Group Therapy

Subject: Mental Health (Theory)

Overview

In group psychotherapy, 8–10 patients can typically be treated at once, taking up less time. A patient may learn from group therapy that they are not alone in their suffering and that many people have similar problems. It is advantageous for people with similar problems to get psychotherapy in a group setting. Sharing sessions with others enables each participant to contribute to the development and well-being of others and helps you understand you are not alone with your problem. Both the patient and the therapist have the chance to watch the patient's psychological, emotional, and behavioral responses to a range of people in group therapy, which provides the patient with the opportunity for rapid feedback from peers. Most group psychotherapists conduct group sessions once or twice a week.

It is advantageous for people with similar problems to get psychotherapy in a group setting. Sharing sessions with others enables each participant to contribute to the development and well-being of others and helps you understand you are not alone with your problem.

Group selection

Homogeneous groups eg. alcoholisms, drug dependence.
Adolescents and patients with personality disorders.
Families and couples where the system needs change.
Emotional and behavioral problems.

Advantage

Both the patient and the therapist have the chance to observe the patient's psychological, emotional, and behavioral responses to a variety of people in group therapy, which provides the patient with the opportunity for immediate feedback from peers.

Benefits

The benefits include:

The chance to see how other people handle and solve comparable issues successfully and at varying rates.
Exceptional comfort from feeling alone and ashamed when you learn that others have experienced what you have.
The capacity to assist others by sharing solutions to or solutions to difficulties.
Enhancing your interpersonal abilities.
A strong sense of community.
Gaining the ability to relate to all types of individuals deeply.
Acquiring new habits through observing how other people respond to circumstances.

Contraindication

Antisocial patients and destructive behavior.
Severe psychotic illness.
Actively suicidal or severely depressed patients.
Patients who are delusional and who may incorporate the group into their delusional system.

Frequency and Length of Sessions

Once or twice a week is the norm for group psychotherapy sessions. 45 minutes to 1-2 hours for each session (often one and half hours). Typically, the patient is seated in a circle.

Techniques useful in group therapy:

Reflecting on or praising group members' opinions.
Requesting feedback from the group on a member's statement.
Requesting individual responses to a member's statement.
Highlighting any shared emotions among a group.
Enumerating key points at the conclusion of a session.

Approaches to group therapy:

The therapist's function is essentially that of a facilitator; he is responsible for creating a welcoming environment.
Any transference scenario can be used to gain understanding of their issues.
Defend group members against insults.
When appropriate, provide praise; this supports the ego and fosters further development.
In order to safeguard the patient's self-esteem and the other group members, circumstantial patients, hallucinating patients, and delusional patients should be handled carefully.
A participant may get insight into how they relate to others through role playing.

Things to remember

Group psychotherapy is a less time-consuming procedure in which usually 8-10 people can be treated at one time.
Group therapy offers a patient an opportunity to realize that many others have and share problems and that they are not alone in their suffering.It is helpful for people who have problems in common to receive psychotherapy as a group.
Sharing sessions with other people helps you realize you are not alone with your problem and enables each member to contribute to the progress and well-being of others.
Group therapy gives an opportunity for immediate feedback from a patients peers and a chance for both patient and therapist to observe the patient's psychological, emotional and behavioral responses towards a variety of people.
Most group psychotherapists conduct group sessions once or twice a week.

Questions and Answers

Define Group psychotherapy.

It is beneficial for people who have similar problems to receive psychotherapy as a group. Sharing sessions with others helps you realize you are not alone in dealing with your problem and allows each member to contribute to the progress and well-being of others.

Group psychotherapy is a quicker procedure in which 8-10 people can be treated at the same time. Group therapy allows a patient to realize that they are not alone in their suffering and that many others have and share their problems.

What are the benefits of group therapy ?

The benefits include:

The opportunity to experience others coping with, and overcoming similar problems successfully, and at different rates.
Enormous relief in discovering that others share your experience alleviating,isolation and shame.
The ability to help others by sharing how problems have been dealt with or overcome.
Improving your social skills with others.
A powering sense of belonging.
Learning to relate, intimately to different types of people.
Picking up new behaviors from watching how others react to situations.

What are the techniques and approaches of group therapy?

Strategies For Group Therapy

Reflecting on or praising group members' opinions.
Requesting feedback from the group on a member's statement.
Requesting individual responses to a member's statement.
Highlighting any shared emotions among a group.
Enumerating key points at the conclusion of a session.

Approaches to Group Therapy

The therapist's function is essentially that of a facilitator; he is responsible for creating a welcoming environment.
Any transference scenario can be used to gain understanding of their issues.
Defend group members against insults.
When appropriate, provide praise; this supports the ego and fosters further development.
In order to safeguard the patient's self-esteem and the other group members, circumstantial patients, hallucinating patients, and delusional patients should be handled carefully.
A participant may get insight into how they relate to others through role playing.