Dear Sarah,
Would you be willing to attend the group with your depressed brother ? Some attempts at group therapy need a little help. It's a bit like going to school for the first day and being left with an experienced teacher.
I did an anger management course in 2006 and the group was diverse and only men. Looking back it was surely the 2 facilitators that made it work and sometimes the combined skills of looking at a problem many ways really made me think. However, everyone in a group has a story or opinion so sitting back and listening respectfully is also part of the process. If your brother is socially inadequate he'd be perfect for group therapy. There's generally no extreme pressure to participate although adding a comment that is relevant is encouraged.
The thing with the groups is the fact that others are going through the same deal. There's nothing as refreshing as realising that your own troubled circumstances can be related to by another person's troubled circumstances. There is a sort of unspoken bond. It's hard not to get involved.
And if your brother feels too uncomfortable or doesn't fit in then just thank the group leader and move on. They're not going to chase you down the street like a parking warden trying to give you a ticket for some illegal parking. You can't "fail".
The only frustrating thing about groups is that you might have heard someone's tale of woe a few times and get pissed off at their repetitive communication on the same subject. But this is depression. We get stuck on things. Groups are sometimes used in committee form in psych hospitals to discuss the weeks' activities and any problems. One day I decided to mention that the Sunday bus trips were always to a beach and then MacDonalds. This seemed to contradict the healthy balanced diet the hospital food churned out daily. The justification was that the day trip was a one off. This happened with the Cookie Monster at Sesame Street too. Nowadays he tells a different PR - that Cookies are "a sometimes food".
So here's my comparison - the bus trip with MacDonalds is do-able just as a bus trip. I mean, who cares what you eat ? The group therapy is do-able just as an exercise in listening. I mean, no one is going to be bothered if your brother doesn't add to the conversation. When he's ready I'm sure he will say something. He might even say "Let's go to MacDonalds' after this". Lol.
Adios, David.
PS I've been to a GROW meeting whilst in psych hospital and was disappointed. The facilitator spent 40 mins detailing the admin and history of GROW (which basically a leaflet would do just as well) and then left 5 mins for serious discussion. As this coincided with the arrival of the tea trolley the group quickly dispersed and sought therapy in the biscuits, tea & coffee. The GROW group, bored to pieces, couldn't compete with a Rich Tea Biscuit. That's why I think you need to find a group that is run with some tenacity and intelligence.
