**2.3 Group therapy**

A third form of psychotherapy that may benefit athletes is group therapy. This form of therapy involves individuals coming together in a group setting with a mental health professional to receive psychoeducation and psychotherapy. In addition, the individuals are able hear and learn from the experiences of the other individuals in the group. Finding these shared experiences may lead to greater change than what can be provided by therapy and medication [18].

This form of psychotherapy is often used for athletes with substance abuse issues and can include groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Group therapy is often used in combination with medication, particularly for substance use disorders, and can be led by qualified mental health clinicians [8]. Group psychotherapy may be particularly effective for team sport athletes as they are accustomed to performing as a member of a team (the group) and following the leadership of a coach (the mental health professional), and this format may provide an added level of comfort [7, 8].

A common issue with high profile athletes that may work as a deterrent to this form of psychotherapy is the issue of confidentiality and anonymity [8]. Athletes are more likely to agree to using this approach to therapy if they have had positive experiences with it in the past, confidentiality can be guaranteed, and it can be well integrated into their life [19].
