Understand what the definition of group therapy is. See examples of group therapy, discover group therapy techniques, and explore the major benefits of group therapy.
Updated: 12/14/2021
Techniques and Examples of Group Therapy
What Is Group Therapy?
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which people who have similar problems or share similar experiences meet together and work on those common issues.
Group therapy has been around for centuries, but it has found its way into contemporary society in the last 50 years. Group therapy works today much like from previous eras. The main purpose of group therapy is to provide support and resources to those who are struggling with personal issues and find it difficult to resolve on their own.
The general purpose of group therapy is to help people in need of a supportive environment where they can voice their thoughts and feelings without fear and judgment from others. It is designed to help people better understand themselves and their relationships with others. Group therapy is used to help people overcome obstacles, such as mental disorders, addiction, and grief.
Characteristics of group therapy:
- Group therapy can be between families, couples, or a group of strangers with a common goal/need.
- Group sessions are held in a safe, comfortable space where clients feel free to share their thoughts and feelings.
- Group therapists may not have been trained in the same field as individuals seeking help, but they represent the skill set that group members need.
- Group therapists encourage self-care through activities such as yoga, meditation, exercise, or mindfulness.
- Group discussions help people to share their personal experiences in a supportive environment.
- Group therapy sessions give people the opportunity to talk about their feelings without the fear of being judged or shamed by others.
- Groups are not necessarily limited to adults; they can also include adolescents or children.
A group therapy session begins with an intake session where the therapist asks participants about their life history and mental health condition. The leader also discusses whether they prefer to do their work in small groups or one-on-one sessions. In group therapy, members are encouraged to share their experiences and problems. The sessions can be helpful in eliminating the barriers that exist between people, promoting trust and understanding, and providing a sense of belonging and identity.
Group Therapy Techniques
To have a successful group therapy session, all members should have a common goal or purpose. For example, they might work on becoming better friends with each other or work on resolving an issue that has troubled them. The leader will help them set up individual goals and ensure that everyone is comfortable. A group leader will play a significant role in the success of the group therapy sessions. They should be patient, understanding, and work to establish trust among the group's members.
Group leaders and therapists use different techniques when conducting a group therapy session. The most common technique is verbal communication, which is done through either spoken word or writing. This is often called "sharing." Group members share their thoughts on what they are going through or what has happened that brought them there. This allows other members to see that they are not alone in their experiences and to empathize with one another. Another technique is called "active listening." This involves listening attentively without trying to understand everything being discussed.
Not everyone will find the same technique to be effective for them during a group therapy session. That's why it's important for those involved to remain open-minded about what works best for each individual in order to achieve the desired results.
Group Therapy Examples
In a group therapy session, the therapist may ask questions to help people discuss their experiences and learn about what they have in common with others. The participants may also share personal stories or talk about their feelings while they listen to others' experiences.
A therapist will use different methods to help the participants come together as a group while addressing any issues that arise. These methods include:
1) Asking questions - "Who are you? What do you like doing?" The therapist might ask these questions as part of the ice-breaking process or a group introduction.
2) Agreeing on ground rules - It is important for groups, strangers, friends, and families to agree on ground rules and safety precautions for their group therapy sessions to foster an environment of empathy and understanding.
3) Choosing a topic to discuss at length such as steps to overcoming addiction.
 |
Some topics the group therapist could lead the group to discuss include:
- Personal successes
- Personal struggles
- Appropriate ways to support each other in the workplace
- Cross-department interactions
- Team strategies to create a better working environment or to increase productivity
You must cCreate an account to continue watching
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Create Your Account To Continue Watching
As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons.
Try it now
It only takes a few minutes to setup and you can cancel any time.
Already registered? Log in here for access
BackResources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons
& teaching resources‐all
in one place.
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Back
Your next lesson will play in
10 seconds
Types of Group Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral group therapy helps people to identify and change patterns of negative thoughts and behaviors.
Interpersonal group therapy helps people with several different mental health problems by addressing their personal relationships, including family, friends, and colleagues. These group therapy sessions can often be broken into small groups to work on peer-to-peer relationships.
Psychoeducational group therapy involves a group of people who are working on common problems. It's typically used when someone has experienced a significant life event and needs to process what happened.
Skill development group therapy is designed to help people improve their skills in different fields. This kind of therapy uses the idea of learning through doing and teaching by example to achieve this goal.
Support group therapy is an approach for treating groups of individuals with a diagnosis of a mental disorder such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and more. This kind of therapy includes peer-support groups to deal with the symptoms of the disorder and provides a sense of belonging.
Cognitive-Behavioral
Cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) tries to help people through the use of behavioral techniques. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the way thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact over time to influence behavior.
An example of this is when an individual feels hopeless, and they begin to think that life is not worth living because they are constantly overwhelmed with tasks. The therapist can help the individual become hyper-aware of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors so the person can make changes in the way they interact with others. An example of this kind of therapy would be when people have a problem with anxiety, such as agoraphobia. CBGT helps them by teaching them how to manage their anxiety and what avoidance means for them mentally and physically.
Interpersonal
An example of this interpersonal therapy is the role play technique which is typically used in schools.
 |
For example, if a student has difficulty with schoolwork, they can be paired with a partner from the group to go through different scenarios the student may face. They can also work together to brainstorm strategies to handle possible situations which may arise in real-life conversation.
Psychoeducational
Psychoeducational group therapy is a type of group therapy that seeks to address the mental and emotional needs of children, adolescents, and families to process traumatic events.
This type of therapy typically uses groups provided by a school or community clinic. A teacher or other professional will help guide each group in understanding their emotions and potential coping strategies. Students may have a chance to learn how to communicate with others while developing relationships with peers who share similar problems or concerns.
An example of this type of therapy would be meeting with students individually and then having them come together as a whole class at the end to discuss issues that affect their day-to-day lives in school.
Another form of this kind of therapy would be for a person who is struggling with anxiety or depression after the death of a loved one. They might work together in groups to find new ways to deal with these feelings and come up with creative solutions.
Skill Development
Skill development group therapy is a therapy predominately used in the adult outpatient mental health setting for people with depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
It is a structured group of eight to ten clients who meet weekly for 3-4 hours. The therapist facilitates skill development activities that focus on the areas of mood management, social skills, and non-substance-related coping strategies.
The purpose of this type of therapy is to help individuals develop new skills with the support of other group members as well as provide an environment in which to explore their feelings and experiences.
The group is structured in such a way that people from different backgrounds can interact and learn from one another. The example given for following this therapy model is the cognitive behavior group, which aims to improve social skills for those with anxiety disorders or phobias.
Support
Support group therapy includes people who may be experiencing different kinds of mental health problems. Examples include addiction, eating disorders, and depression. The idea behind support groups is to provide support to people with similar problems, help them learn strategies for dealing with their struggles, and give them the opportunity to talk about how they feel without being judged or pressured by others.
Examples of support group therapies are skill development group therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
The skill development group therapy was created in response to the fact that there were not enough resources for people who have been diagnosed with mental illness to learn skills such as cooking, gardening, and socializing in order to manage their symptoms of mental illness and live more independently. This type of therapy teaches skills such as cooking, gardening, or socializing.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Group therapy is a beneficial way of dealing with mental health issues and it is considered to be the most effective treatment for various types of psychological disorders. It can help people gain a better understanding of themselves, their feelings, and their relationships with others.
Some of the benefits of group therapy are:
- A sense of belonging - Provides a way for people to learn how to be part of a community and gain support through sharing their experiences with others.
- A feeling of safety - Being surrounded by others who share similar experiences makes people feel more at ease than they would in an individual therapy session.
- Connection - Individuals often feel an immediate connection with other members during group sessions, thus strengthening their relationships in both professional and personal lives.
- Empowerment - Allows individuals to learn from their mistakes and try new things without fear.
- Gain better understanding - Group therapy provides social support that can help us have a better understanding of ourselves, our feelings, and our relationships with others.
- Tackling problems - Group therapy offers a safe space where a person can learn new skills or strategies that could help them deal with problems in their lives or improve relationships.
- Self-awareness - Group therapy offers an opportunity to be vulnerable - something many people are not comfortable doing without someone else's feedback. It also helps people realize that they don't need to be perfect.
Lesson Summary
Group therapy is an environment in which people share their thoughts and feelings through discussion, leading to personal growth. This type of therapy is often used for a variety of reasons, such as substance abuse, grief, addiction, depression, and anxiety. In group therapy sessions, everyone can speak their opinions on the topic at hand. It's good to come into group therapy with an open mind and no prior expectations, as a person might hear something different from what they're used to hearing from their friends or family.
A group therapy session can include any of the following elements: groups of people with common problems or traumas, families or friends, couples, or colleagues. Therapy between families, friends, and couples are specifically designed to create open and honest communication and help improve the relationships. Another element of group therapy sessions is that they are usually not led by a certified therapist. As part of group therapy, participants are expected to work on active listening by avoiding defensiveness and considering the perspectives of other people.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Frequently Asked Questions
What is group therapy used for?
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is typically conducted with a group of people. Group therapy can be used as an efficient way to address issues, overcome challenges, and achieve personal growth.
What is group therapy and how does it work?
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that typically involves a small group of people to help them cope with their problems and reach goals. Group therapy is often used in hospitals and mental health settings to provide support for those who are recovering from an illness or experiencing hardships.
What are the types of group therapy?
The main kinds of group therapy include:
Cognitive behavior therapy
Interpersonal therapy
Psychoeducational therapy
Skill development therapy
Support group therapy
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackResources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons
& teaching resources‐all
in one place.
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Back
Group Therapy Techniques & Examples | What Is Group Therapy?
Related Study Materials
Explore our library of over 88,000 lessons
Browse by subject