1st Group Therapy Session

Today was my first group therapy session.  I got there early (left my house 2 hours early because I didn't know how traffic would be).  The room was set up with black leather chairs arranged in a circle.  After a few minutes, everyone arrived (1 other girl and 4 guys).  I'm pretty sure I was the oldest one there (38).

They began by introducing themselves to me.  I then introduced myself, telling them I came to therapy because of my recent divorce and the inherent stress of starting all over again after so many years (11).  I didn't mention having OCD; I wasn't sure how much I was supposed to say about myself at first.  I didn't want to seem as though I was hogging the floor.  Speaking of hogging the floor, I was surprised at how reluctant they seemed to be to talk; I had figured everyone would be dying to talk about themselves, but there were a lot of silences throughout the hour and a half session.  I tried to sit and observe mostly for the first session, just watch and see how things progressed so I would know the "rules" of speaking.  Can I just blurt something out, or do I wait to be asked?  

After the introductions, everyone moved to sit in the floor.  It was comfortable being there, although the room was a little chilly.  The therapist asked them if there were any thoughts that had come up from the last group session, and a few people reluctantly talked about what they had reflected on during the past week.  Mostly there were relationship issues, how to deal with certain stresses in their lives, and the idea of how much they would be comfortable telling in group was bounced around a little.  As I left group, this was the idea that stuck with me.  Some had said they weren't sure if they could share everything as it was happening to them with the group.  I think that the more open and honest I can be in group, the more I will be able to benefit from it.  Maybe I will test this theory at our next meeting.