Motivating Change Through Motivating Change Through Group PsychotherapyGroup Psychotherapy

Voices and Stories:Voices and Stories:

Presented by Lori Davis, Ph.D., Waypoint Counseling Center LLC

For Psychology 420: Theories of Psychotherapy

April 17, 2007

Areas I’ll Cover TodayAreas I’ll Cover Today

What What is group therapy?is group therapy?

WhyWhy do we conduct group therapy? do we conduct group therapy?

WhoWho is involved in group therapy? is involved in group therapy?

HowHow is group therapy conducted? is group therapy conducted?

WhatWhat is group therapy? is group therapy?

Brief History of Group Therapy in Brief History of Group Therapy in the USthe US

Before 1900’sBefore 1900’s– Large groups (e.g., immigrants, poor, etc.)Large groups (e.g., immigrants, poor, etc.)– Hull HouseHull House

Groups for people with tuberculosis (1905)Groups for people with tuberculosis (1905)

WWI – sometimes used with soldiersWWI – sometimes used with soldiers

““Collective counseling” (Adler, 1922)Collective counseling” (Adler, 1922)– Prison populations; child guidance; familiesPrison populations; child guidance; families

Brief History of Group Therapy in Brief History of Group Therapy in the USthe US

Moreno (1921) – Theater of SpontaneityMoreno (1921) – Theater of Spontaneity– Beginnings of psychodramaBeginnings of psychodrama

AA founded in 1930’sAA founded in 1930’sGroup work – reaction to authoritarian Group work – reaction to authoritarian dictatorships and interest in promoting dictatorships and interest in promoting democracydemocracy1960’s – power of group to bring about 1960’s – power of group to bring about changechange– Encounter groupsEncounter groups– Marathon groupsMarathon groups

Tasks in Group DevelopmentTasks in Group Development

FormingForming

StormingStorming

NormingNorming

PerformingPerforming

AdjourningAdjourning

Tasks in Group DevelopmentTasks in Group Development

WhyWhy do we conduct group therapy? do we conduct group therapy?

Intimate attachments to other human beings are Intimate attachments to other human beings are the hub around which a person's life revolves, the hub around which a person's life revolves, not only when [she or] he is an infant or a toddler not only when [she or] he is an infant or a toddler or a schoolchild but throughout…adolescence or a schoolchild but throughout…adolescence and…maturity as well, and on into old age. From and…maturity as well, and on into old age. From these intimate attachments a person draws… these intimate attachments a person draws… strength and enjoyment of life and, through strength and enjoyment of life and, through what [she or] he contributes…gives strength and what [she or] he contributes…gives strength and enjoyment to others."enjoyment to others."John Bowlby (1980) John Bowlby (1980)

Therapeutic Factors (Yalom)Therapeutic Factors (Yalom)

Instillation of hopeInstillation of hope

UniversalityUniversality

Imparting informationImparting information

AltruismAltruism

Corrective emotional Corrective emotional experienceexperience

Development of social Development of social skillsskills

Imitative behaviorImitative behavior

Interpersonal learningInterpersonal learning

Group cohesivenessGroup cohesiveness

CatharsisCatharsis

Existential factorsExistential factors

WhoWho is involved in group therapy? is involved in group therapy?

Inclusion/Exclusion CriteriaInclusion/Exclusion Criteria

Those who have the most difficult time in Those who have the most difficult time in relationships are the people who might relationships are the people who might most benefit from participating in groupmost benefit from participating in group

Almost anyone can benefit from groupAlmost anyone can benefit from group

Depends on the groupDepends on the group

Usually form a group by Usually form a group by excluding excluding people people with particular dynamics or concernswith particular dynamics or concerns

Inclusion/Exclusion CriteriaInclusion/Exclusion Criteria

Possible reasons for exclusionPossible reasons for exclusion– Acute situational crisisAcute situational crisis– Deeply depressed suicidal clientsDeeply depressed suicidal clients– Members who are unable to attend regularlyMembers who are unable to attend regularly– Clients with Antisocial Personality Disorder Clients with Antisocial Personality Disorder

(unless the group is specifically designed for (unless the group is specifically designed for them)them)

Group CompositionGroup Composition

Heterogeneous groupsHeterogeneous groups

Homogenous groupsHomogenous groups

““He drew a circle that shut me out;He drew a circle that shut me out;Heretic, Rebel, a thing to flout.Heretic, Rebel, a thing to flout.But Love and I had the Wit to Win.But Love and I had the Wit to Win.We drew a circle that took him in” We drew a circle that took him in” – Edwin Markham – Edwin Markham

HowHow do we conduct group therapy? do we conduct group therapy?

Ground rulesGround rules

NormsNorms

Group leader facilitationGroup leader facilitation

““Here and now” interventionsHere and now” interventions

Group As a Container

Tasks of the Group LeadersTasks of the Group Leaders

FormingForming

StormingStorming

NormingNorming

PerformingPerforming

AdjourningAdjourning

For more resources or if you have For more resources or if you have questions, feel free to contact me:questions, feel free to contact me:

drloridavis@insightbb.comdrloridavis@insightbb.com