Groups: We are offering 90-minute low-cost Therapy & Self-Development Groups (on line and face-to-face from £5 per session, and 150-minute face to face groups. Groups are all run on weekly basis for 3 terms a year, and are ongoing groups.
Low-Cost Therapy & Self-Development Groups
Group Therapy in Witney
Talks, Workshops & Taster Sessions
OTS Newsletter
Witney Therapy Group
Therapy Groups – Witney
This is an open-ended groups with a general focus.
How we relate to ourselves and others is at the heart of how we experience life and respond to the various difficulties and challenges that being human entails. Throughout our lives, we all develop ‘habitual’ ways of relating, behaving, feeling and perceiving. But as neuroscience research now supports, we are often on auto-pilot, and not fully aware of all of our habitual patterns. These patterns are likely to manifest in a therapy group, and many people find it to be a very productive setting and an unusually safe place for exploring and experimenting with these habitual patterns.
It is in the nature of group therapy that you will be invited to explore new ways of relating. However, there is no expectation that you will stretch yourself beyond your willingness, as it is important that the group develops as a safe place; when we try out new things, we don't try them out in a dangerous situation, we try them out in a safe place. Group therapy is a very rare and unusual creative social space precisely because there is this balance between safety, and a commitment to explore and experiment.
The group, with a diversity of members, becomes a microcosm of our lives, and grows more effective and efficient over time, as you learn to use the group to experiment and to reflect on the different responses and reactions each member has, enabling you to discover new ways of living more joyously, harmoniously and effectively.
Justin worked for many years as an integrative relational psychotherapist (now working as a self-development specialist) and will support group members in developing relationships with each other to support each person’s individual goals.
How groups work & why they are so effective
Requirements:
An initial interview will be required, and in the first instance, you should complete the short application form linked below.
You are asked to make a commitment to coming for the first 12 weeks, as this is needed for you to settle into the group. After 9 weeks, you are asked if you want to continue with the group beyond the 12-week point, to allow for a short period of ending if you aren’t continuing. Ongoing group members are asked to give about 12 weeks notice if they intend to leave the group, again to allow for ending well. The group runs for approximately 40 weeks each year, with dates planned in advance.
Group Leader:
Justin Smith
Venue:
Witney Therapy Centre
2a Corn Street
Witney
OX28 6BL
Location Map
You can apply to join either group, as new members join at intervals throughout the year if a space becomes available.
Suitability:
These groups are suitable for most people seeking group therapy, though an initial interview will help to clarify this, or whether a group with a more specific focus for example would be a better option.
Fee:
Between £20 - £45 per session payable monthly in advance. Fee to be discussed at interview according to affordability.
Interview fee:
£52 payable only after your application has been received and acknowledged.
At least 10% of all fees above £30 go to fund any reduced fee places.
Apply here to join one of these groups
Click here to return to therapy groups
Talks, Workshops & Taster Sessions
We offer free talks, taster sessions and workshops at our OTS-Oxford Therapy Centre & OTS-Witney Therapy Centre on Thursday evenings and weekends. You will find up-to-date details on all our talks and workshops which include such topics as
for the public and professionals via these links:
Public Talks, Taster Sessions & Workshops
Practitioner Talks & Workshops
Low-cost Therapy & Self-Development Groups
Low-cost Therapy & Self-Development Groups.
Purpose:
These groups are intended to be:
The groups will explore concepts including:
Structure:
Cost:
The cost is £15 per session (A limited number of concessionary rates are available. Please mention this when applying, if you require one)
There will be 3 terms in each year, which will be for 10 - 14 weeks in length, with breaks for Christmas, Easter, and Summer. The exact length will be dependent on different group leaders’ holidays.
Who are the groups for?
Application:
Initially, all you need to do is complete our on-line application form in the link below the information for the 3 different groups. Please state which group leader(s) groups you want to be considered for (You can select one or more). We will then be in touch with you regarding the next step in you applying to join.
At this time, there are 3 different groups - see below.
Group 1:
Group Leader: Aisha Darr
Venue: OTS-Oxford Therapy Centre
Time & Day: Thursday, 19:00 – 20:30
Aisha’s perspective on her group:
At certain points we experience life as difficult and complex. This stems in part from the thought that we are alone in feeling our concerns and fears.
The group allows us to realise that we are not in fact alone and there are others who share similar feelings.
By allowing us to explore the paradox of our shared feelings on the one hand and our unique responses to our world on the other, a group offers us the opportunity not only of self-exploration but also of experiencing ourselves in relation and in response to others.
It provides a space of acceptance and empathy, tempered with curiosity and challenge, in which we may share our stories, learn from each other and practice new behaviours.
As a group leader, I work towards providing and maintaining a space conducive for sharing and questioning and by supporting the group process through psychoeducation and individual focus.
Group 2:
Group Leader: Gary Hibbins
Venue: OTS-Oxford Therapy Centre
Time & Day: Thursday, 20:00 – 21:30
Gary's perspective on his group:
I take the approach that every group is different, every individual within the group is unique, however you will not be alone in the reason(s) for exploring group therapy. I frequently witness struggles with existence, individuals searching for meaningful connection with themselves and others. People often bring their struggles of relationships, meaninglessness, mortality, and freedom. I encourage a more free-form style of dialogue, where each member participates as he or she sees fit. One of the first things we will explore is “what do you want and need from me” some participants want more others want less. “whose responsibility is it to have a productive session” (whatever productive means). If you are curious about the group I lead feel free to make contact.
I am a fully qualified integrative counsellor and a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). My professional training was at the world-renowned Minster centre which is a leading Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling training institute based in Queens Park, London
Group 3: This daytime group will start when there are sufficient people who have applied.
Group Leader: Guy Turton
Venue: Online (Zoom) with some in person meetings at OTS-Oxford Therapy Centre
Time & Day: Thursday mornings 9.30am to 11am
Guys perspective on his group:
A Therapy Group offers an affordable way of working on yourself and learning more about how you react around other people
As a result of family and childhood and other significant parts of our earlier life we develop certain patterns or habits
These patterns and habits affect how we view others and very importantly also how we view ourselves.
But we are also largely unaware of our particular patterns or habits or ways of dealing with people
Vulnerability, our thoughts and feelings, speaking or not speaking, and the stances or positions we take around others, are all examples of these types of Patterns
A group offers the opportunity for learning about our habits and patterns through the following:
-Watching others (Can I work out what is going on for them?)
-Interacting with others (What will happen to me if I speak to this person?)
-Checking in with yourself (How do i think and feel now?)
-Learning about yourself (Others may feedback to you about how they view you)
-Trying things out like expressing your views (How do I feel if I say this? How does the other person react if I say this?)
Words are really quite inadequate to describe the richness of what can happen in a group. Ultimately the only way you would know is by joining one and having the experience.
I have been part of different Groups of over ten years and am still amazed by the seemingly never-ending learning that can come from a group. I also remember how nervous I was when first attending a group and struggling to find my voice.
What do next:
Please compete the application form linked below, stating whose/which group(s) you want to be considered for. Please note there will be 3 joining points each year at the start of the Autumn, New Year and Summer terms.
Apply here to join one of these groups
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