Group Therapy - Types, Techniques, and Benefits

Introduction

Millions of people worldwide undergo cognitive issues at some events in their lives, such as depression, high mood state mania, anxiety, fear, and other conditions. Group therapy came into evolution just to rectify their issues by sharing in front of the therapist and other peers. Group therapy is not just to alleviate symptoms but to improve interpersonal skills and behavior.

What Is Group Therapy?

Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy referring to various interventions when held in groups. Here, the therapist treats in groups with people facing mental health and other concerns. Therefore, they are open to suggestions and share their experiences. In addition, open groups are available to every person, while closed groups are confined to specific people.

How Does Group Therapy Work?

Group therapy works in groups, wherein a group of about five to fifteen people encountering cognitive issues is advised to settle down in a chair in a circle form. Then, they introduce themselves as to why they are there. They will end up the entire therapy by eventually discussing their progression and impact. The treatment comprises talking sessions held every week, with each session lasting for around one hour.

What Are the Techniques in Group Therapy?

Group therapy lets individuals know their worth and the consequences of their emotions by sharing in a group. It provides additional support and builds one’s self-confidence as they are discussed with others. It is all about giving a helping hand through struggles. However, group therapy relies on eleven therapeutic principles and thus endeavors accordingly. Irvin D Yalom put forth the following group therapy principles after accurate analysis.

• Universality: The experiences and emotions the group shares are broad and universally concerned with the hope of bringing out one’s solitariness.

• Altruism: It is an extensive group that can help one another and share their feelings with others, eventually building self-esteem and interpersonal skills.

• Instillation of Hope: By exchanging feelings and experiences, the ones who are at the termination of treatment give hope and inspiration to the individuals struggling with problems.

• Imparting Information: The individuals are able to ask for and know their knowledge about the whole process, access, and treatment in a group.

• Corrective Recapitulation of the Family Experience: The participants in a group see every other as a family. And through sharing with them, they can know the consequences of past childhood events in current-day behavior. Hence, they try to alleviate such influences that seem contrary to real life.

• Development of Socializing Techniques: The group theme endows excellent space and a supportive environment for developing social skills limiting fear and restraint.

• Imitative Behavior: The group member perceives the therapist or others and imitates such by concerning their behaviors. This could vastly improve social skills through the modeling process.

• Cohesiveness: The group members are united by an intuitive need for interpersonal skills. This union creates awareness of belonging and acceptance among them. Cohesiveness is the primary therapeutic factor on which other factors depend.

• Catharsis: Catharsis is the matter of acquiring relief by pouring out feelings and experiences. This sharing relieves stress, shame, guilt, and fear.

• Existential Factors: Through group therapy, one must realize that they are responsible for their own words, conduct, choices, and thus life.

• Interpersonal Learning: The fellows of the group aid in knowledge and understanding themselves by receiving feedback from therapists and others.

• Self-Understanding: Having many congruent traits with interpersonal linking gives awareness of one’s problem.

What Are the Types of Group Therapy?

Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that treats various mental health conditions and illnesses. Here are the several types of group therapy based on the cognitive ailments they applied.

• Interpersonal Therapy Groups: Group therapy works on interpersonal relationships and interactions they have through their relational issues.

• Cognitive Behavioral Groups: Cognitive behavioral groups recognize and fix their negative beliefs with allied thoughts and behavior.

• Psychoeducational Groups: Educating the groups regarding their issue and illness. In addition, they also teach the way of surviving through disease.

• Skill Developmental Groups: This group therapy intends to develop social skills.

• Support Groups: Psychotherapy treatment for people with mental disorders and their supportive ones.

• Other Forms: Art therapy, dance therapy, and music therapy.

Who Can Get Group Therapy?

Group therapy operates through communication and participation end-to-end with an exchange of feelings. Hence, medical care professionals address group therapy for the succeeding conditions and disorders.

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• Addictions.

• Distress.

• Chronic disease.

• Domestic violence.

• Relationship conflicts.

• Communication issues.

• Divorce.

• Anger management.

• Grief and loss.

• Weight control.

• Chronic pain.

• Eating disorders.

• Phobia.

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

• Bipolar disorder.

• Mania.

• Substance use disorder.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Panic disorder.

What Are the Benefits of Group Therapy?

Group therapy, on the contrary, individual approaches have a unique feature when looking at coping with the issue, transacting experiences, and developing skills. The benefits of group therapy over other interventions are as follows.

• Unlike single-based therapy, group therapy provides support and endorsement when people are together. An individual would get rid of loneliness when they see another person with the same issue.

• The group members inspire others through their successful progression and accomplishment of therapy. So, the entire group takes someone as a role model and works accordingly.

• Group therapy is easily accessible and affordable as the therapist spends time mainly with the group.

• The therapist can gain a great insight into the member's problems through their behavior and manner of socialization with others.

How Effective Is Group Therapy?

When encountered in groups, the efficiency of therapy is proved by virtue of study and clinical trials. So, here is the effectiveness of group therapy with pieces of evidence.

• In 2014, scientists verified that 44 percent of patients with depression showed sound improvements when treated with cognitive behavioral therapy in groups.

• According to various studies, group therapy has a great deal of efficiency in treating disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and substance use disorder.

Conclusion

The doctor advises group therapy amidst other individual approaches to bring out the change in an individual and others in the group. Moreover, it enhances self-awareness and social interactions. In addition to psychological disorders, it helps treat various habits, conditions, and relationship issues. It is also known to provide additional support and improve self-confidence.