Counselor         Bobby Kizer, Ph.D. Psychotherapist
Licensed Psychologist
New Orleans, Louisiana
Spokane, Washington
504-390-5782

I am currently seeking new members for long-term group therapy beginning in Summer, 2018.  If interested, please email me kizer.bobby@gmail.com or call me at 504-390-5782.  Potential group members will need to meet with me individually for a few sessions in order to determine the appropriateness of the group and to learn important skills about how to be a good group member.  Group therapy is particularly useful due to its regularity (every week) and low cost ($50 for 80 minutes/week).

Group Therapy Options

Adult & Adolescent Process Groups:
These group are open to nearly anyone from every walk of life and from any culture, age, minority group, etc.  The purposes of these groups primarily center around helping people connect with another, communicate/express their emotions, and find meaning in their lives by becoming meaningful in the group.  See below for more about group therapy.

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What is Group Psychotherapy

In group therapy, approximately 6-8 individuals meet face-to-face with the group therapist, Dr. Kizer. The group meets weekly for one 80-minute session. During the group meeting time, members decide what they want to talk about.  Members are encouraged to give feedback to others. It is a safe environment in which members work to establish a level of trust that allows them to talk personally and honestly. Group members make a commitment to the group and are instructed that the content of the group sessions are confidential.  Dr. Kizer helps encourage the conversation, provides feedback about the interactions, and helps the group members build trust and help each other. 

Who benefits from Group?

These groups are for anyone who is motivated to:

• Improve your relationship skills and manage related anxiety, depression, anger and isolation.
• Deepen your capacity for intimacy, closeness and connection.
• Learn more about yourself as an individual and as part of larger relational contexts such as partnerships, families, friendships, work environments, etc.
• Explore how you impact others and how others impact you.
• Understand yourself in ways that promote informed healthy, choices.
• Augment your individual or couples therapy with opportunities to try out new “ways of being” in a safe, supportive environment so you can communicate your needs more effectively.

How can Group help?

The purpose of group therapy is to help individuals better understand themselves in the context of their relationships so that they can make more informed, healthy, and adaptive choices based on a deeper awareness of their feelings, interpersonal behaviors, reactions and patterns. Research shows that group therapy is actually the treatment of choice for many issues such as certain forms of depression, anxiety, isolation, anger, shyness, intimacy concerns, friendship troubles, and work issues.
Group psychotherapy provides an amazing forum for personal change and growth. Group therapy offers several important growth enhancing factors:

First, group members feel less alone, more connected, and more able to accept themselves simply by being with others who struggle with similar issues. The second, and even more powerful component of group, is that it’s like a “social laboratory.” It’s a unique, confidential and safe place to try on new ways of being and to learn about how you impact others and how they impact you. Group offers a “hall of mirrors” where you can learn about yourself through what you see in others and what others see in you.  With this supportive environment, individuals are frequently able to increase their self-esteem and increase their social functioning.  

Common Misconceptions about group.

• “I have so much trouble talking to people. I’ll never be able to share in a group.”
  Most people are initially anxious about talking in group therapy. Almost without exception, within a few sessions new members find that the group process draws them in and they begin to share with the group in ways they never anticipated.
• “I will be pressured to share my deepest thoughts and feelings with the group.”
  You control what, how much, and when you share with the group. Many group members find that when the group feels safe enough for members to share what they are most apprehensive about, the group can be very helpful and affirming. At the same time, you can also be helped by listening to others and thinking about how their thoughts might apply to you.
• “Group therapy is second-best to individual therapy.”
  The effects of group therapy can be equally as profound and as beneficial as individual therapy.  It is the treatment of choice for many mental health and relationship concerns.  Group therapy is effective with or without accompanying individual therapy.  
• “I will be judged, criticized, or verbally attacked by the leader and by other group members.”
  It is very important that group members feel safe. Group leaders are there to create a safe environment for all involved. As group members come to trust the group, they generally experience feedback and even confrontation as if it were coming from a good friend. One of the benefits of group therapy is the opportunity to receive feedback from others in a supportive environment. It is rare to find friends who will gently point out how you might be behaving in ways that hurt yourself or others, but this is precisely what group therapy can offer. This will be done in a respectful, gentle way, so that you can hear it and make use of it.

Fee

Group therapy costs $50 per 80 minute session (weekly).  Initial individual assessment and any concurrent individual therapy is subject to my regular fee for individual therapy ($150 per 50 minute session or agreed upon sliding scale). 

How to join

To join the group, please call or email me to schedule an initial interview.  Potential group members will need to meet with me individually for a few sessions in order to determine the appropriateness of the group and to learn important skills about how to be a good group member.  Please call or email me using the contact information below:

504-390-5782
kizer.bobby@gmail.com