Resistance Group Therapy for Decades

Resistance Group Therapy

For decades researchers have attempted to discover whether resistance to group therapy is more harmful than beneficial, and uncover what methods they can adopt to overcome resistance. Much research supports resistance as a common occurrence in group therapy (Waller, 1993). Resistance can be both harmful and positive. It is most likely to be positive when counselors use resistance to help patients identify areas for improvement and strategies for overcoming their resistance in the future. In addition the research supports a new approach that incorporates pre-group training as a positive method for overcoming resistance in group therapy.

A successful model for pre-group training may include encouraging patients to create a list of successes and define ways they may help other members of the group focus on their successes and goals rather than the problems that often cause them to seek therapy to begin with.

Proposition Overcoming And Encouraging Positive Group Therapy

Many problems arising with group therapy stem from counseling that focuses on problems rather than solutions (Laursen & Oliver, 2003). Far too often patients find it easy to focus on their struggles and problems in a forum that supports such release. However a new approach to group therapy should focus on encouraging patients both to participate in individual and group therapy session that focus on their successes.

In addition group therapy sessions should provide a forum where other members can help participants identify solutions to their problems rather than focus on the problem itself. By doing so patients will learn to take responsibility for their problems and recover more quickly.

Support For Approach

Gordon, Heckel & Homes (1991) support a model that allows per group therapy preparation. This model suggests pregroup training to help combat ambivalence or "resistance prior to entering the group" (37). While there model applies to adolescent group therapy, it can easily be adapted to apply to adult therapy as well.

Classen (2000) suggests that group therapy is often met with resistance because many patients find talking in group settings uncomfortable. This is especially the case when patients must talk about "difficult issues" and "truly believe it is physically detrimental to have negative feelings" (71). One way to overcome resistance is to identify issues preventing participation.

Kreeger (1994) supports large group therapy as a means of reducing resistance, however also acknowledges that most people resist smaller groups because there is less anonymity afforded, thus people are more likely to defend themselves (185).

Heydebrand, et. al, (2005) suggests that structured group therapy can be beneficial and met with little resistance when utilized for patients with non-life threatening or debilitating conditions. Further, their studies show significant improvements are demonstrated with group therapy related to emotional well-being and coping behaviors more than 12 months post therapy.

Weiss, Jaffee, de Menil & Cogley (2004) suggest that in some cases few differences exist between group and individual therapy, and that no one type of group therapy typically demonstrates "greater efficacy" than others (340). Group therapy is often a primary treatment mode for substance abuse disorders as the authors point out, but little research has been conducted in the way of treatment outcomes for these groups.

Multiple studies support the use of cognitive behavioral approaches in individual therapy combined with group therapy sessions to support self-care behavior, self-efficacy and positive patient outcomes (Van der Ven, et. al, 2005; Bernard & Goodyear, 1002; Alterkruse & Ray, 2000). Altekruse & Ray (2000) also support the notion that group therapy may be interchangeable with individual therapy to promote positive outcomes among patients.

Conclusions