The CyberCouch Library

Group Psychotherapy

by Thomas A. Grugle, M.D.

What is a Psychotherapy Group?

Groups are everywhere. Our daily lives are filled with various groups of people, from families to work groups to church groups. What distinguishes these groups from one another is their purpose. The purpose of a psychotherapy group is to promote the personal growth and psychological health of its members. Although the composition, theme and length may vary, all psychotherapy groups have in common:

• A group psychotherapist, specially trained in the theory and technique of group psychotherapy. This distinguishes a psychotherapy group from groups that function without a psychotherapist, called self-help groups.
• A regular meeting time and place. Psychotherapy groups generally meet once weekly, but this can vary. Some groups are time limited (meet for a fixed number of sessions), others are open ended with members joining and leaving from time to time.
• A focus on self-examination and exploration of interpersonal relationships. This is the ultimate focus of most types of psychotherapy, although the particular methods and style varies depending on the therapists orientation. This distinguishes a psychotherapy group from a support group. In a support group, members generally share a common concern or issue and help one another adapt to difficult or challenging circumstances.

Who can benefit from Group Psychotherapy?

It is part of being human to experience some loneliness and sadness from time to time, but persistent anxiety or depression, or ongoing difficulties with relationships, may signal the need for consultation with a mental health professional.

The mental health field offers a confusing variety of practitioners, and it is often difficult to know what kind of professional to see. The partial list below may help you understand the training and qualifications of these mental health professionals. You have the right to ask about the credentials of the person you seek help from:

Psychiatrist (M.D.); a physician specializing in the treatment of emotional problems

Licensed Clinical Psychologist (Ph.D., Psy.D.); a doctoral degree in treatment of emotional problems

Social Work (M.S.W., A.C.P); a masters degree with advanced training and supervision

Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.); a masters or doctoral degree, additional supervision, and a licensing examination

During the consultation, the consultant will determine the nature of your problems and what treatment approach may be most beneficial. If group psychotherapy is right for you and you are right for group psychotherapy, the consultant may arrange for you to join a group. Your plan of treatment may also include individual, family or marital psychotherapy as well as medication prescribed by a psychiatrist.

What happens during Group Psychotherapy?

It is not unusual to feel anxious and uneasy when first joining a psychotherapy group, but with time the anxiety will diminish and you will feel more comfortable about sharing your concerns. Group members are urged to be as honest as they can about their thoughts and feelings. Sometimes there are silent periods during group time, and other times everyone has something to share. It is the therapists responsibility to monitor the group, give feedback about what he or she may think is happening in the group, and help the group work through difficult periods. It is each group members responsibility to be on time for group, attend all sessions, talk honestly about the problems they are having, and to keep what happens during group time completely confidential.

How long does Group Psychotherapy take?

That depends on the nature and extent of your problems and on your capacity and motivation for self-examination. Group members generally remain in group for one to three years, and leave when the problems that brought them to group are resolved.

Groups offered by Dr. Grugle

Dr. Grugle currently leads one general coed psychotherapy group. Interested candidates should contact Dr. Grugle for a consultation.

The group meeting time is:

Copyright 2001 by Thomas A. Grugle, M.D. All rights reserved. Except for one-time personal use, no part of this article may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording, nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or otherwise copied for public or private use without prior written permission of the author.