WHAT IS GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Group psychotherapy, like individual psychotherapy, is intended to help people who would like to improve their ability to cope with problems in their lives. It is a special form of therapy in which a small number of people meet together under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another. But, in contrast to the individual psychotherapy, in group psychotherapy the meeting is with a whole group and one or two therapists. Group psychotherapists are trained mental health professionals. 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 cognitive and emotional problems and to encourage the personal development of the participants in the group. A group therapist (called conductor, leader or facilitator) appropriately selects the candidates (usually 5 to 10) for the group who can benefit from this kind of therapy and those who may have a useful influence on other members in the group.
HOW DOES GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY WORK?
Usually, there are between 8 to12 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. Members of the group meet once or two times (some times more) a week for sharing with each other personal issues. The length of every session can be from an hour and a half to three hours (this does not include workshops and marathon groups). A member can talk about events she/he was facing during the week, her/his reactions to them, problems she/he had tackled, etc. The group members can share their feelings and thoughts about what happened in previous sessions, and relate to issues raised by other members or to the leader’s words. A group member can react to other participants words, give them feedback, encourage, give support or criticism, or share their thoughts and feelings following his/her words. The subjects for discussion are rise spontaneously from the group. The member in the group feels that they are not alone with theirs problem and that there are others who feel the same. The group can become a source of support and strength in difficult times for the participant. The feedback group members get from others on their behavior in the group can make them become aware to maladaptive patterns of behavior, change their attitude and help them adopt more constructive and effective reactions. It can become a laboratory for practicing new behaviors. Frequently group members represent others in their past or current life with whom they have difficulty. In group therapy you have the opportunity to work through these situations. 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. At least 4 to 6 months should pass in order to feel the effect of the group.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Like individual therapy, group therapy can benefit almost anyone. Group psychotherapy is suitable for a large variety of problems, beginning with people who interested in developing their interpersonal skills and ending with people with emotional problems like anxiety, depression, etc. There are homogeneous groups for people in the same situation or crisis (e.g. groups for aging, addictive disorders, life style issues within a traditional culture, bereaved parents, groups for sexually abused women etc.), but usually the recommendation for the therapeutic group is to be as heterogeneous as possible. For that reason in building the group leaders try to include men and women, young and old people, married and singles, etc. Groups are ideally suited to people who are struggling with interpersonal relationships issues. Whether these difficulties are in social, working, couple or even sexual relations, the participant can benefit a lot in these areas. Some other issues of the typically addressed include: Problems facing children and adolescents (such as impact from a divorce, peer issues, learning or behavioral problems), medical illness, loss, trauma, personality disorders.
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. 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.
HOW TO CHOOSE A GROUP-PSYCHOTHERAPIST
When choosing a group psychotherapist one should look for a well-trained, reliable, and ethical professional. Reputable group psychotherapists usually belong to professional associations.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE PARTICIPANT?
The participant in the group is expected to be present each week and come on time. Confidentiality is required. The information brought up by members of the group and their names must be kept confidential by all 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, it is not required to talk, or reveal intimate issues when one does not want to. However, it is clear that the more a group member can participate, be open and talk about oneself, her/his feelings and thoughts – the more she/he can gain from this experience.