Motivating Change Through Group Psychotherapy Voices and Stories: Presented by Lori Davis, Ph.D., Waypoint Counseling Center LLC For Psychology 420: Theories of Psychotherapy April 17, 2007

Areas I’ll Cover Today What is group therapy? Why do we conduct group therapy? Who is involved in group therapy? How is group therapy conducted?

What is group therapy?

Brief History of Group Therapy in the US Before 1900’s –Large groups (e.g., immigrants, poor, etc.) –Hull House Groups for people with tuberculosis (1905) WWI – sometimes used with soldiers “Collective counseling” (Adler, 1922) –Prison populations; child guidance; families

Brief History of Group Therapy in the US Moreno (1921) – Theater of Spontaneity –Beginnings of psychodrama AA founded in 1930’s Group work – reaction to authoritarian dictatorships and interest in promoting democracy 1960’s – power of group to bring about change –Encounter groups –Marathon groups

Tasks in Group Development FormingStormingNormingPerformingAdjourning

Why do we conduct group therapy?

Intimate attachments to other human beings are the hub around which a person's life revolves, not only when [she or] he is an infant or a toddler or a schoolchild but throughout…adolescence and…maturity as well, and on into old age. From these intimate attachments a person draws… strength and enjoyment of life and, through what [she or] he contributes…gives strength and enjoyment to others." John Bowlby (1980) Intimate attachments to other human beings are the hub around which a person's life revolves, not only when [she or] he is an infant or a toddler or a schoolchild but throughout…adolescence and…maturity as well, and on into old age. From these intimate attachments a person draws… strength and enjoyment of life and, through what [she or] he contributes…gives strength and enjoyment to others." John Bowlby (1980)

Therapeutic Factors (Yalom) Instillation of hope Universality Imparting information Altruism Corrective emotional experience Development of social skills Imitative behavior Interpersonal learning Group cohesiveness Catharsis Existential factors

Who is involved in group therapy?

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Those who have the most difficult time in relationships are the people who might most benefit from participating in group Almost anyone can benefit from group Depends on the group Usually form a group by excluding people with particular dynamics or concerns

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Possible reasons for exclusion –Acute situational crisis –Deeply depressed suicidal clients –Members who are unable to attend regularly –Clients with Antisocial Personality Disorder (unless the group is specifically designed for them)

Group Composition Heterogeneous groups Homogenous groups

“He drew a circle that shut me out; Heretic, Rebel, a thing to flout. But Love and I had the Wit to Win. We drew a circle that took him in” – Edwin Markham How do we conduct group therapy?

Ground rules Norms Group leader facilitation “Here and now” interventions Group As a Container

Tasks of the Group Leaders FormingStormingNormingPerformingAdjourning

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