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GROUP
PSYCHOTHERAPY
- AN INTRODUCTION
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THIS PAGE LAST UPDATED: 10th April, 2000 |
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WHAT IS
GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Group psychotherapy, like individual psychotherapy, is intended to
help people who would like to improve their ability to cope with
difficulties and problems in their lives. But, while in individual
therapy the patient meets with only one person (the therapist), in
group therapy the meeting is with a whole group and one or two
therapists. Group therapy focuses on interpersonal interactions,
so relationship problems are addressed well in groups.
The aim of
group psychotherapy is to help with solving the emotional
difficulties and to encourage the personal development of the
participants in the group. The therapist (called conductor, leader
or facilitator) chooses as candidates for the group people who can
benefit from this kind of therapy and those who may have a useful
influence on other members in the group.
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HOW DOES
GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY WORK?
Members
of the group share with others personal issues which they are
facing. A participant can talk about events s/he was involved in
during the week, her/his responses to these events, problems s/he
had tackled, etc. The participant can share his/her feelings and
thoughts about what happened in previous sessions, and relate to
issues raised by other members or to the leader's words. Other
participants can react to her/his words, give her/him feedback,
encourage, give support or criticism, or share their thoughts and
feelings following his/her words. The subjects for discussion are
not determined by the leader but rise spontaneously from the
group. The member in the group feels that (s)he is not alone with
her/his problem and that there are others who feel the same. The
group can become a source of support and strength in times of
stress for the participant. The feedback (s)he gets from others on
her/his behavior in the group can make her/him become aware to
maladaptive patterns of behavior, change her/his point of view and
help him/her adopt more constructive and effective reactions. It
can become a laboratory for practicing new behaviors.
Frequently the people you meet in the group represent others in
your past or current life with whom you have difficulty. In group
therapy you have the opportunity to work through these situations.
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WHO CAN
BENEFIT FROM GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Group
psychotherapy is suitable for a large variety of problems and
difficulties, beginning with people who would like to develop
their interpersonal skills and ending with people with emotional
problems like anxiety, depression, etc. There are support
groups for people in the same situation or crisis (e.g. groups for
bereaved parents, groups for sexually abused women), but usually the
recommendation for the therapeutic group is to be as heterogeneous
as possible and represent a micro-cosmos. For that reason in
building the group, the leader will try to include men and women,
young and old people, married and singles, etc. The group is
especially effective for people with interpersonal difficulties
and problems in relations. Whether these difficulties are in
social, working, couple or even sexual relations, the participant
can benefit a lot in these areas.
Groups are ideally suited to
people who are struggling with relationship issues like intimacy,
trust, self-esteem. The group interactions help the participants
to identify, get feedback, and change the patterns that are
sabotaging the relations. The great advantage of group
psychotherapy is working on these patterns in the "here and
now" - in a group situation more similar to reality and close
to the interpersonal events.
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WHAT ARE
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUPS?
There
are many kinds of groups in the group-psychotherapy field.
The techniques used in group therapy can be verbal,
expressive, psychodramatic etc. The approaches can vary from
psychoanalytic to behavioral, Gestalt or encounter groups. Groups
vary from classic psychotherapy groups, where process is
emphasized, to psychoeducational, which are closer to a class.
Psychoeducational groups usually focus on the most common areas of
concern, notably relationships, anger,
stress-management etc. They are frequently more time-limited (10
to 15 sessions) and thus very appealing in a managed care
environment. Each approach has its advantages and drawbacks, and
the participant should consult the expert which technique matches
her/his unique personality.
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HOW TO
CHOOSE A GROUP-PSYCHOTHERAPIST
When
choosing a group psychotherapist you should look for a
well-trained, reliable, and ethical professional. If you are in
individual therapy you should consult your therapist and be sure
that your group and individual therapists can collaborate.
Reputable group psychotherapists usually belong to professional
associations. In the U.S.A, for example, membership in AGPA (the
American Group Psychotherapy Association), and certification as a
Group Psychotherapist by AGPA assures some degree of expertise. An
experienced group therapist will usually interview you before your
entering the group and will answer your questions about the group
and his/her experience without being uneasy. You can also ask the
prospective therapist how many years experience (s)he has in the
particular modality and as a therapist generally. Make sure you
clarify fees (including costs for missed sessions). Above all, trust
your feelings: If you do not feel you can trust the therapist,
find another.
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WHAT IS
EXPECTED OF THE PARTICIPANT?
The
participant in the group is expected to be present each week and
come on time. It is required that the information brought up by
members of the group and their names be kept confidential by all
the group members. In some groups, the participant is asked to
commit for a specified length of time at the beginning of
the group. The usual commitment is between 3 to 6 months. This
facilitates getting a sense of how the group works. When
participating in a group, you will not be required to talk, or
reveal intimate issues when you do not want to. However, it is
clear that the more you can participate, be open and talk about
yourself, your feelings and thoughts - the more you can gain from
this experience.
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TECHNICAL
DETAILS
Usually, there
are between 8 to 12 members in the group. Above 15 members, it is
impossible to create a therapeutic atmosphere and have enough time
for each member to work personally. The length of every session
can be from an hour and a half to three hours (this does not
include workshops and marathon groups). The frequency can be once
to twice a week. The duration of the group depends on many
components such as the severity of the problems and the targets
sought. It can be from a few months to a few years. You should
allow 4 to 6 months to pass in order to feel the effect of the
group.
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