About Group Therapy
Group psychotherapy is a special form of therapy in which a small group of people meet together
under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another.
Group psychotherapy is widely used and has been a standard treatment option for over 50 years.
Children exist in group environments-their families, schools, and organized activities. These
are the environments in which they grow and develop as human beings. Group psychotherapy is no
different. It provides a place where children and adolescents can come together with others to
share problems or concerns, to better understand their own situation, and to learn from and with
each other.
Group therapy helps children and adolescents learn about themselves and improve their
interpersonal relationships. It addresses feelings of isolation, depression and anxiety. It
helps children make significant changes so they feel better about themselves.
Group therapy works! In studies comparing group psychotherapy to individual therapy, group
therapy has been shown to be as effective and sometimes more effective. In cases of medical
illness, there is substantial evidence that this form of therapy help people cope better with
their illness and enhance the quality of their lives.
Commonly Asked Questions
How does group therapy work?
The group therapist selects people (usually 5 to 8) who would be helped by the group experience
and who can be learning partners for one another. In the group meetings, patients are encouraged
to talk with each other in a spontaneous and honest fashion. The therapist provides productive
examination of the issues or concerns affecting the individuals and the group by guiding the
discussion.
If someone is in group, do they also need individual therapy?
It depends on the individual. Sometimes group therapy is used as the only treatment approach.
Sometimes it is used along with individual therapy and/or family therapy. Often children and
adolescents find that working simultaneously in more than one therapy stimulates growth in
mutually complementary ways.
How is group therapy different from support groups?
Under the guidance of a professional, group therapy focuses on interpersonal relationships.
Group therapy also provides children and adolescents an opportunity to work on specific problems
or challenges. The psychotherapy group is different from support in that it not only helps
people cope with their problems, but also provides an opportunity for change and growth. Support
groups help people cope with difficult situations at various times, but are usually geared
toward alleviating symptoms, but not growth.
Why is group therapy useful?
Joining a group is useful because it provides opportunities to learn with and from other people.
Children and adolescents learn to understand their own patterns of thought and behavior and
those of others. In group therapy, people learn that perhaps they are not as different as they
think or that they are not alone. Your child also has an opportunity to increase self-esteem by
helping others.
Will there be people with similar problems in my child’s group?
Part of the therapist's role is to evaluate each member’s problems prior to having them join the
group. Usually there is a mix of members who can learn from each other. While some members will
have similar circumstances, it is not necessary for all to be dealing with exactly the same
problem. In fact, individuals with different strengths and difficulties are often in the best
position to help one another.
What kind of commitment do we need to make?
The time commitment depends on the type of group and the nature and extent of your child’s
problems. Short-term groups devoted to specific, concrete issues may last anywhere from 6 to 20
weeks. In open-ended groups, children and adolescents work at their own pace and leave when
their particular needs or goals have been met.
What if my child is uncomfortable discussing personal problems in front of others?
It is not unusual to feel uneasy or embarrassed when first joining a group, but children and
adolescents quickly begin to develop feelings of trust. Most patients find that group therapy
provides a great deal of relief because it allows them a chance to talk with others who are
experiencing similar problems-in a private, safe, confidential setting.
Who Can Benefit?
Like individual therapy, group psychotherapy can benefit almost anyone. Some of the issues
typically addressed include:
- Difficulties with interpersonal relationships
- Depression and anxiety
- Coping with medical illness
- Loss
- Trauma
The Group Therapy Session
The group therapy session is a collaborative effort in which the therapist assumes clinical
responsibility for the group and its members. In a typical session, members work to express
their own problems, feelings, ideas, and reactions freely and honestly as possible. Playing ,
drawing, building and pretending, as well as talking are important ways of sharing feelings and
resolving problems for children. Adolescent groups rely primarily, if not exclusively, on verbal
communication. Such exploration gives the group important information needed to understand and
help one another. Members learn not only to understand themselves and their own issues, but also
become “therapeutic helpers” for other members
