Benefits Of Group Therapy For Individual Therapy

The American Counseling Association and the American Mental Health Counselors Association Codes of Ethics both provide guidance and direction in making ethical decisions for their members (ACA, 2005) (AMHCA, 2010). Both the ACA and the AMHCA Codes of Ethics cover a wide range of moral and ethical situations that could present themselves to mental health professionals. Both of these codes of ethics have significant impacts on the counseling profession. The tools provided by these codes of ethics ensure that mental health professionals are able to conform to the regulations set forth. They address common concerns from varying points of view. Understanding these codes of ethics is essential to all mental

According to the American Counseling Association (ACA, 2014) Code of Ethics, ethical principles are based on a set of values that include autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity, and veracity. These ethics apply to all types of counseling including both group and individual therapy; however, different aspects of these ethical guidelines must be considered based on the therapeutic approach. This paper will identify several of these ethical issues as they relate specifically to group counseling, while also evaluating how these differences compare to ethical guidelines within an individual approach. Based on this information, a final analysis will be provided on when therapists should choose group versus individual for a client.

At one point in a person life, they will participated in a group whether it is part of a specific committee, therapy, or social group. In recent years, there has been a rise in counseling within a group forum veering from the tradition individual counseling. Therapists, physiologist, and counselors believe that form of counseling is beneficial to both counselor and client. This allows the counselor to help several clients at once rather than one at a time decreasing their strenuous workload and demanding work hours. This form of counseling integrate individual that share similar issues, struggles, and experiences into one forum. This not only allows the clients to learn from the therapist but from their fellow group members. The group experience

Purpose of the group counseling varies from group to group. It can be therapeutic, educational, or helping people to make fundamental changes in their way of thinking, feeling and behaving (Corey, 2004, p. 7). Group counseling/therapy has the advantage of being more effective than individual therapy because, it more closely stimulates social interactions and interpersonal communication patterns than does individual counseling (Kottler, 2004, p. 260). The techniques and strategies use in group counseling are to help resolve members’ interpersonal conflict, promote greater self-awareness and insight, and help them work to eliminate their self-defeating

The first time I personally experienced attending a group therapy was part of my course. Through this experience i can say that group therapy can be very powerful in healing a person emotionally and since the members were from the same class, where we all have similar goals. Group therapy helped all of us to establish meaningful and intimate relationship and we also recognised commanality of members needs and problems and to develop a sense of bonding and we became very close and we could also be there for each other during emotionally trying times.It also helped me to increase self-growth, self acceptance and self –confidence among oneself and group members. Group therapy is a powerful venue for growth and change. It also helped me in expressing my emotions in a healthy way.

Track 1 residency really taught me so much about myself. We had so much time to ask questions about how to counsel people. We did some relaxing exercises, and we had the chance to learn about other people. I learned that it is important to be aware of how you are handling what you are experiencing in that very moment. This was a time to ask questions, and to learn how to ask people questions. In track 2, I hope to further enhance my skills what learning how to use the skills that I already have.

Looking for new and more effective ways to treat the issues of their clients, counselors and therapists may often begin to consider leading a group therapy session. Group therapy is a form of therapy in which a therapist either treats or provides psychoeducational skills to a small, carefully planned target group of individuals in an effort to ameliorate the issues and dysfunctions of each individual in that particular group of patients together (Scheidlinger, 2004). In this group, therapists often utilize some of the psychotherapy theories such as Gestalt, transactional analysis, psychotherapy or psychodrama which they often use to treat clients individually.

“A support group is a gathering of people who share a common health concern or interest.” (Healthy Lifestyle: Stress Management, 2015) Support groups are created to help individuals with various mental, medical, and personal histories understand that they are not alone in what they are going through, creating an environment of open dialogue and non-judgement. Professional group therapy can make people feel uncomfortable in sharing the floor with others; in a support group, it is a place to share advice, troubles, and experiences.

The goals of REBT group therapy involve encouraging members to think clearly, engaging group members in the process of finding solutions to difficult issues, and resolving pointless emotional misery. As with individual REBT therapy, group therapy sessions are regarded as an educational process. Through this form of group therapy, members learn to identify and dispute irrational beliefs that are self-directed. Group members learn how to identify and dispute their faulty thinking by the process of disputing “D.” This process includes identifying irrational beliefs and perceiving them as unrealistic. Furthermore, members come to discover that events do not cause our problems, but their understanding of these events causes their problems. Through group sessions, members acquire the knowledge to discriminate between irrational thinking and rational thinking. Next, members become skilled at replacing unproductive ways of thinking with effective and rational cognitions. Through the group process, members are taught to stop absolutistic thinking, blaming, and repeating false beliefs. Finally, members are required to be committed and to put into routine what they are studying in the group.

According to Burlingame, Fuhriman, & Mosier meta-analysis (2003), “group psychotherapy has evolved over the past century” and it is now consider an effective practice. As you mentioned group therapy is a safe, non-judgmental environment, which is liberating to its members. In addition, with group therapy, group members would not feel isolated, they would know that there are others with similar problems. A study in group therapy for anxious children showed, “effectiveness … for improving anxious children’s social, emotional, and family functioning” (Watson, Rich, Sanchez, O'Brien, & Alvord, 2014). With group therapy clients are able to try different ways of behavior and see how they are perceived. “Groups provide a sense of

Just to keep going with what you are saying, group therapy for children (for many, not all) can be a beneficial way to help them deal with their disorder. Kids are very social and knowing there is another peer dealing with the same disorder, or like it, can help them manage better. Adolescents may respond better in group therapy among others their age because they can relate to them more rather than speaking to an adult in a one-on-one session. However, I’m sure there are going to be many different personalities and disorders which can hinder the therapeutic effect of a group therapy session. Therefore, as a nurse we must observe and make sure group therapy is working for all participants effectively. Otherwise it is our responsibility as an

I believe that using a client-centered approach is a great start to forming a group and the goals of the group. Being someone who can understand, empathize, and see the uniqueness of all members’ subjective experiences is invaluable. I believe that creating a safe, therapeutic atmosphere for the clients, is the most important aspect of being a group counselor. I believe that empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence is essential to the therapeutic condition and to all group therapy experiences overall. Without these components the group will not trust you and open up to the group therapist or the other group members. In addition, without actively listening to the clients you cannot and will not succeed as a group therapist. If you do not have good listening skills it will be harder for you to understand the client and to connect ideas from the past and bring them to the present appropriately. Counseling is a process that we must be patient in and we must peel away the layers to get to the real meaning of a persons story. We must ask ourselves what are the clients trying to tell us. These meanings have to be brought to the surface and the client must become aware of these meanings to understand the problem and themselves.

The openness and lack of comfortability within a group setting may cause some emotional anxiety; therefore, the facilitator must protect the member mental stability. Member mental stability will compel them to participate when they do not feel comfortable. Members should not feel pressure to participate because it might cause additional psychological trauma. Often times, group therapy is a force form of psychotherapy for many patients making patient reluctant to participate. The facilitator is responsible of reminding them that consequences may arise due to their lack of participation within ethical reasoning.

Some experts define the notion of group counseling. Gibson and Mitchell (2011: 51) states that the group counseling is the experiences and routine adjustments are provided within the scope of the group. Focus group counseling to help cope with adjustment counselee their everyday, and keeping development and personal growth remains in the right corridor and healthy. Dinkmeyer and Muro (1973: 1-2) defines the group counseling as an interpersonal process that is led by a trained professional counselors and are run by individuals who face developmental problems. group counseling focused on thoughts, feelings, attitudes, values, goals, attitudes, and goals of individuals and groups.

Group dynamics is an important and therapeutic aspect in counseling settings for any populations. For instance, groups can unfold in any setting to distinct populations such as schools, private practices, and or communities. However what each group initially has in common is the interactive experience of expressing and sharing certain aspects with other individuals. In fact, group dynamics can be defined as the “interactions that influence the attitudes and behavior of people when they are grouped with others through either choice or accidental circumstances.”(cite from book or any scholarly website). Due to this counselors find group to be extremely successful by having the ability to interact and drawl out certain members of the group