What And Why Is Group Therapy?

While we think of therapy as a three-way discussion between a patient, a therapist and her sofa, increasing numbers of people are turning to group therapy, which involves small groups, and sometimes requires physical interaction.

Group Psychotherapy (GP) refers to a number of psychotherapeutic interventions involving a group of simultaneous participants. This generally involves several recipients, who may use multiple therapists, possibly aided by facilitators. The types of GP differ by their method and/or underlying theory.

Ninety years of practice and a growing body of academic research sheds light on what group psychotherapy is turning out to be.

How Does Group Therapy Work?

A group-therapeutic intervention goes through the following phases:

• Preparation: Candidates for GP are individually assessed for their fitness, and briefed on what to expect and how to behave during therapy. This enhances the likelihood of successful participation and provides an option for preemptively opting out.
• Formation: Therapists running the sessions form groups optimised for size and compatibility of the participants. A key ideal is to have participants working towards the same goal, who are likely to cooperate as peers.
• Storming and Norming: Initial conflicts arise because of the novelty of the experience, and the threat of traversing intimate issues with strangers. This naturally occurring “storming” phase is followed immediately by the skilful guidance of the facilitating therapists, who establish norms for intragroup cooperation.
• Performing: Guided by the in-place norms, members of the group set about performing interactive tasks. The nature of these tasks is dependent on the GP theory employed, as well as the overall goals of the group.
• Adjournment: This phase happens temporarily between group sessions, and permanently when the group engagement comes to its final end. Aftercare is required at the individual level, to ensure that the benefits linger, and that participants are not adversely affected by the withdrawal of therapy.

Where Is Group Therapy Used?

GP is suited to a range of contexts in which individuals can cooperate around shared goals or the experience of common trauma. Applications include:

• Substance abuse disorder.
• Anger management.
• Grief counselling.
• Trauma therapy.
• Obesity and eating disorders.
• Social anxiety.

While cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is the dominant theory underpinning GP, other forms include psychoeducation – focussed on educating, rather than shaping behaviour, skills development, and even art therapy.

What Are The Advantages Of Group Therapy?

Group therapy is useful as it:

• Reduces costs, both to the recipient and the health system as a whole.
• Provides insights from peers with similar objectives.
• Reduces the burden of participation on individual patients.
• Provides the benefit of more than one practitioner.

What Does Research Say About Group Therapy?

Research published in a 2021 volume of the American Journal of Psychotherapy surveyed thirty years of research into GP. The meta-study found that GP is as effective as traditional therapeutic methods in its main areas of application.

In addition to traditional areas of psychotherapeutic intervention, GP has been found to be useful also in medical contexts, assisting cancer patients, those with neuropathologies, and helping with pain management.

Ongoing research is narrowing the research gap, where historically most studies have looked at individual therapy. New insights into efficacy and aftercare are being gleaned, across a widening set of applicable fields.

Shall I Give Group Psychotherapy A Go?

While the advantages of group therapy may complement what one-on-one sessions offer, some people may not be suited to it. This would include people with severe psychological disorders, suicidal ideation, and cognitive impairment.

Unilaterally switching therapeutic modalities is like changing your medication without advice. If you are in regular therapy, discuss the alternative with your therapist, whose expertise and acquaintance with you will provide an informed guide as to the suitability of GP for you.

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