Group Treatment Can Speed Healing After Break-ups.
Dr. McGriff specializes in troubled relationships, helping resolve marital strife,infidelity, money & control issues,separation,divorce,problems with children ,and blended family dilemmas. She is trained in couple, family and individual therapy.
It is often a long and painful road from a break-up to acceptance of loss and the knowledge that survival is possible. The road is lonely and difficult to share with family and friends. It is important to get professional help as well as support and understanding quickly to help the person stabilize while going through the grieving process. As with any loss, the stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, sadness and depression, and acceptance.
Group treatment helps members stop denying that something is seriously wrong. Members give each other the strength to let their families and friends see what is really going on. As the denial subsides, it is replaced by anger, either with the self or the ex. Group treatment can shorten the time this is experienced when other members share their experiences and give feedback. Without treatment, this stage can be very prolonged and can keep the person from forming new relationships.
When the anger has cooled, the person begins to obsess about the ex and tries to get in touch with the ex by “accident” or obsess about phoning the ex. Sharing these behaviors with a group helps the person see what they are doing and helps them move on.
Sadness sets in when the person finally realizes that the relationship is really over. They may withdraw from family, friends, and work. At this time, group is key to keeping them in touch with others. Acceptance comes when the anger has passed, the obsessions fade and the depression has melted away.
Red Bank Psychology is located at 34 Reckless Place, Red Bank, NJ. Their phone number is 732-842-4540 you can also visit her website at http://www.redbankpsychology.com.
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