Posted: July 14th, 2022

Foundations of Group Work and Types of Therapy

Foundations of Group Work and Types of Therapy
And as participants improve, the group as a whole benefits. Members can be agents of change for each other. Seeing others’ progress can help group members realize they, too, can cope and feel better.
—Dr. Nina W. Brown, “Power in Numbers”
Group therapy can be very beneficial for clients. In fact, research has shown that for many clients, group therapy is as effective as individual therapy. Members of groups are not only able to influence change within one another, but they are often able to more easily relate to the guidance of peers than that of a therapist. With the increasing popularity of this therapeutic approach, it is essential for you to have a strong foundation in psychotherapeutic techniques for groups.
This week, you explore group therapy and consider how you might apply current literature to your own clinical practice.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Evaluate the efficacy of group therapy techniques in counseling sessions
• Recommend strategies for leading group therapy sessions
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Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

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”

https://content.waldenu.edu/content/dam/laureate/laureate-academics/wal/ms-nurs/nrnp-6645/week-03/Yalom%20Chp1%20Therapeutic%20Factors.pdf

https://content.waldenu.edu/content/dam/laureate/laureate-academics/wal/ms-nurs/nrnp-6645/week-03/Yalom%20Chp1%20Therapeutic%20Factors.pdf

https://content.waldenu.edu/content/dam/laureate/laureate-academics/wal/ms-nurs/nrnp-6645/week-03/Yalom

%20Chp2%20Interpersonal.pdf

https://content.waldenu.edu/content/dam/laureate/laureate-academics/wal/ms-nurs/nrnp-6645/week-03/Yalom%20Chp3%20Group%20Cohesiveness.pdf

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)

Optional Media

Psychotherapy.net. (n.d.-a). Group therapy: A live demonstration – With Irvin Yalom [Video]. https://waldenu.kanopy.com/video/group-therapy-live-demonstration

Psychotherapy.net. (n.d.-b). Group therapy for addictions: An interpersonal relapse prevention approach [Video]. https://waldenu.kanopy.com/video/group-therapy-addictions-interpersonal-relap

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Assignment: Analyzing Group Techniques

Photo Credit: Getty Images
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. It is possible for group therapy to reduce feelings of isolation and to cultivate an environment that is supportive and collaborative for the purpose of discussing challenging emotions in order to facilitate recovery. For many individuals, being a part of a community that is united in its comprehension of a challenge presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to broaden their perspective on their own life journeys and the challenges they have faced.
When you are looking at one of the group therapy demos that have been provided in this week’s Learning Resources, you should think about the role and effectiveness of the leader as well as the reasons that particular therapeutic strategies were chosen.
To prepare:
• Select one of the group therapy video demonstrations from this week’s required media Learning Resources.
The Assignment
In a 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.

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Tags: 150-200 words discussion with a scholarly reference, 200-300 words response to classmate discussion question, 250 word analysis essay, bachelor of nursing assignments, case study