Development of Group Therapy

Grand Canyon University

PCN-162

Group therapy is a unique type of psychotherapy that is characterized by a group of patients and one or more psychiatrists holding sessions to discuss and share personal experiences in coping with a common problem. Group therapy is utilized in various applications which include the management of the post-traumatic disorder, grief counseling, and drug rehabilitation among others. Group therapy is premised on eight major principles which include the concept of universality and belongingness, altruism, imitative behavior, catharsis, group cohesiveness, socialization, interpersonal learning, and existential factors.

Development of Group Therapy

The development of group therapy in the United States is credited to the works of Joseph Pratt. The psychoanalyst incorporated a rudimentary form of group therapy to facilitate the treatment of TB patients in the early 1900s(Ezhumalai, Muralidhar, Dhanasekarapandian&Nikketha, 2018). Pratt noted that the management of the TB patients could be improved by creating a conducive environment where patients could share their experiences with the vagaries of the disease and the strategies adopted to accelerate the rate of recovery. Other pioneers of the concept such as Alfred Adler viewed group therapy as a panacea for addressing individual problems with a social origin. As such, Adler requested his patients to form social support groupings to encourage each other and share personal experiences with their shared problem.

The early form of group therapy (commonly known as Training therapy) involved a group of eight to fifteen people who met regularly to offer each other moral support and learn different mechanisms for coping with the challenges of their shared problem(Ezhumalai et al., 2018). The group members used role-play, problem-solving, and feedback to increases personal understanding and have a deeper insight into other group members and groups. The onset of World War 1 revolutionized the development of group therapy as more people (soldiers and civilians) sought psychotherapy.

Psychoanalysts attending to battle-fatigue soldiers and traumatized civilians in the United States and Europe were compelled to make use of the existing form of group therapy as the most optimal strategy for handling the high number of patients. The psychoanalysts recognized that the interaction between therapists and patients in a group setting had the potential to promote transference which is a major component of psychotherapy(Ezhumalai et al., 2018). The developmental journey of the group therapy provides two takeaways which have a significant impact on my counseling career. Firstly, the most individual problems have a social origin and should, therefore, be addressed from a social perspective. Secondly, the interaction between patients and therapists in group sessions enhances transference which is crucial for successful psychotherapy.

Influence of World War 2 on the Evolution of Group Therapy

The extensive psychological effect of World War 2 on both the civilians and combatants played a significant role in the evolution of group therapy in the United States and Europe. The high demand for mental treatment during and after the war increased the accessibility of psychological medicine to the public(Lloyd, 2015). The increase in ease of access to psychological medicine generated interest in the field of psychology which inadvertently changed the public perception of the study and the treatment of mental illnesses. The scientific community in the United States, for example, accelerated research on the theoretical and practical applicability of group psychotherapy and psychology which led to increased understanding of the field(Lloyd, 2015). Seminal contributions from different ideological camps, such as adherents of Neo-Freudian, Adlerian, and Freudian philosophy, influenced the growth and development of the group psychotherapy.

The increased research into the field of group therapy transformed it into a psychosocial process which incorporated the expertise of mental-health practitioners, emotional interaction, and group sessions to manage the mental health of the patients. The improvement of group therapy increased its applicability in various spheres of psychology(Lloyd, 2015). Yalom’s Interpersonal model group theory particularly became popular among practitioners due to its focus on the need to promptly correct interpersonal relationships. Yalom transformed group sessions as an avenue for understanding and expressing of the problems such as dependency, anger, and mistrust(Lloyd, 2015). The major takeaway gained from the exploration above is that group therapy can be approached from different perspective but is should be characterized by emotional interaction and voluntary participation.

Impact of Group Therapy on the Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders

The propensity for humans to solve common problems from a communal perspective makes the concept of group therapy an essential tool for managing substance abuse and related disorders. Group therapy provides victims of substance abuse with a social support network to share their experiences and learn from each other which motivate them to adopt a culture of recovery(Wendt & Gone, 2017). In essence, group therapy provides members with a forum for witnessing the recovery experiences of other members as well as learning appropriate strategies for managing their challenges.

Additionally, group therapy facilitates the treatment other problems related to substance abuse such as shame, isolation, and depression among others which are difficult to manage with individual therapy(Wendt & Gone, 2017). The ability of the group therapy to bond victims of substance abuse to treatment enables them to abstain from drugs and commit to the recovery process. Group therapy exposes members to therapeutic and reward forces such as identification, gratification, support, confrontation, and affiliation which motivate them to adhere to the recovery process(Wendt & Gone, 2017). The analysis of the influence of the group therapy on the management of the disorders related to substance abuse has provided an insight into the utility of bonding patients to their treatment process.

Conclusion

The development of group therapy in the United States traces its origin to the late 19th century where it was used to manage the treatment of tuberculosis in hospitals and migrant camps. The rejuvenation of interest in psychological medicine during and after World War 2 provided group theory with the impetus for growth and development. Group therapy is utilized as a tool for managing substance abuse disorders due to its social and emotional therapeutic effects.

References

Ezhumalai, S., Muralidhar, D., Dhanasekarapandian, R., &Nikketha, B. (2018). Group therapy. Indian J Psychiatry, 60(4), 514–521. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5844165/

Lloyd, A. (2015). Mental health for the everyman: World War II’s impact on American psychology. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.tacoma.uw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=history_theses

Wendt, D., & Gone, J. (2017). Group therapy for substance use disorders: A survey of clinician practices. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 12(4), 243-259. doi: 10.1080/1556035x.2017.1348280