Group Psychotherapy

Also, I like it because many studies have shown that CBT treatment is very effective for many disorders such as depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, as well as anxiety disorders (Sheldon 2011). The treatment is very clear because it is based on the patient’s experience, it encourages practice and compliance, and the patients have a sense of control. Not only are the sessions collaborative, it empowers the patient by giving him an active role in the process. The treatment is relatively short too compared to other psychotherapy programs (Goldberg 2012). CBT is goal oriented too. Patients working with their therapists are asked to define goals for each session as well as long -term goals. Anyone with a mild or moderate depression can benefit from CBT.

CBT has a number of strengths; first beginning with its capacity to yield empirical results as to its effectiveness. Countless studies have shown CBT to be the most effective treatment for anxiety and depression (e.g., Oei & McAlinden, 2014; Tolin, 2010); this is likely the result of a number of factors. CBT is a collaborative, educational, time-limited model that demystifies the therapy process; changes are made with clients, not to clients, the strategies learned equip clients to better navigate current and future difficulties, and the setting of goals allows clients to clearly see their progress (Corey, 2013; Skinner & Wrycraft, 2014). An additional strength of CBT for anxiety and depression is its applicability to both individuals and groups; group CBT has a number of auxiliary benefits including, vicarious learning, a sense of cohesiveness that can increase motivation, social interaction and the opportunity to help others (Oei & McAlinden, 2014).

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

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.

Group therapy is a way for patients

It is important, especially during recovery, to find minds that share similar feelings and beliefs. Group therapy sessions are great for that. They have individuals with similar issues, as well as a counselor, that will be able to direct and curve conversations, in a healthy way.

As I began the Group Process and Dynamics course, I was excited to become educated and experienced with group counseling. Group counseling is a topic I have enjoyed in the past and have continued to be fascinated by. I have learned the elements of a group process through observation and research. The group process consists of several elements that come together when the group begins and ends when the group is terminated. I have observed group norms, group cohesion, the generation of trust, the manifestation of resistance, the emergence of conflict and resolution, healing forces, the reactions of group members, and the various stages a group develops through (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2010). Throughout this course, I was able to derive a conceptualization of groups. From this course I will take with me the understanding of how effective group counseling can be for individuals. Groups have been known to be as effective as individual therapy and a great source of treatment. Group counseling is designed as a part of a treatment plan that helps individuals and guide them through change. Group counseling is a versatile practice, which can be used in several settings and with different populations (Corey et al., 2010). This course has given me the opportunity to reflect on my own personal leadership style, the challenges that may arise, and an action plan to continue my group leadership knowledge and skills.

Group therapy is an important method that is commonly used by psychiatric professionals in the treatment of many types of mental illnesses. They consist of three or more people and are targeted at promoting psychological development and change. There are three different types of groups. The task group works by using tasks, such as activities and techniques, designed to help clients work toward desired goals. In addition, midrange groups work by allowing clients to share their thoughts and feelings with others who have learned to cope with similar problems over a longer period of time. Lastly, process groups work by allowing clients to work on their communicating patterns, skills and methods (Fortinash & Holoday Worrett, 2008).

Due to their divergent focus, group counseling and group psychotherapy also differ in relation to their goals. Since group

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.

Group counseling not only allows for members to learn from their therapist, it also allows for them to learn from personal experiences of other members and to gain insights and ideas on the issues they are confronting. Group counseling also helps in improving social skills among the members as they are able to interact freely in and out of the group. This way members can be more confident and open to interactions during the sessions. Group therapy influences growth and change to those involved. Also, it increases their self-awareness and enables them to gain sustenance from each other. Group counseling is also favorable to the therapist as they are able to gain faster and more efficient results for their members by counseling them simultaneously rather than one at a time. Jacobs, Mason, Harvill and Schimmel (2012) describe group counseling

Final phase in group therapy can create apprehension for some members. The establishment of basic trust, acquaintances of other group members, and the social interaction after establishing a group may be over whelming and crucial for some, therefore it is vital that group leaders can educate members how to process termination and closure in group relations (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2010).

1. Well reading this chapter, I’ve learnt a lot about counseling and psychotherapy. Group therapy caught my attention. On certain extend, I do agree that group therapy has advantages; however, in some other cases, group therapy might not work for others. Group therapy is a great strategy for clients to interact with others and potentially learn from one and other. In addition, other people feel comfortable participating in a group therapy. On the other hand, there are some people whom would rather have one -on -one therapy session as opposed to group therapy. The reason why is mainly because some people are very private and do not feel comfortable enough to share anything about their life during a group therapy; meanwhile other prefers to take quality time with the therapist like myself. In addition, I do go through regression periods of time, this intervention takes place mostly whenever I have so much work to do including school assignments and paperwork from work. I tend to utilize regression as my comfort zone. I would reminisce over my undergraduate years and how stress free that was.

Group Therapy [60 minutes in length] focused our discussion on Social Interaction. Clients discussed the benefits of social interaction in terms of support, love acceptance, self-esteem to name a few and how it relates to mental health. Clients participated in secret code activity which aided in increasing awareness of benefits from social interaction.

Psychotherapeutic groups are very complex because of the multiple processes that group members go through to experience change. According to Yalom (2005), the term process in group therapy refers to the nature of the interacting relationships between individuals. For example, the group members and the therapist. Moreover, during the group process members experience multiple factors such as sharing the internal psychological worlds of each other, internal interactions, group-as-a-whole forces, and the clinical environment. Consequently, these previously mentioned factors all contribute to the group 's processes that yield towards change.