Group therapy or group psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group. The term can legitimately refer to any form of psychotherapy when delivered in a group format, including art therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, or interpersonal therapy, but it is usually applied to psychodynamic group therapy where the group context and group process are explicitly utilised as a mechanism of change by developing, exploring, and examining interpersonal relationships within the group.

Group therapy is sometimes used alone, but it is also commonly integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes individual therapy.

 

Types

Group therapy can be categorised into distinct types depending on your mental health condition as well as the clinical method used during the therapy. The most common types of group therapy include:

 

Cognitive behavioural groups - centre on identifying and changing inaccurate or distorted thinking patterns, emotional responses, and behaviours.

Interpersonal groups - focus on your interpersonal relationships and social interactions, including how much support you have from others and the impact these relationships, have on your mental health.

Psychoeducational groups - focus on educating clients about their disorders and ways of coping often based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

Skills development groups - focus on improving social skills in people with mental disorders or developmental disabilities.

Support groups - provide a wide range of benefits for people with a variety of mental health conditions as well as their loved ones.

 

Groups can vary in size from three or four people, but most have eight to twelve individuals. The group typically meets once each week, for two hours.

Group therapy meetings may either be open or closed.

• Open sessions, to which new participants are welcome to join at any time
• Closed session, in which only a core group of members are invited to participate

Techniques

So, what does a typical group therapy session look like? In many cases, the group will meet in a room where the chairs are arranged in a large circle so that members can see every other person in the group but if there is psychoeducation is to take place there could be seats set around a large group table.

 

A session might begin with members of the group introducing themselves and sharing why they are in group therapy. Members might also share their experiences and progress since the last meeting.

 

The precise way the session is conducted depends on the goals of the group.

Some therapists have plans for each session that might include participants practising new skills with other members of the group, while others might encourage a more free-form style of dialogue, where each member participates as they see fit. 

What Group Therapy Can Help With

Group therapy is used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including:

• Borderline Personality Disorders
• Depression
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Phobias
• Substance use disorder

In addition to mental health conditions, CBT-based group therapy has been found to help people cope with the following:

• Anger management
• Chronic stress
• Divorce
• Domestic violence
• Grief and loss
• Weight management

Benefits of Group Therapy

Advantages of group therapy include:

• Group therapy allows people to receive the support and encouragement of the other members of the group. People participating in the group can see that others are going through the same thing, which can help them feel less alone.
• Group members can serve as role models for other members of the group. By observing someone successfully coping with a problem, other members of the group can see that there is hope for recovery. As each person progresses, they can, in turn, serve as a role model and support figure for others. This can help foster feelings of success and accomplishment.
• Group therapy is often very affordable. Instead of focusing on just one client at a time, the therapist can devote their time to a much larger group of people which reduces the cost for participants.
• Group therapy offers a safe place and environment. The setting allows people to practice behaviours and actions within the safety and security of the group.
• By working in a group, the therapist can see first-hand how each person responds to other people and behaves in social situations. Using this information, the therapist can provide valuable feedback to each client during individual sessions.