Group therapy types, purposes, and structural characteristics

Group Therapy

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Group therapy and intervention

Define Group Therapy

Group therapy can take many different forms. Simply stated, group therapy is therapy given to more than one individual, usually more than two. It can be family-directed, as in the case of family therapy, or it can consist of a group of strangers. In the case of some groups, such as self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, there may be no therapist-facilitator. In other instances, there may be a counselor to provide guidance and structure to the therapeutic experience. In supportive group therapy, the process often unites individuals with a common, shared experience, such as the experience of bereavement. In the case of family therapy, it may center upon family conflicts and how families relate to one another.

Define and explain the purpose of different types of groups, (ex. Self-help groups…etc.).

In the case of family therapy, the family is treated 'whole' system, rather than just as a group of related individuals in the same household (Family counseling, 2012, Good Therapy). "Rather than viewing problems as owned and caused by a particular family member (also called an 'identified patient'), Family Therapy helps to identify the ways that relationship and individual problems are caused and maintained by the family dynamics" (Family counseling, 2012, Good Therapy). Family therapists help to identify 'roles' that different family members play and the structures that define relationships in families. The goal of family therapy is to create more productive, honest relationships between family members and to help alleviate long-standing familial tensions.

Other group therapies entail the coming together of a group of strangers who "meet together under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another" and are united by a common problem, like depression (Information about group psychotherapy, 2012, Group Works!). "A group therapist appropriately selects people (usually 5 to 10) who would be helped by the group experience and who can be learning partners for one another. In meetings, people are encouraged to talk with each other in a spontaneous and honest fashion" (Information about group psychotherapy, 2012, Group Works!). In contrast, self-help groups are not lead by a trained therapist, even though they may have a specific goal and treatment structure like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Facilitated group therapy is used with the goal of improving the ability of members to relate to other people, although some group therapies may have a specific goal, like a support group designed to help members cope with grief. Self-help groups likewise have a specific goal, usually the cessation of a specific behavior (like substance abuse) or thinking patterns.

Discuss the role of the social worker

The social worker brings his or her knowledge of the workings of groups to bear upon the functioning of the group environment. Social workers have insight into the sociological problems that produce some of the problems with which group members may be struggling.

Group formation (the ideal size of a group)

Although opinions vary regarding the ideal size, most facilitated groups are relatively small, usually consisting of 10 to 15 people (Information about group psychotherapy, 2012, Group Works!).

Discuss treatment techniques

One increasingly popular technique used in group therapy is that of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is externally-oriented, and designed to create more effective relational patterns for patients by identifying irrational behavior patterns and thoughts, thus fostering more productive coping mechanisms (Jansson & Linton 2008). Other techniques include "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" (Group psychotherapy, 2012, Group psychotherapy). In more psychoanalytically-oriented groups, the counselor is not as directive in his or her method, while in CBT and psychoeducational approaches, the therapist assumes greater control over the proceedings.

Discuss the stages of group development

According to Bruce Tuckman, all groups go through a process of 'forming, storming, norming, and performing.' During the tentative forming stage, when everyone is getting to know one another, there is hesitation about group roles and a great deal of dependence on the facilitator. During the storming phase, there is jockeying for power, and members strive to set the rules for the group. The norming phase is one in which members are acclimated to one another's roles and rules have been established, lessening the dependence on the facilitator. During the performing stage, the group is capable of performing its supportive function and needs minimal intervention from the counselor (Forming, storming, norming, and performing, 2012, Mind Tools).