Group psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that provides psychological help in the form of a group or small group. During therapy, group members discuss issues of common concern, observe and analyze psychological and behavioral reactions, emotional experiences and interpersonal relationships about themselves and others, leading to improvements in their own behavior.
The main feature of group psychotherapy is that one therapist can provide effective treatment to several clients at the same time, making efficient use of medical resources.
Group therapy does not have a relatively complete and systematic theory like individual therapy. Any individual psychotherapy can build up a corresponding group psychotherapy approach based on its own theoretical principles: psychoanalytic, motivational-supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, psycho-educational, Gestalt, supportive-expressive, and psychodramatic techniques have been used in group therapy. Therapists can design different group formats and contents according to different clinical contexts. However, no matter which group therapy is used, it is emphasized that psychological problems, behavioral problems, behavioral disorders and various maladaptive problems arise, develop and are maintained in interpersonal interactions, or in specific social settings, and therefore, special attention needs to be paid to interpersonal interactions in the here and now, to identify and understand the problems that arise in the interactions, and to eventually change those maladaptive patterns.
There are three main types of modern group therapy: psychotherapy, interpersonal training, and growth groups. The focus of psychotherapy is remedial and rehabilitative, and group members can be psychiatric patients or neurological patients with psychological problems; the latter two types of groups are growth and developmental, and participants are ordinary people who aim to improve relationships, realize their potential and self-actualize. Group therapy has been widely used in hospitals, schools, businesses, the military, prisons, and other areas, and is suitable for a variety of people.
According to Irving Aron’s observation, there are 11 main efficacy factors in group therapy: hope remodeling, universal homogeneity, information transfer, altruism, corrective reappearance of family of origin, improvement of social skills, behavioral imitation, interpersonal learning, cohesion, catharsis, and presence factor.
Operation procedures and methods
1. Types of groups.
According to different criteria, psychotherapy groups can be divided into various types.
According to the different theories, they can be divided into activity groups, support groups, problem-oriented groups, motivational groups, etc.
Developmental groups, training groups, and therapeutic groups, depending on the model and goals followed.
They can be divided into structured groups, unstructured groups and semi-structured groups according to the degree of planning
Open groups and closed groups according to the degree of fixity of the participants.
Depending on the extent of the therapist’s role in the treatment, they can be divided into directive groups and non-directive groups.
According to the similarity of the background of the group members can be divided into homogeneous groups and heterogeneous groups, etc.
2. Form: 1 to 2 psychotherapists act as group leaders, and groups are formed according to treatment goals. The size of the group can be as few as 3-5 people or as many as 10 people, with several activities or longer. Usually 1-2 times a week for 1.5 to 2 hours each time. Groups for poorly functioning inpatient psychiatric patients are usually around 1 hour.
3. Treatment goals.
General goals: to reduce symptoms, develop the ability to get along with others and cooperate, deepen self-understanding, improve self-confidence, and strengthen the group’s sense of belonging and cohesion.
Specific goals: specific goals to be achieved by each treatment group.
Group goals for acute inpatients may be to
(1) To facilitate patient participation in the therapeutic process.
(2) To confirm the usefulness of the conversation.
(3) To expose problem areas.
(4) to reduce feelings of isolation
(5) To be helpful to others.
(6) To relieve anxiety associated with hospitalization.
Also, one of the main goals of inpatient group therapy is to involve patients in the treatment process so that they are willing to continue treatment after discharge.
4. Treatment Process: Group psychotherapy goes through a developmental process of initiation, transition, maturation, and termination. The interactive process of the group results in a number of unique therapeutic factors that produce positive impact mechanisms.
(1) Beginning stage: a period of orientation and exploration, with the basic task of acceptance and identification.
(2) Transition phase: Assisting group members in dealing with the emotional reactions and conflicts they face, promoting trust and relationship building.
(3) Working Phase: Exploring issues and adopting effective behaviors to bring about behavioral change in the group.
(4) The final stage: summarize the experience, consolidate the effectiveness, and deal with parting emotions.
5. Responsibilities of the group leader: pay attention to motivating group members to participate; moderate participation and guidance; provide appropriate explanations; create a harmonious atmosphere. In a short treatment group to work with group members to develop clear, realistic treatment goals, to determine a clear focus in the group structure, to maintain a proactive role for the therapist, and to complete the operation within a limited time frame.
6. Specific operational techniques.
(1) Determine the nature of the group, such as structured or unstructured, whether the group is open or closed, and whether the group members are homogeneous or heterogeneous.
(2) Determine the size of the group.
(3) Determining the time, frequency, and place of group activities.
(4) Recruiting group members for group psychotherapy
(5) Assisting group members to engage in the group.
(6) Facilitating group interaction.
Precautions
Group psychotherapy is of particular use for people who are not well adjusted to interpersonal relationships. However, its limitations should be noted.
1. Deep-seated personal problems are not easily exposed.
(2) Individual differences are difficult to be fully catered for.
3. Some group members may be harmed.
4. The privacy of the group members may be unintentionally disclosed.