Group Therapy MA Study Guide Flashcards
Psychodynamic approaches
stress insight in therapy (psychoanalytic and Adlerian therapy).
Experiential and relationship-oriented approaches
stress feelings and subjective experiencing (existential, person-centered, Gestalt therapy, and psychodrama).
Cognitive behavioral approaches
stress the role of thinking and doing and tend to be action-oriented (behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, and reality therapy).
Postmodern approaches
stress understanding the subjective world of the client and tap existing resources for change within the individual (solution-focused brief therapy, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, and feminist therapy).
an individualized, holistic approach to therapy that combines ideas and techniques from different therapeutic schools of thought depending on the unique needs of a given client
Integrative Approaches
Principles of group dynamics
Group cohesion
Clear goals
Conflict resolution
Common motives
Belongingness
Readjusting
Feeling empowered
Stages of group formation
- Forming a group
- Initial stage
- Transition stage
- Working stage
- Final stage
Forming a group
Plan and prepare informed consent
Member screening
Initial stage
Identify goals
Address early concerns
Start building rapport
Encouragement
Transition stage
Anxiety and defensiveness
Help members identify fears and work through them
Help create trust so that members feel safe working through challenges
Help them dig deeper
Working stage
Deeper exploration and stronger group cohesion
Look ways to involve group in supporting each other
Therapeutic factors very strong in this stage
Final stage
Consolidate learning to apply outside of group
Deal with feelings of separation and unfinished business
Techniques
are presented in an invitational manner; members are given the freedom either to participate in or to not participate in a given experiment.
-are modified so that they are suitable for the client’s cultural and ethnic background.
-Participants have an opportunity to share their reactions to the techniques or activities used.
-The client’s self-exploration and self-understanding is fostered.
Group Counseling Methods
Helping people develop more positive attitudes and better interpersonal skills
Using the group process to facilitate behavior change
Helping members transfer newly acquired skills and behavior learned in the group to everyday life
The therapeutic alliance.
“Empathic listening, support, warmth, developing a working alliance, opportunity for catharsis, practicing new behaviors, feedback, positive expectations of clients, working through one’s own conflicts, understanding interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics, change that occurs outside of the therapy office, client factors, therapist effects, and learning to be self-reflective about one’s work.”
Effective Group Therapy Interventions
What are some group therapeutic factors?
Self-disclosure and the group member
Self-disclosure and the leader
Feedback
Confrontation
Cohesion and universality
Hope
Willingness to risk and to trust
Caring and acceptance
Catharsis (expressing, emotional release)
Cognitive component (interpreting our emotions)
Commitment to change
Freedom to experiment
Humor
Group Leadership styles
Courage, willingness to model, presence, (goodwill, genuine, caring), belief in group process, openness, Non defensiveness, culturally aware, empathy, stamina, self-care, self-awareness, humor, inventiveness dedicated and committed
Active listening, reflecting, clarifying, summarizing, facilitating, empathizing, interpreting, questioning, linking, confronting, supporting blocking, assessing, modeling, suggesting, initiating, evaluating, terminating,
Here and now approaches to treatment
It is crucial to pay attention to the presenting members’ behavior because it is indicative of how they behave in the outside world.
“Staying focused with what is presently happening within the group can help members identify specific aspects of their behavior they want to change.” 184
Can be detrimental if not used correctly Ex. client presenting abusive past
MFT evidence-based group therapy
“Evidence-based practice is best conceived of in a broad way and includes clinician expertise, the best available research, and evaluating the client’s characteristics, culture, and preferences.” 127
We have to evaluate if procedures are working
“Behavioral treatment interventions are individually tailored to specific problems experienced by different group members. The behavioral group practitioner uses strategies that have research support for use with a particular kind of problem.”
“Behavioral treatment interventions are individually tailored to specific problems experienced by different group members. The behavioral group practitioner uses strategies that have research support for use with a particular kind of problem.” 128
