Group Therapy: What, Why, and How?
Alek Krumm, M.A.
Practicum Trainee (2019-2020)
Group therapy? As in, therapy…with other people?! You’re kidding. This is a common reaction I’ve experienced from patients when I recommend they try group psychotherapy. And it’s a valid reaction—especially for those who are introverted, hyper-fearful of others’ judgment, or have trouble disclosing personal information. The paradox is that group psychotherapy is sometimes best for those who are the most apprehensive about it.
Why?
· Exposure. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in psychology it’s that you don’t beat your fears by running away from them or finding ways around them (we call that avoidance). You beat your fears by facing them little by little in a safe environment with the support of a warm and knowledgeable therapist (we call that exposure). So, if you’re afraid that other people won’t understand you, what better place to face that fear than in group psychotherapy—a room full of other people with whom you have at least one thing in common (the group itself and maybe even your shared like or dislike of the therapist)?
· Real-life Practice. We think of the group psychotherapy environment as a social “playground,” a place where you can try out new ways of being. For example, if, in your everyday life, you’re quiet and withdrawn, one of your goals in group might be to be the first person to speak. The good news: Other group members won’t know this is unlike you. The even better news: Practice works. The more you do a behavior in one setting, the easier it is to do in others. Plus, it’s much easier to generalize a social behavior (like speaking up in groups) when you’ve practiced it—you guessed it—in a group!
· Relationships. Relationships lie at the heart of many, if not most, of our psychological problems: We’re lonely; we feel like a burden; we have trouble making friends; we choose friends or romantic partners who aren’t good for us; we can’t seem to get along with our co-workers. The list goes on. Group psychotherapy is perfectly suited to confront these relational difficulties. We think of the group as a “social microcosm,” meaning that members tend to behave in the group as they do in their outside lives, thereby providing ample opportunities to observe yourself, see how others experience you, and (remember the playground?) try out new ways of being. For example, if your exes all described you as a “terrible listener,” group might be the place you practice listening—with the support of the group therapist and feedback from the other members, of course. As a bonus, many people begin to feel very connected to other members in the group.
· Cost-effective. In group psychotherapy, you can “kill two birds with one stone.” That is, you can both learn and practice skills in the group. This leads to quicker skills acquisition and generalization and ultimately reduces the amount of time (and money!) a person needs to spend in therapy.
Doesn’t group therapy just mean sitting in a circle talking about our feelings? This is another reaction I commonly hear from patients. The answer: sometimes, yes; these are called process groups. They’re generally unstructured and focused on finding about more about who the members are and how they relate in groups. At The EBP, we offer another form of group psychotherapy known as Skills Groups. Skills groups are generally structured and class-like and the focus is on teaching and practicing specific skills.
If you’re considering or interested in learning more about group psychotherapy, read about…
expectations here: https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/group-therapy
and effectiveness here: https://www.agpa.org/home/practice-resources/evidence-based-group-practice. Spoiler: Research shows that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy for a wide range of problems!