GROUP THERAPY

A forum for alleviating personal difficulties through the agency of words and personal therapeutic relationships.

WHAT IS GROUP THERAPY?

Group therapy is the experience of being part of a small group which meets regularly with a trained conductor. The members of the group acknowledge emotional pain and are seeking help in a professional setting, where there is an understanding of this pain, and a desire to bring about relief or cure. The members of the group will not have known each other previously.

Group therapy provides a safe and supportive setting in which problems of relating can be explored. Much of the difficulty we experience in our lives results from our own personalities and the way we have learnt, through life, to relate with other people.

Membership of a group provides an ideal opportunity to work through the process of personal change. Members can develop better resources for coping with life’s difficulties and a greater capacity for establishing and developing more healthy and fulfilling relationships. Participation in group therapy is also a means of gaining a better sense of personal identity.

How does Group Therapy work?

Through a process of discussion and analysis members learn to recognise their role and behaviour in the group. This will enable them to take responsibility for their actions and the resolutions of their problems. Valuable insight can be gained from the frank inter-personal feedback among members. New levels of insight and self awareness will present opportunities for new ways of behaving and relating.

The role of a group member

It is important that all members agree to be present each week, on time and endeavour to put thoughts and feelings into words.

Open communication of thoughts and feelings takes time. It may not immediately be apparent how working on group problems and intra-group relations can be of value in solving the difficulties that brought people along to therapy. Group therapy is a gradual process. It is important that people give themselves time to evaluate the ultimate usefulness of the group.

The group offers the opportunity to become involved in disclosure and there is a responsibility to continue communications despite pain and anxiety.

As group interaction develops and people relate more openly reflection on the behaviour of self and others lead to deep personal insight.

Experiences in the group can help clarify problems in everyday life and the group members can come to understand the origins of these problems in their earlier life experiences.

The role of the conductor

The conductor’s role is to help create an environment in which honest inter-personal exploration with other members is encouraged and dialogue and reflection can take place.

This may involve interventions with comments or questions, to help clarify issues, or when understanding needs to be deepened.

Whenever possible, the conductor lets the group speak, bring out agreements and disagreements and help in the analysis and interpretation of content and interpersonal relationships. In time, all members can become skilled in making connections between unconscious processes and the way we think feel and act. The conductor puts emphasis on the “here and now” and promotes tolerance and appreciation of individual differences.

Confidentiality

This is an essential part of group therapy, in order for members to speak freely they must have the confidence that what they share will remain within the group (this means no discussing the group with those who are not members). Group members are asked not to meet by arrangement outside the group. Outside contacts are thought to diminish the effectiveness of group therapy, therefore strongly discouraged. Any interactions that do occur between group members outside of the group situation should be brought to the group and discussed.

Group Contract