Toward a personal philosophy of group work

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Toward a personal philosophy of group work

Psychotherapy is a type of group therapy that involves more than one psychotherapist working at the same time with several people. This therapy can be done from various locations like hospitals, therapeutic private practices, community centers, and mental health clinics. Even though the therapy practice can be used alone it can also be significantly incorporated into a treatment plan that includes medication and individual therapy. In this aspect the diversity in the practice is seen, the practice can be categorized in three main ways namely focus of the group, time limits set on the duration of the group and the way group members are selected.

The key group therapy principals can mostly be understood from the individual perspective mainly from those who have undergone the therapy sessions; they often describe it as a process of instilling hope; since it involves treatment of members from different stages of the therapy. Seeing people who are recovering or coping, gives hope to those starting the process of therapy. It is also seen as a place where people can share and impact each other mainly through gaining new information. It is also seen to develop universality within the individual groups; since they will be part of a large group who not only share a common experience, but also help them see that what they are undergoing is universal and they are not alone. Others see the therapy as bringing out the altruism in the process; in that the group members are able not only able to help others but also share their strengths, which can boost confidence and self esteem in the process (Dies, 1993).

In addition a larger perspective of the therapy from the individual is seen to promote primary family group corrective recapitulation by the way the therapy group functions mainly as a large family, in that within it each member can explore how childhood experiences contribute to behavior and personality disorders. They also learn to avoid behaviors that are unhelpful and destructive in real life. Socialization techniques development are learnt; in that the therapy group setting would be the ideal place to practice the new behaviors; this is mainly since the setting is supportive and safe allowing group members to experiment without failure or fear. Imitative behavior is developed as the individuals can imitate the behavior of the therapist or observe and model the behavior of other members of the group. There is interpersonal learning development seen by the feedback and interaction from the therapist and group, through this each individual gains a greater understanding of themselves. The group therapy also helps with group cohesiveness by the way it functions as a unifying factor and this has been observed as giving the members a sense of acceptance and belonging. It also acts as a catharsis in that through the shared experiences and feelings within the group many a times people get relive from stress, pain or guilt. Existential factors are also projected with the therapy in that guidance and support s offered and in the process members are helped to realize that they are responsible for their own actions, lives and choices (Manor, 1994).

The group therapy sessions generally involve around seven to twelve individuals, but a group can still be as small as a three or four people that can meet for an hour or two once or twice a week. The minimum number of an effective group therapy session is considered to be between six and ten, and the sessions may be either closed or open sessions. Only a core group of members are invited to participate in a closed group, while in open sessions new participants can join at any time of the session. In most cases a typical group therapy members meet in a room that have the arrangement of the chairs done in a circular formation, this is done in a way that all members can clearly see each other. Members of the group sharing and introducing themselves, is often the typical way a session of a group therapy is begun. In addition, members might also share their progress and experiences since they last met. The style of the therapist and the goals of the group determine largely the specific manner in which the session is conducted. Some of the therapists might opt for a session that is more planed that might include having the clients share or practice their individual skills with the other members or a therapist might choose a more free style form of dialogue where the members can participate as they choose (Kanas, 2005).

Studies have shown that group therapy can be a very effective form of treatment especially in certain situations that involve patients of traumatic stress and depression. Analysts have shown that some of the main reasons for using group therapy would include; facts like it would allow people to receive encouragement and support of the other group members. The group therapy sessions are cost effective since they focus on many individuals as compared to one at a time. The group therapy is also a place where the therapist can analyze and change their treatment by getting a first hand view of the clients, response and behavior through the various social situations and group interactions. The group therapy sessions are also known to provide the clients with a conducive and a safe haven for them to practice actions and practice positive behaviors within the security and safety of the familiar group (Yalom & Lesczc, 2005).

Reference

Dies, R.R. (1993). Research on group psychotherapy: Overview and clinical applications. In

Anne Alonso & Hillel I. Swiller (Eds.), Group therapy in clinical practice. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

Kanas, N (2005) Group Therapy for Patients with Chronic Trauma-Related Stress Disorders.

International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 55 (1), 161-6.

Manor, O. (1994). Group psychotherapy. In Petrūska Clarkson & Michael Pokorny (Eds.), The

handbook of psychotherapy. New York, NY: Routledge.

Yalom, I. D., & Lesczc, M. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. New York,

NY: Basic Books