Analyzing Group Techniques

Video Selected: Cats Cats. (2016, September 29).

Analyzing Group Techniques

Group therapy is the simultaneous treatment of multiple patients by one or more healthcare providers. Group therapy can be used in treating a variety of mental health conditions, such as emotional trauma, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, ADHD, etc. (Malhotra & Baker, 2022). With the help of group therapy, improvements in interpersonal skills are observed, psychiatric symptoms are reduced, and positive outcomes are noted in individuals facing many comorbid medical problems. Group therapy comes in many forms, from self-help to treating conditions such as PTSD. A study by Yusop et al, (2020), showed the positive effects of group therapy on group members based on six major aspects; Social, Physiological, emotional, Psychological, Cognitive, and behavioral aspects. The video "Cats Cats" (2016) features the use of interpersonal psychotherapy in his sessions with an addiction recovery group. Group therapy is considered one of the most promising psychosocial treatments and is practiced in advanced practice settings by clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and other qualified mental health professionals (Ezhumalai et al., 2018). This paper is aimed at providing an analysis of the techniques demonstrated in this group therapy, explaining the insights I have gained from watching the group therapy, and discussing how to deal with difficult situations with a disruptive group member.

The group therapy techniques demonstrated in the video and the evidence supporting the technique.

There are 11 therapeutic components of group therapy; universality, imparting information, altruism, corrective recap of the primary family group, developing many socializing techniques, imitative behavior, interpersonal learning, group cohesiveness, catharsis, and existential factors (Wheeler, 2020). As an addict, Jimmy felt alone in his actions, but the other members tried to make him understand he was not alone, by sharing their own experiences. According to Yalom and Leszcz (2005), no human action or thought is completely outside the experience of others. In this video, Jimmy demonstrated interpersonal learning as he talked about why he was forced to reveal what he thought was the worst thing a person could do. Interpersonal learning supports therapeutic change and individual growth as groups learn from each other (Wheeler, 2020). There was a cathartic moment as Jimmy shared his story. It was a release of his feelings towards the group. Finally, the cohesiveness of the group was evidenced by the willingness of other members to show their vulnerability. Group cohesion serves as a foundation for rebuilding trust among members and exploring sensitive topics (Wheeler, 2020).

What the therapist did well and what I would have done differently.

What I admire most in the Cats Cats, (2016) video was the fact that the therapist was asking probing questions, and by that, the therapist was able to expand the conversation (Ezhumalai et al., 2018). She could have moved on to another member of the group or topic, as she felt it was best to leave Jimmy alone. Or that it didn't matter why Jimmy felt it was necessary to share. On the other hand, sometimes the therapist has to deflect the conversation because it can be seen as unproductive, but that was not the case in this case. This is what I could have handled differently.

Insight gained

Gaining the trust of a group is one key aspect of group therapy. Without this trust, group members will be reluctant to reveal personal details about their lives. Whether working individually or in groups, a sense of security for the client often leads to better outcomes. However, therapists know that clients may choose to remain silent about some aspects of their lives. This is one important insight I gained from the therapist's handling of the group therapy. If this wasn't seen on video, it's highly unlikely that Jimmy would have shared it with the group. The objectivity of the therapist is also important. If the therapist responds incorrectly to someone's disclosure, that person may refuse to return for subsequent sessions or may react negatively. Therapists must also be aware that their role may change depending on the needs of the group or individuals within the group. Depending on the situation, the therapist may function as a facilitator in some cases and a leader in others. The therapist in the video exhibited leadership attributes, directing the flow of conversation within the group.

How I would handle a difficult situation with a disruptive group member

Interpersonal psychotherapy is aimed at improving social support, reducing interpersonal stress, supporting emotional processes, and improving social skills. Additionally, group cohesion indicates the level of members' tolerance to conflict, feedback, and intragroup change (Wheeler, 2020). Therefore, therapists must respond appropriately when intragroup conflict or inappropriate behavior occurs. A responsive therapist immediately assesses the client's needs and responds accordingly. A responsive therapist's reaction is immediate and defenseless (Anderson et al., 2020). As discussed by Anderson (et al., 2020), participating therapists administered a facilitative interpersonal skills (FIS) performance test. This test was used to predict how a patient's reaction to various challenging situations would affect their outcome. A variety of skills were used, including verbal fluency and emotional expression. Through language skills, therapists demonstrate the ability to communicate easily and comfortably. In other words, the therapist won't stumble over words or use phrases like "umm" when approaching a problem. Emotional expression is about the energy and emotion of the therapist's responses. If the response is poor, the therapist will have little interest in the client's needs at that point.

In the event of a conflict, the group allows the individual to express concerns and then discusses them one-on-one with the individual (Malhotra & Baker, 2022). If encouraging a person to join a group is met with resistance, the therapist must respect the person's wishes. And if a member seems unmotivated, the therapist should find out why. From there, the therapist can find ways to encourage individual engagement. Again, according to Grey, (2001), If leaders determine that the group is no longer performing therapeutically to a particular member, terminating that individual's membership is an option to consider. However, all terminations must be evaluated for their therapeutic relevance to the patient.

Conclusion

As the need for mental health resources increases, the importance and effectiveness of group therapy become increasingly important. In addition to being cost-effective, group therapy is used to treat a variety of therapies. Group therapy can reduce the symptoms of a diagnosis and provide individuals with useful skills to learn, develop, and live with their symptoms. If therapists are aware of the 11 therapeutic elements of group therapy and know how to respond appropriately to difficult situations, they will achieve positive group therapy outcomes.

Reference

Anderson, T., Finklestein, J. D., & Horvath, S. A. (2020). The facilitative interpersonal skills method: Difficult psychotherapy moments and appropriate therapist responsiveness. Counseling and Psychotherapy Research. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/capr.12302

Cats Cats. (2016, September 29). Interpersonal group therapy for addiction recovery demonstrationLinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/szS31h0kMI0

Ezhumalai, S., Muralidhar, D., Dhanasekarapandian, R., & Nikketha, B. S. (2018). Group interventions. Indian journal of psychiatry, 60(4). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5844165/.

Gray, A. (2001). Difficult Terminations in Group Therapy: A Self Psychologically Informed Perspective. Group. 25. 27-39. 10.1023/A:1011016606565. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arthur-Gray/publication/227179820_Difficult_Terminations_in_Group_Therapy_A_Self_Psychologically_Informed_Perspective/links/593b3d46458515e398d284ff/Difficult-Terminations-in-Group-Therapy-A-Self-Psychologically-Informed-Perspective?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19

Malhotra, A., & Baker, J. (2022). Group Therapy. StatPearls (Internet). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549812/?report=printable