If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve felt alone in your mental health journey — or you care deeply about someone who has. This article is for you. Whether you’re just starting to explore group therapy or want to understand what it can really offer, I hope this helps you feel a little less alone and a bit more hopeful.
Group therapy offers a unique space to share experiences and move forward together in the face of life’s challenges. Do you feel alone in your struggles? Perhaps you’ve already felt the relief of knowing that others are going through the same things. These groups, guided by professional therapists, are a place of support where we learn together to overcome anxiety, depression, and other difficulties.
You know those thoughts that keep looping in your head, often related to anxiety or depression? Group CBT helps you identify and transform them. One of the greatest advantages of this group approach is realizing that others are going through similar challenges. It helps break isolation and build self-confidence. You’re not facing your fears alone!
Benefits: You’ll never be alone with your negative thoughts again. The group becomes a valuable support, allowing everyone to progress at their own pace and learn from others.
Where it’s practiced: In Flanders, CBT is widely used and often combined with mindfulness techniques for better stress management. In Brussels, CBT programs are available in multiple languages, catering to the needs of expatriates. Some universities in Belgium, like KU Leuven, also use this practice.
Group psychodynamic therapy is particularly beneficial for understanding internal conflicts related to our past. A study conducted at the University of Edinburgh in 2021 showed that group dynamics favored the improvement of interpersonal skills and the sense of belonging, thanks to peer support.
Benefits: This approach helps understand internal conflicts while strengthening interpersonal relationships.
Where it’s practiced: In Wallonia, psychodynamics is often preferred in long-term group therapies.
Have you ever felt the relief of knowing that someone else is going through the same thing as you? Support groups provide a space to share difficulties without judgment. A 2020 pilot study, published by the National Institutes of Health of the United States government, found that participants in support groups reported an increased sense of belonging, which was absent in individual therapy.
Benefits: These groups offer the opportunity to share experiences with others, learn from each other, and find solutions together. They are often an essential first step toward healing.
Where it’s practiced: In Brussels, some support groups are organized to help expatriates adapt. In Flanders, there are also psychoeducational groups for disorders like bipolar disorder.
Have you ever taken a moment to just breathe and focus on the present moment? That’s the idea behind mindfulness-based group therapy. A review of 29 studies published in 2021 by the National Institutes of Health of the United States government revealed that this approach could reduce stress with a small to moderate effect size, and this effect was maintained for 1 to 6 months after the intervention.
Benefits: By learning to be present, you’ll find tools to better manage stressful situations and regain inner balance.
Where it’s practiced: In Brussels and Antwerp, many mindfulness programs are offered in clinical and professional contexts.
Gestalt therapy helps you fully experience the present moment and express what you’re feeling. A study conducted in 2019 at Yeditepe University in Turkey showed that the group program based on Gestalt therapy led to a significant improvement in university students’ self-awareness, as well as their interpersonal skills, after 8 group sessions.
Benefits: It helps you become aware of suppressed emotions and better understand how you react to others, while providing a space to express them freely.
Where it’s practiced: Gestalt therapy is widely practiced in Belgium, and several therapists in specialized centers for psychology and group therapy offer this approach.
Whatever type of group therapy you choose, it’s important to know that you’re not alone in your journey. Belgium offers a wide variety of practices tailored to individual needs. Studies show that group therapy can be just as effective as individual therapy, sometimes even more advantageous economically and for fostering social support. Whether it’s to overcome a difficult time or to better understand the underlying causes of your difficulties, there’s a therapy that can help you move forward. You deserve to find a space where you can be supported and understood. Don’t wait any longer, take the first step toward positive change!
