Interpersonal Process Groups

What happens in group?

Interpersonal process groups are a unique and powerful way to work on emotional and relational growth. Groups bring together a small number of people who meet weekly for 80 minutes on an ongoing basis, with no specific end date, and are offered either online or in-person. This format allows group members to gradually explore and heal some of the most difficult feelings that come up in relationships–like shame, fear, and distrust. 

How it works

The basic premise of group process is that the more we’re able to be open with ourselves and others—and pay attention to what makes that hard—the more alive, connected, and free we can feel in our lives and relationships.

What makes group process so effective is that you don’t just talk about your relationships, you get to experience them in real time with other group members in a setting designed to foster safety, honesty, and curiosity. As the group deepens, members often find themselves more emotionally alive, more able to name and express their feelings, and more able to experience closeness and difference. Many people report that what they learn and feel in group starts to ripple outward into their friendships, partnerships, families, and work relationships. 

What does neuroscience have to say about the relational challenges we face?

The ways we connect with others often relates to how we first bonded with our caregivers. Neuroscience has confirmed that these early relationships help shape how we relate to others as we grow. While the neural pathways laid down in childhood don’t completely disappear, over time we can build new pathways by trying out and repeating new ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. 

Research shows that change in our lives does not occur primarily as a result of willpower, insight, or catharsis. Change occurs through new emotional experiences and new interactions with others. Group process is designed to provide just this—a living laboratory for exploring and practicing fresh patterns of connection with yourself and others. The facilitator’s role is to provide support as you take these steps toward new ways of relating and being with yourself. 

Reach out

If you are interested in learning more about joining a group, please contact me. We will meet individually for a few sessions before you enter a group. This gives you a chance to explore your goals for group, explore questions you have, and for us to get to know each other, and prepare for joining if you decide it’s a good fit for you.