Group therapy

1. Group Process
psychotherapy:
Theory, Technique, and intervention David A. Songco, M.A.
Clinical Extern Therapist

2. Overview

3. Overview
•Theoretical
Considerations
•Gustav Le Bon
•Sigmund Freud
•Wilfred Bion
•Irvin Yalom
•Technique
•Cohesion
•Here and Now
•Process Focus
•Therapist Tasks
•Here and now
activation
•Process
illumination

4. overview (continued)
•Process
commentary
•Interventions
•Problem group
members
•Monopolist
•Silent client
•Help rejecting
client
•Characterologically
difficult client
•Borderline Client

5. group
experience inpatient process group
psychotherapy -
adolescents & Adults
Community mental
health

6. Group
psychotherapy

7. Group
psychotherapy

8. Theory

9. Gustave Le Bon
1841 -1931
•“The Crowd: A Study of the popular
mind”
•law of mental unity
“It is only in this advanced phase of organisation that
certain new and special characteristics are superposed
on the unvarying and dominant character of the race;
then takes place that turning already alluded to of all
the feelings and thoughts of the collectivity in an
identical direction.”

10. Sigmund freud
•Totem and taboo (1912-13)
•Group Psychology and the Analysis of
the ego (1921)
•Libido Accounts for group
morphodynamics
•Group Cohesion
•lack of libidinal bonds

11. Wilfred Bion
1897-1979
•Experiences in Groups
•Work Group & Basic Assumption Group
•Primary task | underlying assumptions where behaviors are
based
•Basic Assumptions
•Dependency
•Fight-Flight
•Pairing

12. Bion and tavistock
approach
•Tavistock Approach
•Group as Whole
•Less focus on individual process
•Process interpretations reflect on
group as whole dynamic, to basic
assumptions

13. irvin D. yalom
•Therapeutic Factors
•Instillation of hope
•Universality
•Imparting information
•Altruism
•Corrective recapitulation
of primary family
•Development of
socializing technique
•Imitative behavior
•Interpersonal learning
•Group cohesiveness

14. Technique

15. Group Cohesion

16. Group Cohesiveness
1.Try harder to influence other group
members
2.Be more open to influence by the other
members
3.Be more willing to listen to others and
more accepting of others
4.Experience greater security and relief from
tension in the group
5.Participate more readily in meetings

17. Group Cohesiveness
(cont)
6.Self-disclose more
7.Protect the group norms and exert more
pressure on individuals deviating from the
norms
8.Be less susceptible to disruption as a group
when a member terminates membership
9.Experience greater ownership of the group
therapy enterprise

18. Here and Now
•Here and Now Focus
•Two symbiotic tiers - neither of which
has therapeutic power without the
other
•Experiencing
•Illumination of the Process

19. Process Focus
•Definition of Process
•the nature of the relationship between
interacting individuals - members
and therapists
•Process versus Content
•Individual Process and Complex
Process

20. Therapists Tasks
(Here and Now)
•Here and Now Focus - 2 Phases
•Activating phase - move group into
the here and now
•Process illumination - identify and
share process as it’s unfolding

21. here and now activation
•Think in the here and now
•“How can I relate this to the groups’
primary task? How can I make it come to
life in the here and now?”
•Therapist moves focus
•from outside to inside
•abstract to specific
•generic to personal
•personal to interpersonal

22. Therapists tasks
(Process Illumination)
•Therapist must first understand and
recognize process
•“Why is this unfolding in this group
in this particular way and at this
particular time?”
•Beginning Therapists Recognition of
Process

23. process commentary
•Can it be taught?
•Gained through experience, practice,
and error.
•Progression
•Example

24. process commentary
•Therapeutic Insight and Change with process
commentary
•Here is what your behavior is like
•Here is how your behavior makes others feel
•Here is how your behavior influences the
opinions others have of you
•Here is how your behavior influences your
opinion of yourself

25. Interventions

26. problem group
members

27. The monopolist

28. Monopolist
•Who
•Effects on the group
•Frustration and Anger
•Deal with anxiety
•Detrimental to Group cohesiveness
•Therapeutic considerations

29. The Silent client

30. The Silent Client
•Why So Silent?
•Dread self disclosure
•Waiting to be activated
•Threatened by other group member
•Silence is never Silent
•Silence is behavior

31. The Help-rejecting
complainer
•Who are they?
•Effects on the Group
•Irritation, frustration, confusion
•Management

32. The Borderline
Client

33. Summary

34. Questions

35. Thank you.

36. References
Schneider, M, Corey, G, & Corey, C. (2008). Groups:
process and practice. BrooksCole Pub Co.
Freud, S. (2010). Totem and taboo:
resemblances between the psychic lives of savages and
neurotics. Charleston, SC: Nabu Press.
Le Bon, G. (2008). The crowd. Boomer Books.
Yalom, I.D., & Leszcz, M. (2005). The theory and practice
of group psychotherapy.