Group Therapy Orientation

1 Group Therapy Orientation Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where a small group of individuals is selected and organizes itself to meet a therapist regularly. The main aim of group therapy is to assist each individual in emotional growth and other personal problems. It involves various kinds of groups with a variety of theoretical orientations for several purposes. All the therapy groups come together to assist grow emotionally. They do this through utilization of power of a group in addition to the guidance of the therapist. Group therapy is a very effective and powerful venue for growth and change of the individuals facing various problems in their lives. This is because those taking part in it receive understanding, encouragement, and support from those facing similar issues in their lives. Even those who appear indifferent at the beginning of these sessions confess of helpful impacts that the group therapy impact in their lives (Panman & Sandra (2001).

This is because they are able to gain ideas and knowledge on various issues in their lives. This, therefore, makes group therapy one of the most effective tools that various institutions can implement to address common issues facing people especially those in colleges.

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Group therapy has been in use for a long period where its history can be traced back to the late nineteenth century during a period when millions of immigrants migrated to the American shores. These individuals received assistance from various organizations in their settlement in the large cities. This is because they needed to settle and adjust to the life in these areas which were different from where they had come from. For instance, they required better housing, working conditions and even recreational facilities. To achieve these facilities, they received help from agencies where the groups that they had formed lobbied for these needs due to their high value of democracy and personal growth. Some of the other groups formed during this period include a group of patients suffering from tuberculosis which had been formed by Joseph Pratt who was a Boston physician in 1905. Some scholars like Alfred Adler also utilized this method due to his belief that the problems that most individuals faced had a social origin. This made this individual to encourage his patients to meet in groups so that they could provide mutual support during the period around 1930s. During this time many groups emerged in various areas. For instance, in mental hospitals, prisons and child guidance clinics among other areas, these groups were taking root where they depended on the multiple relationships to solve their individuals’ problems and encourage their growth. These groups had particularly been known to greatly assist the survivors of incest and family violence among other problems.

Group therapy often consists of individuals who share a common problem since this gives them a chance to share their struggles and feelings which are often mutual.

These individuals may be those who have faced sexual abuse, those recovering from drug abuse and even bulimic individuals among others. Individuals facing major life

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crises like suicidal, psychotic or even homicidal tendencies can only be placed in group therapy after their behavior and emotional states stabilizes. In addition, those suffering from brain injuries and other cognitive impairments are not appropriate candidates of this method.

Specific work plan is needed in group therapy since it makes it even more effective. The method is divided into sessions where the number of sessions that each therapy takes depends on various factors. These include the group’s makeup, its goals and settings. The sessions may also be organized in that there is limitation of time which is established and made known to the group members before the sessions begin while others have unlimited time where the therapist or the members determine when the group is to begin and end. In addition these groups may have an open or closed door for new members. The therapeutic approach that specific group adopts depend on the orientation of the therapist and the focus of the group involved. During the sessions adopted in group therapy, the members involved are encouraged to discuss the issues that they are dealing with in an open and honest manner. This serves to create an atmosphere of trust and acceptance where the members support each other. During this process the rules of the group may be set before the therapy process begins. These include aspects like how the confidentiality of the group will be maintained and how to control social contact among members who the individuals come in contact with outside the group. The group therapy process is facilitated by the therapist who guides the individuals attending the therapy effectively into a process of self discovery.

The group sessions may be either structured or undirected depending on the group’s goals and the orientation of the therapist. During the session, the therapist

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directs the process thus preventing the participants from getting off track. The leader however, does not dominate the process but he or she allows the members to set their own agenda. What he does is reinforcing the positive behavior exhibited by the members of the group. This happens when for instance, a member in the group demonstrates supportive listening to the other members. During such a time, the therapist may compliment the member who has exhibited the behavior and offer explanation to the other members on the importance of such a behavior. In an attempt to instill a sense of group identity among the members, the therapist may also decide to emphasize the common features among the members.

Individuals are often referred to the group therapy by psychologists or psychiatrist. After the individual is referred, the therapist interviews him or her in order to ensure that the help that the person requires matches with what the group is able to offer. The individual is also provided with guidelines and ground rules relating to the problem on which the group will focus on. This is mostly done before the group sessions begin. After this, the process of therapy progresses depending on the type. Some of these methods used in group therapy include psychodynamic, phenomenological and behavioral therapies among others.

Psychodynamic therapies originate from Sigmund Freud’s psychodynamic theory. The therapy focuses on assisting the members or the participants to gain awareness of their unconscious needs and their motivations. This is because according to the theory on which this method is founded, the thoughts, feelings and even behavior of an individual are determined by unconscious psychological forces. Individuals therefore, gain this awareness due to the ability of the therapy to analyze the

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interactions among the various participants in the group. The therapist utilizes his authority and affection to provide resourceful materials which makes it possible for the participants to gain empowerment to improve their relationships.

Phenomenological therapy is another method that can be utilized in group therapy. The therapies that fall under phenomenological therapies include psychodrama, person-centered therapy and gestalt therapy. Phenomenological therapies are based on the belief that human beings have the capability of controlling their behavior and taking responsibility of their decisions in a conscious manner.

Behavior therapies which are the other methods that can be used in group therapy involve application of techniques that facilitate unlearning the maladaptive behaviors and in their place learning more effective adaptive behaviors. Behavior therapies focus on how the behavior causing problems to the individual began by focusing on its origin and the environmental factors that encourage or maintain the problem behavior.

Through establishment and employment of effective strategies, the problem behavior can easily be replaced with more adaptive behaviors.

After the therapist chooses the therapy technique to apply the process continues for the period agreed among the participants and depending on the method used.

Group therapy is considered superior to the simple two-person relationship which is carried out between a patient and therapist due to its ability to provide multiple relationships which are essential in facilitating individual growth. Since all individuals engaging in group therapy come into the group with the hope of reducing their suffering and better their lives, there is possibility of bringing hope. This is because of the

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difference in the members in their abilities to deal with problems which inspires and instills hope to others.

Another strong feature of group therapy is its universality. This is because it provides a powerful solution and cure to patients who come into the group with feelings of isolation making them encounter a challenge in sustaining interpersonal relationships (Yalom, 1995). This is because in these groups, these individuals are able to feel understood and similar to other members in their environment. This is because the group provides a strong recognition that they are not alone, a factor which is essential in their relief.

The strength of this method to provide information to the individuals taking part in it is another factor that makes it successful in solving the problems of its patients. This is where it focuses on increasing the knowledge and understanding of the problems that the members may be facing. This includes the nature of illness that the participants have in common. For instance, the patients in a specific group may be facing depression and panic among other conditions. Through provision of information about these conditions, they emerge from their respective groups more knowledgeable about their conditions which enable them to easily deal with them or even provide assistance from others facing the same conditions. The ability of the method to offer the patients the opportunity to assist others becomes a great source of inspiration for these individuals. This is because most of them feel inadequate and view themselves as individuals who are unable to offer any help to others. This opportunity therefore, becomes a chance for them to experience the therapeutic effect of helping others. This facilitates their own healing since it raises their self-esteem and self worth.

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Most of the individuals who attend the group therapy often have experienced family troubles which make them lack effective family support. Group therapy therefore offers these individuals a chance to experience this support since it acts as a substitute.

This is because the group consists of a leader who is an authority figure like that of parents while the other group members act in the role of siblings. Through this formation, the individual facing a troubled family life is able to recast on his or her own family, thus getting a chance to correct dysfunctional interpersonal relationships in a therapeutic manner. As a result, the individual and his or her family is improved and in some cases even restored through this therapeutic method.

Group therapy has been identified as a method that encourages development of social skills. Social learning is a significant therapeutic factor which is often experienced in group therapy. Social skills become a significant area of emphasis especially for bereaved, divorced individuals and even adolescents leaving psychiatric hospitals.

Through the feedback that these group members receive from each other concerning their behavior, they are able to use the honest contributions by their fellow members to correct and improve their relationships among each other and even with those they relate with outside the group (Kaplan & Benjamin, 1998). This empowers them to relate well with others and even gives them motivations to begin new relationships especially for those who are divorced or bereaved.

Various researches have indicated that the powerful influence that group therapy offers on the communicative patterns which is often attained through modeling of certain behaviors is essential to the participants. This is because some of the aspects of this model offer support for the members to pick up some good behaviors and incorporate

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them in their day to day interactions. Some of these behaviors include active listening and providing nonjudgmental feedback. These are important components of restoring wounded relationships. Through this the individuals are able to enhance their selfesteem and grow emotionally due to the continued positive feedback that they receive from those they relate with.

One feature that qualifies human beings is the social nature which enables them to form and maintain relationships. This characteristic develops human beings’ selfesteem through the reflection and feedback that an individual receives from those around him or her. Many individuals who experience emotional problems lack an opportunity to experience success as a group, lowering their self-esteem. Group therapy enables them feel accepted and valued thus improving their ability to relate to others, leading to successful relationships and more satisfying lives by the participants.

Group therapy provides an opportunity for these individuals to experience belongingness, acceptance and approval. These are essential human needs which ought to be cultivated among all individuals with emotional problems. This is because these individuals lack the success while dealing with members of their groups. Through its cultivation these individuals are able to feel accepted and valuable which is essential in facilitating their healing since it eliminates the feelings of isolation.

Group therapy like other therapies is known to facilitate catharsis which provides great relief to the individuals facing emotional problems since it enables them to release both conscious and unconscious feelings. These processes which cannot be forced on an individual undergoing counseling become easy for individuals taking part in group therapy. This is because it provides a good opportunity due to its appropriate

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environment for its practice. The openness and trust that is developed by members in a group therapy makes it possible for participants to deal with anxieties caused by existential factors like death, freedom and meaninglessness. This is achieved through the opportunity the method provides for members to explore the issues they are facing, which enables them to accept realities even when it appears difficult to do so.

Therapy groups may end their sessions in a number of ways. There are those who end the sessions on the specific day they agreed on while beginning the therapy while others continue with the sessions until they are convinced that all the goals the group had set are achieved. Due to the relationship that had been established during the group’s sessions, the termination of a therapy group that has been in existence for a long time may cause various reactions among the members. For instance, some members often encounter loss and develop feelings of abandonment, anger and even rejection. To prevent this, the therapist may opt to cultivate coping techniques among the group members. It is appropriate for the therapist to work effectively through the termination phase since it is an important part of the treatment of individuals facing various problems particularly those facing emotional problems.

During the process of group therapy, some individuals may drop from the sessions even before the completion of all the therapy process. This may be caused by various factors. For instance, individuals who are known to be emotionally fragile or those who are unable to put up with unfriendly comments from their fellow members are always vulnerable, a factor which may make them unable to go through the whole process of therapy (Corey, Schneider & Haynes, 2006).The other group of individuals who are likely to drop from the group therapy process are those who are unable or

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those who have problems while communicating in the situation that involves a group.

This may be worsened by lack of support from the therapist which may increase their sense of isolation and aloneness. As a result the feeling of failure may begin to dominate their thoughts making them unable to feel comfortable during the group sessions. It is the task of the therapist to reduce the chances of an occurrence of such actions since the premature departure of one or several members may affect the whole group negatively. According to Hales and Robert (1995), the therapist can prevent this through carefully selecting and managing the processes of the group.

The various studies that have been undertaken have indicated that up to 85 percent of the patients who go through the whole process of group therapy successfully improve their lives in a great way. This is because these individuals leave the group with a better understanding and acceptance of themselves. In addition, the individuals develop important attributes like strong interpersonal skills and high coping skills. All these make them or empower them to have more control of the relationships around them thus becoming individuals who are in control of their lives. There are cases when some individuals may decide to continue with the therapy process after the group sessions end and the group disbands. These individuals may do so by joining another group or even individually.

In conclusion therefore, an individual can make more use of the group by resolving to make a strong commitment to attend and to participate in the group activities (Corey & Corey, 2008).The person should also aim at making the group as part of his or her life in order to avoid the perception that a group is only an event that one needs to attend and be helped by others. In addition, the individual should take

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responsibility of his or her counseling and participate actively in order to gain more from it. The other important aspects that will increase the gain that the individual receives from a group are honesty and the ability to experiment with the new forms of behavior learnt. This will make others know who the individual in order to offer their support and understanding.

References Corey, G., Schneider, C. M. & Haynes, R. (2006). Groups in action: Evolution and challenges. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Corey, M. S. & Corey, G. (2008). Groups: Process and practice, (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Hales, D. & Robert, E. H. (1995). Caring for the mind: A comprehensive guide to mental health. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

Kaplan, H. I. & Benjamin, J. S. (1998). Synopsis of psychiatry, 8th edition. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Panman, R. & Sandra, P. (2001). "Group counseling and therapy." In Judah, L. R., William, O. & Nicholas, C. S. (eds). The counseling sourcebook: a practical reference on contemporary issues. New York, NY: Crossroad.

Yalom, I. D. (1995). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy, 4th edition. New York, NY: Basic Books.