There’s been much written and spoken in our world about the epidemic of loneliness. There has always been loneliness, but we are experiencing and talking about it more post Covid. What’s making it so transparent now? Working from home, dating through apps, the digital age of communication… The art and skill of communication, of forming and maintaining relationships, is being lost. How we communicate over text, email, or social media are quite different than face-to-face interactions. We interact so much digitally and virtually with distractions all around us that it even further complicates being present and forming and maintaining relationships. There’s no fault here though. It’s a consequence of innovation and necessity.

There also may be more to it than the digital age and Covid. Interpersonal relationship skills begin in the home. Many didn’t experience emotional intimacy in their family thus are perplexed how to attain it as adults. There is no fault here either. It tends to be a multi-generational experience. People find like-minded, like-skilled people to bond with. The bond may be the lack of emotional intimacy because that’s all they know and have experienced. It’s familiar and thus comfortable. It’s also learned behavior. Learned and then taught or modeled to children and the cycle continues. Sometimes these children see their family as different from others but can’t put their finger on it until later in life when seeking out relationships and cannot align with the emotional intimacy they see others having. This holds true in both personal and professional environments. Professional gains are often realized through strong professional relationships.

Know this, what was learned can be changed. Neuroscience has taught us that our brain can learn and grow at any age through self-awareness and practice.

All of this led to Relationships Resolved Group Therapy. The therapy focuses on relationship skill building such as trust development, increased emotional and social intelligence, empathy, connection, vulnerability, mutual understanding, respect, shared experiences, effective communication, active listening, maintaining presence, and the art of conversation all leading to greater relational intimacy with friends, family, colleagues, and romantic partners.

Therapy is both is a client-directed approach focused in the here and now, and understanding past experiences that continue to influence how we are today. Here and now focuses on self-awareness, identifying strengths, growth needs, and behaviors that need to start, stop, or be enhanced. It is action, insight, and practice oriented, and supportive. Understanding past experiences helps us decide if those past influences on our current behavior is still needed or warranted.

Why Group Therapy? Group therapy is a safe and non-judgmental space where you can communicate openly and honestly with each other. Confidentiality is agreed upon by all. It’s a place to practice skills and behaviors, learn about yourself, and how to learn about and get to know and understand others. All that are in the group have a common purpose – to improve their relationship skills to attain greater relational intimacy. In addition, group therapy has proven to be an extremely effective and efficient method of learning interpersonal relationship skills. The group is a microcosm of each member’s larger world.