Group Therapy vs. Sister Circles: Why Choose Group Therapy When I Have My Tribe?
There is power in sharing a space with like-minded people who are working toward achieving similar goals. You can’t put a price on being seen and understood when you are going through a tough time. Black women can achieve their personal goals in two ways: sister circles and group therapy. Though both groups share an overarching theme of providing a safe space where women can be vulnerable and feel a sense of kinship, this month’s blog will explore some differences between the two. For Black women, sometimes sister circles form organically and other times they form very intentionally. Group therapy, just like other mental health terms, has had a negative connotation. Many people hear the phrase ‘group therapy’ and think about substance abuse or the juvenile justice system. But it's deeper than that. In group therapy, women get the chance to talk about goal-setting, feeling stuck, motivation, parenting, focus, family issues, self-discovery, creating healthy boundaries, overthinking interactions with others and the list goes on. Let’s dive in and do a quick comparison.
1. Mutual Relationship & Kinship. A sister circle (also known as a tribe) is an informal support group that is not as structured as group therapy. Members are usually familiar with each other or have a mutual friend or acquaintance within the group. Nina Ruffin, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist states, “Sister circles are peer-based support groups that build upon existing friendships, fictive kinship networks, and the sense of community found among African-American women” (Black Lady Therapist, 2019). The primary difference here is that the group is not led or facilitated by a therapist. For this reason, “…they are limited in their ability to treat anxiety and other mental health concerns,” says Ruffin (2019). The women in this setting feel free to be vulnerable due to the sense of security provided by the group. Many women within the group provide empathy through a shared experience.
2. Diagnosis. Group therapy is conducted with a group of people who share a common mental health issue or life concern (anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, codependency, etc.) and is often facilitated by a licensed mental health professional. It’s likely that you will get more psychoeducation (information about how to treat and cope with mental disorders) from group therapy rather than from sister circles. The mental health professional that leads the group is able to diagnose and treat members of the group, sometimes with additional individual one-on-one sessions as extra support; this does not happen in a sister circle.
3. Cost. There is a cost incurred in group therapy. Because group therapy is a mental health service provided by licensed healthcare professionals, a fee is charged for care. However, for like-minded women who are interested in support that is guided by the expertise of a mental health professional, those advantages often offset the service fee. It may even be more cost-effective for the client since the provider is able to spend time with more than one person at a time. Sister circles are considered to be a type of support group among Black women that do not involve the service of a healthcare professional. For this reason, a fee most likely is not required in order to participate in the group.
4. Culture. Sister circles can include facets of African and African-American culture. Groups tend to incorporate values that are of significance to Black women that can be traced back to African-American traditions. Ruffin (2019) says that “Culturally infused sister circles incorporate elements that are unique to the participants’ lives as African American women.” These may be as formal as rites of passage or as informal as the various types of vernacular used among group participants.
How do I know if Group Therapy is right for me?
Group therapy is an optimal environment to build your emotional and social skills safely. With the presence of a professional, it’s likely that it will be a safe space to grow and develop. Often, clients let the fear of vulnerability keep them from considering group therapy or sister circles. Group therapy may be right for you if you are willing to stretch yourself and want to improve in the areas of vulnerability. It’s a great option if you would like to know that you are not alone in the issues that you face and really need a community. Sign up for our email newsletter to be updated on our group therapy offerings.
