Copyright © 2005 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 0

Copyright © 2005 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 1 Chapter 32 Therapeutic Groups

Copyright © 2005 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 2 Components of Small Groups Group structure—Underlying order; describe boundaries, communication, decision-making processes, and authority relationships Group size—7 to 10 members preferred Length of sessions—Optimum length of a session is 20 to 40 minutes for lower-functioning groups and 60 to 120 minutes for higher-functioning groups Communication—Feedback is used to help members identify group dynamics and communication patterns

Copyright © 2005 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 3 Components of Small Groups (Cont.) Roles—Determined by behavior and responsibilities assumed by the members of the group Power—The ability to influence the group and other members Norms—Standards of behavior in the group; influence communication and behavior; communicated overtly or covertly Cohesion—The strength of the members' desire to work together toward common goals

Copyright © 2005 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 4 Yalom’s Curative Factors in Groups Imparting information—Receiving didactic information and advice Instillation of hope—Increasing hopefulness of group members Universality—Realization that others experience similar thoughts, feelings, and problems Altruism—Experience of sharing part of oneself to help another Corrective reenactment—Ability of members to alter learning experience previously obtained from primary family group in their families

Copyright © 2005 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 5 Yalom’s Curative Factors in Groups (Cont.) Development of social interaction techniques— Opportunity to increase awareness of social interactions and develop social skills Imitative behaviors—Opportunities to increase skills by imitating behaviors of others in group Interpersonal learning—Ability to engage in wider range of interpersonal exchanges, thereby increasing each member's understanding of responsibility and complexity of interpersonal relationships and decreasing members' interpersonal distortions

Copyright © 2005 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 6 Yalom’s Curative Factors in Groups (Cont.) Existential factors—Ability of the group to help members deal with the meaning of their own existence Catharsis—Opportunity to express feelings previously unexpressed Group cohesion—Attraction of members for the group and other members