Analyzing Group Techniques

Group therapy can alleviate feelings of isolation and foster a supportive and collaborative environment for sharing difficult feelings in order to facilitate healing. For many people, being part of a group that has a shared understanding of a struggle provides a unique opportunity to gain understanding of their own experiences.

As you examine one of the group therapy demonstrations from this week’s Learning Resources, consider the role and efficacy of the leader and the reasons that specific therapeutic techniques were selected.

 prepare:

• Select one of the group therapy video demonstrations from this week’s required media Learning Resources.

The Assignment

In a 3- to 4-page paper, identify the video you selected and address the following:

• What group therapy techniques were demonstrated? How well do you believe these techniques were demonstrated?
• What evidence from the literature supports the techniques demonstrated? 
• What did you notice that the therapist did well?
• Explain something that you would have handled differently.
• What is an insight that you gained from watching the therapist handle the group therapy?
• Now imagine you are leading your own group session. How would you go about handling a difficult situation with a disruptive group member? How would you elicit participation in your group? What would you anticipate finding in the different phases of group therapy? What do you see as the benefits and challenges of group therapy?  
• Support your reasoning with at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources, and explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly. Attach the PDFs of your sources.
• American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disordersLinks to an external site. (5th ed., text rev.). https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
• “Culture and Psychiatric Diagnosis”
• Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.
• Chapter 12, “Group Therapy”
• Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2005). The therapeutic factors. In The theory and practice of group psychotherapy Download The theory and practice of group psychotherapy(5th ed.) (pp. 1–18). Basic Books.
   Credit: The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 5th Edition by Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. Copyright 2005 by Basic Books. Reprinted by permission of Basic Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.
• Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2005). Interpersonal learning. In The theory and practice of group psychotherapy Download The theory and practice of group psychotherapy(5th ed.) (pp. 19–52). Basic Books.
   Credit: The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 5th Edition by Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. Copyright 2005 by Basic Books. Reprinted by permission of Basic Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.
• Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2005). Group cohesiveness. In The theory and practice of group psychotherapy Download The theory and practice of group psychotherapy(5th ed.) (pp. 53–76). Basic Books.
   Credit: The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 5th Edition by Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. Copyright 2005 by Basic Books. Reprinted by permission of Basic Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.
• Cats Cats. (2016, September 29). Interpersonal group therapy for addiction recovery demonstrationLinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/szS31h0kMI0
• Gerber, B. (2013, November 21). Psychotherapy group for schizophreniaLinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Dzus8WGqA
• Henson, B. A. (2017, April 27). Role play: Group counseling for adolescents with anxietyLinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6CF09f5S1M
• PsychotherapyNet. (2009, May 6). Irvin Yalom inpatient group psychotherapy videoLinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Elmr65RDg
• PsychotherapyNet. (2009, May 7). Irvin Yalom outpatient group psychotherapy videoLinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/PwnfWMNbg48