It is getting cold, and so are the seasonal blues. Every time I talk about cold, fever, or pain in the joints, I hear people tell me to visit the doctor of their recommendation…

Let’s talk about the month of December. A paradoxical state is created every year, while the streets are lined with bright lights and families reunite, others feel isolated and anxious in the darkness.

‘It’s too expensive,’ ‘I don’t have the time,’ ‘why should I share my personal problems with a stranger,’ ‘they simply take your money and want you to keep seeking treatment from them’, ‘I already went to a counsellor, but he wouldn’t listen to me.

Aristotle, the Greek philosopher centuries ago said, “Man is by nature a social animal.” This still stands true. Humans are constantly seeking out for connections and companionship with other beings.

As the name suggests, Group Therapy is a therapeutic process involving 5 – 15 people who share similar mental health conditions. The American Psychological Association reports that group therapy works well in treating Panic or Bipolar Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobias and Substance Abuse Disorders.

Each disorder is like a puzzle. The pieces that make up each puzzle varies from person to person. But, more often than not, one piece does not fit correctly, leaving the puzzle incomplete, a misdiagnosis.

A human emotional need to identify with and be accepted by members of a group is known as group belongingness. It focuses on getting acceptance, attention, and support from group members while also delivering the same attention to other members.