Group Therapy: Basic Concepts and relevance

Basic concepts of Groups

1. Group Therapy

2. Groups
•Groups: Psychologically interdependent and interactive individuals
joined in a common goal.
•Based on General Systems Theory
-Opening boundaries to emotional exchange
-Focus moves away from problems within the individual and
instead helps group members to become aware of how their actions
and reactions influences group members

3. WhatwillbethegoalsofgroupPsychotherapy?
GOALS

4. Toincreaseawarenessandself-knowledge; to develop a sense of one’s
unique identity
Torecognizethecommonalityofmembers’needsand problemsand
todevelopasenseofconnectedness
Tohelpmemberslearnhowtoestablishmeaningfuland intimate
relationships

5. To assist members in discovering resources within their extendedfamilyand
communityaswaysofaddressingtheir concerns
Toincreaseself-acceptance,self-confidence,self-respect, andtoachievea
newviewofoneselfandothers
Tolearnhowtoexpressone’semotionsinahealthyway

6. Todevelopconcernandcompassionfortheneedsand feelingsof
others
To find alternative ways of dealing with normal developmentalissues
andofresolvingcertainconflicts
To increase self-direction, interdependence, and responsibilitytoward
oneselfandothers
Tobecomeawareofone’schoicesandtomakechoices wisely

7. To make specific plans for changing certain behaviors
To learn more effective social skills
To learn how to challenge others with care, concern, honesty, and
directness
To clarify one’s values and decide whether and how to modify them

8. Therapeutic Qualities of Groups: Yalom (2005)
•Instillation of Hope: Members of therapy groups often find hope as they
discover commonalties and focus on solutions to current problems.
•Universality: Clients learn that others are having similar experiences.

9. •Imparting of Information: Clients gain information about their illness and
their recovery within the group setting.
•Altruism: Clients begin to understand they are a vital part of the other
members’ recovery process. They learn how to give and receive help, and to
establish appropriate boundaries
Therapeutic Qualities of Groups: Yalom (2005)

10. •Development of socializing techniques: Clients learn that the group is a
place to be with others, listen, talk to others, and learn about others’
impression of them.
•Imitative behaviour: Groups allow clients to ‘try on” behaviors they have
seen in others.
•Interpersonal learning: The client learns that life doesn’t always unfold as
expected, that others are dealing with similar issues, and that options are
available for replacing negative behaviours.
Therapeutic Qualities of Groups: Yalom (2005)

11. •Group cohesiveness: Being part of a group can instil a sense of belonging
in the client through group decision-making and cohesiveness. This can
transfer to groups the client is part of in their daily life.
•Catharsis: Participants are able to vent, explore feelings and gain relief from
having expressed those feelings.
Therapeutic Qualities of Groups: Yalom (2005)

12. Types of Groups
•Guidance/Psychoeducational Group: Preventative and educational groups
that help group members learn information about a particular topic or issue
and might also help group members cope with that same issue
•Counseling/Interpersonal Problem-Solving Groups: These groups help
participants resolve problems of living through interpersonal support and
problem solving.

13. Types of Groups
•Psychotherapy Groups: These groups focus on personality reconstruction
or remediation of deep-seated psychological problems.
•Support Groups: These deal with special populations and deal with specific
issues and offer support, comfort, and connectedness to others.
•Self-help Groups: These have no formal or trained group leader. (e.g.
Alcoholics Anonymous or Gamblers Anonymous.)

14. Concerns in Group therapy
•Participant Selection: Screening is needed with counseling and psychotherapy
groups. Some people are not well suited for group work.
•Group Size: Group counseling and psychotherapy generally work best with 6-8
members.
•Length and Duration of Sessions: Individual sessions are usually 50 minutes,
group sessions range from 1-2 hours. Session duration can be only once or in some
cases might last for years (e.g. open-ended psychotherapy group).

15. Concerns in Group Therapy
•Group structure can be open (allows members to enter and leave the group
as needed) and closed (only the group members who started at the beginning
are in the group at the end).
•Ethics: Confidentiality is hard to guarantee due to the number of
participants.
•Group Evaluation: Outcome measurements are difficult to obtain.

16. Stages of Group Therapy
Stage 1, the formation stage:
•Getting prepared
•Announcing the group
•Screening and selecting the members
•Preparing them for a successful experience

17. Stages of Group Therapy
Stage 2, the orientation phase, is a time of exploration during the initial sessions.
•Participants test the atmosphere and get acquainted.
• Members learn what is expected, how the group functions, and how to participate in a group.
• Members display socially acceptable behavior; risk-taking is relatively low and exploration is tentative.
• Group cohesion and trust are gradually established if members are willing to express what they are thinking and feeling.
•Members are concerned with whether they are included or excluded, and they are beginning to define their place in the group.
•A central issue is trust versus mistrust.
• There are periods of silence and awkwardness; members may look for direction and wonder what the group is about.
•Members are deciding whom they can trust, how much they will disclose, how safe the group is, whom they like and dislike, and how
much to get involved.
• Members are learning the basic attitudes of respect, empathy, acceptance, caring, and responding—all attitudes that facilitate trust
building.

18. Stages of Group Therapy
•Stage 3, the transition stage, is characterized by dealing with conflict,
defensiveness, and resistance.
•Stage 4, the working stage. This stage is marked by action—dealing
with significant personal issues and translating insight into action
both in the group and outside of it.
•Stage 5, the consolidation stage, the focus is on applying what has
been learned in the group and putting it to use in everyday life.
•Stage 6, which includes evaluation and follow-up issues.

19. Advantages of Group Therapy
•Groups provide a social atmosphere that is similar to the real world
•Groups provide more opportunity for social learning
•Participants can easily learn interpersonal skills
•Members can practice new interpersonal skills on each other
•Groups are cost effective

20. Advantages of group therapy
•Groups provide commonality (e.g. “I’m not the only one with this problem”)
•A group member makes public statements regarding change and thus is more
likely to follow through with stated behavior
•Members receive feedback/support/challenge that encourage or facilitate
change
•Groups offer diversity of perspectives

21. Disadvantages of Group Therapy
•Not everyone can be in a group (e.g., issues, interpersonal skills)
•Confidentiality more difficult to maintain
•Harder to build trust and safety
•Group leaders are not always properly trained
•Not enough time to deal with each person thoroughly

22. Disadvantages of Group Therapy
•Group leaders have less control than in individual therapy
•There are concerns with conformity and peer pressure
•Scapegoating may occur
•A disruptive person can cause more harm

23. Thank you!