the ways you typically connect

What happens in a counseling group?

What groups do you currently offer?

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Monday evening

  • Women’s group for adult women of all ages

  • Women’s group specifically for mid-life concerns (ages 40s & 50s)

 

Thursday evening

  • A group for men and women

  • A new group forming for men and women

Contact

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Anne Kellstedt Ramirez, LCPC, at 630.246.6988 x2, email her at annekellstedtramirez@gmail.com for more information, or fill out the contact form below and mention “group”.

Anne has been working with adults in groups for over 25 years, has taught group therapy at the graduate level, and receives extensive training from the American Group Psychotherapy Association.  She is happy to answer questions from adults inquiring about groups, as well as questions from therapists wishing to make a referral, or seeking a group experience for themselves.

“We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside of us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of trust….once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”

e.e.cummings

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