Choose Therapy Groups

An Introduction to Groups.

Sometimes, being a member of a therapy group – whether a self-help group, a therapeutic support group or a conductor-run analytic group – can be a very effective form of support.  Sometimes the group may offer advice or suggestions to the individual.  Sometimes the group may demonstrate other resolutions to several members’ issues.  Therapeutically, sometimes by the group simply discussing matters that show an individual’s problems have no effect others’ discussions of their lives & events can be helpful the individual (known as “the non-problem”).

How Groups can Help.

As a group matures, a supportive & therapeutic matrix forms between all members.  Group members can find help not simply by other members giving  advice, but also by experiencing a form of group holding.  Simply being a member can help an individual feel that there is a place where they belong.  This can be enormously helpful in supporting individuals to find their own life-solutions stemming from their group membership.

What’s involved with Groups.

Membership.

People join groups by first attending a one-on-one assessment session with the group therapist.  This allows the potential group member to discuss their needs from group support, and allows the therapist to consider if an existing or a new group may be suitable.  After the assessment, if the new member is to join an existing group, the member will be offered a start date after the group has been informed about new membership.  This gives the existing group the time to become used to a new member joining.  If the new member is to join a new group, the member will be offered a start date in line with the new group’s starting date.

Established groups usually meet weekly, taking breaks at pre-planned dates (for example, coinciding with school/academic term times).

Groups may be heterogeneous (all members have different issues from each other) or homogeneous (all members have similar issues). Groups may be open (new members can join and existing members leave during the group’s life) or closed (new members cannot join during the group’s life – although members can leave).

Group Sizes.

Groups are small.  They contain no fewer than four people and no more than ten. Usually, eight people are optimum.

The Role of the Group Therapist.

The main role of the group therapist is as the group’s conductor and facilitator.  It can initially feel quite unusual to a group member when the group therapist does not offer instructions on what to do about problems, does not prescribe solutions to problems and does not lead the group. Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy “by the group, of the group , including it’s conductor” (S.H. Foulkes)

The therapist’s client is the group, which embraces each member as a node within the group, but the therapist’s clients are not separate individuals within the group.  This is embraced by the therapist’s role to help keep the group safe, to offer hypotheses and observations about its behaviour (behaviour that may be including the therapist too) and to facilitate the group’s self-momentum and self-therapy.

What Next…

If you are interested in potentially becoming a member of a therapeutic support group, contact Dean Richardson to make an appointment for an assessment and to discuss your needs.

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Tags: Group Therapy, Support Groups