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Introduction to Group Therapy
Group therapy is a valuable form of psychotherapy where a group of individuals with similar mental and emotional concerns meet under the guidance of a trained therapist. In this mode of therapy, the individuals share and express their concerns, their emotions, their thoughts, and the impact with each other; and in return they receive support and feedback. In this way the individuals not only offer and receive care and support, but also feel heard and not alone!
Today, where mental and emotional health concerns are rising, group therapy is an accessible option for treatment. This article tries to explore the impact of group therapy, common types of disorders treated, and steps involved in the treatment process.
The most common themes in group therapy consist of intrapersonal conflicts, adjustment issues, interpersonal issues, emotional awareness, low self- esteem, hopelessness, etc. There are support groups available all around the world which offer group service to help people with suicidal tendency, victims of sexual abuse, and addictions, like alcohol abuse, drug abuse. Hence, the group sessions have individuals participating with diverse populations- children, adolescents, young adults, middle- age adults, and the elders. These groups help to explore chances and methods of changing the concerned particular aspect of the individual’s life.
The group therapy sessions help to deal with the isolated feelings and provide the participants the means to express disturbing feelings, unhealthy ways of looking at themselves, and most importantly building a sense that the people around them or around the globe have similar concerns. This helps them in their growth, to heal from the disturbance, questions their values, speak freely and without any resistance about their issues. Hence, this helps the individual to be self-compassionate! Group therapy is effective in treating various mental health disorders like anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders.
What is Self Compassion?
Self- Compassion has a very important role in the group therapy sessions. Self- compassion is not self- pity and also not self- indulgence. Self- Compassion holds three important aspects: Self- Kindness, Common Humanity, and Mindfulness. Individuals tend to be very critical towards them when going through a difficult phase of their life; and in that phase the person is either in the past, criticising their self or the events which they can’t go back and change, or they are worrying about the future which they don’t know if what they think will happen or not.
This leads to the individual isolating themselves and assuming that all the worse is happening to them and they are only responsible for it and they are worth the pain. This disturbs their mental and emotional well-being. But, by inducing self- compassion, the individuals learn to be kind towards self, engage in less rumination, have social connectedness, and compare less with people and many more positive effects.
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Gilbert and Procter in 2006, used a technique called Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) on a group in a hospital setting in the United Kingdom. The sessions involved various self- compassion exercises, like letter writing, imagery, and chair practice. The participants saw reduction in depression, anxiety, shame, self- blame, inferiority, submissiveness. They developed the ability to self- soothe by being self- compassionate!
Stages Of A Group Therapy Session
Now, let us understand the stages of a group therapy session in brief-
Stage 1- Pre- group issues
In this stage, the planning is done; rationale for the group is made clear. The members are screened and selected with the interview process. After the selection, the group is addressed with the information and rules, rapport building, assisting the participants for their commitment, and the facilitators’ expectations are shared with the group. A contract is signed by everyone.
Stage 2- Initial stage
In this stage, orientation and exploration occurs between the members and they display socially acceptable behaviour. The members share their thoughts and feelings related to their concerns, forming a cohesive group. The main issue faced in this stage is ‘Trust vs. Mistrust’. The facilitator tries to answer the questions in an appropriate way and tries to create an open, judgement free environment for the members to speak and interact.
Stage 3- Transition stage
In this stage, members handle their resistance, anxiety and defensiveness; and see their true self, try to deal with the uneasiness and their conflicts. The facilitator healthily encourages the members to face their concerns and reminds them of their presence and purpose in the group.
Stage 4- Working stage
In this stage, the group is cohesive and productive, is mindful, ready to explore their behavioural changes by developing trust, acceptance, commitment to change, self- disclosure, confrontation by being with everyone around. The facilitator provides systematic reinforcement fostering cohesion and productivity.
Stage 5- Final stage
In this stage, the termination occurs. Members deal with separation from each other, can see the effect on themselves and on the group, give feedback and share how they plan to implement what they learnt. The facilitator helps in creating after care- plans for the members.
Stage 6- Post- group issues
In this stage, follow up is taken of the members where they share their obstacles, moments of happiness, and many more things. These follow ups are conducted individually after the group sessions are ended. The facilitator also gets an idea of every member’s determination to achieve their goals.
Group therapy has activity based sessions, recognizing the therapeutic value of activities in improving their performance and psychological well- being. The activities are very creative, based on different interventions and integrated as per the groups need. These activities are facilitated to the individuals as behavioural coping strategies to regulate their mental and emotional well-being, leading to a better psycho-social functioning.
Online therapy has become increasingly popular in India due to its convenience and accessibility. It allows individuals to attend therapy sessions from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for travel. Online therapy also offers greater flexibility in scheduling, making it easier for individuals to incorporate therapy into their daily lives.
How Rocket Heath India Can help?
Rocket Health India is a leading provider of online therapy services in India. With a team of experienced therapists and a user-friendly platform, Rocket Health India offers convenient access to high-quality mental health care. Their therapists are trained in various therapeutic approaches, including group therapy, and are dedicated to providing personalised care to each individual.
Group therapy is a valuable tool in improving mental well-being, offering a supportive environment for individuals to share their experiences and learn from others. With the rise of online therapy services like Rocket Health India, accessing quality mental health care has never been easier. Consider exploring group therapy as a part of your mental health journey, and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.
Ready to explore the benefits of group therapy? Contact Rocket Health India today to schedule your first online therapy session!
References
Corey, G. (2018). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Cengage Learning Inc, USA. https://perpus.univpancasila.ac.id/repository/EBUPT190498.pdf
Gilbert P., Procter S. (2006). Compassionate Mind Training for People with High Shame and Self-Criticism: Overview and Pilot Study of a Group Therapy Approach. Wiley InterScience: USA. https://self-compassion.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/Gilbert.Procter.pdf
Montalbo A. (2015). The Effectiveness of Group Psychotherapy in Reducing the Student’s Negative Thoughts. International Journal of Education and Research, 3 (12). https://www.ijern.com/journal/2015/December-2015/28.pdf
Silverman, M. J. (2019). Music therapy for coping self-efficacy in an acute mental health setting: A randomized pilot study. Community Mental Health Journal, 55(4), 615–623. Music Therapy for Coping Self-Efficacy in an Acute Mental Health Setting: A Randomized Pilot Study | Community Mental Health Journal (springer.com)
Yusop Y M., Zainudin Z N., Jaafar W M W., Othman W N W., Arokianathan N. (2020). THE EFFECTS OF GROUP COUNSELLING. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7 (13). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344337151_THE_EFFECTS_OF_GROUP_COUNSELLING
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