Is Therapy With Friends Really A Thing?

You’ve probably heard of group therapy and couples therapy – both effective treatment options for a variety of issues. However, you may not have heard of “friends therapy” before. Or, if you have, you might be asking yourself if it’s really a thing. 

The answer is yes – and, it can be more effective than you might think. 

Friendships are crucial in so many people’s lives. In some cases, your friendships will be the longest-lasting relationships you’ll ever have. 

So, it only makes sense to foster those relationships and make sure they stay healthy. That includes working through any issues and improving your communication with each other. 

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at therapy with friends, and why you might want to consider it. 

The Benefits of Therapy With Friends

If you’ve been on the fence about therapy with your friends, consider the benefits. You don’t necessarily have to be struggling within your friendships to reap the rewards. This type of therapy can help to improve your communication skills and encourage growth within your inner circle. 

In many cases, you can view therapy with friends as a sort of “maintenance” technique. Friendships tend to weaken over time, and like anything you care about and love, they require extra attention to stay strong and well-maintained. 

You’ll also develop better listening skills and learn how to communicate more effectively with your friends. Not only can that help with any conflicts that might arise, but it will give you a better understanding of your friends’ needs. 

In return, they’ll understand your needs and wants on a deeper level, too. When that happens, your friendship will grow and become stronger. 

Finally, it can improve your sense of connection. 

Let’s face it, we live in a digital world. You might see your friends regularly, but it’s likely that most of your contact is done via phone calls, texts, FaceTime, etc. Therapy with friends allows you to feel closer and foster a more real-world connection that can easily get lost in today’s tech-savvy society. 

Working Through Issues

It’s not uncommon for couples to attend marriage counseling when their relationship is struggling. 

The same idea applies to therapy with friends. 

You might have unresolved conflict in your relationship that has created tension between you and a specific individual or your entire circle of friends. Therapy gives you all a safe space to address any underlying issues so you can work through them. 

It can also give you the opportunity to address life changes that you feel have put a gap between you and your friends. It could be a romantic relationship/marriage, physical distance, or even a new job. You might not have the same ideals and views you once did, which can drive a wedge between you and your friends. 

Therapy can help you to work through those differences and address them in an open space. 

Dealing With Concerns

Sometimes, therapy with friends can be used to safely address concerns you might have about an individual in your inner circle. 

Maybe your friend is in a toxic or abusive relationship. Maybe their views have become so extreme that you don’t recognize them. Or, you might be concerned about their mental health and how it’s affecting them. 

While therapy for friends isn’t a substitute for an intervention, it can be used to openly discuss concerns and bring them to everyone’s attention. At the same time, once those concerns are revealed, you’ll have the opportunity to work through them together. 

Whether you’re just hearing about this type of therapy or it’s been on your radar for a while, consider giving it a try. Your friendships deserve it. 

Reach out to us to see how we can help you work on your friendships.