THE MARRIAGE & FAMILY INSTITUTE

Group Therapy

Group psychotherapy is a special form of therapy in which a small number of people meet together under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another. The therapy has been widely used and has been a standard treatment option for over 50 years. Group psychotherapy is no different than many of the other environments in which we have been raised. It provides a place where you come together with others to share problems or concerns, to better understand your own situation, and to learn from and with each other. Group therapy helps people learn about themselves and improve their interpersonal relationships. It addresses feelings of isolation, depression or anxiety. And it helps people make significant changes so they feel better about the quality of their lives. Additionally, group therapists can apply the principles of group to other settings and situations such as businesses, schools and community organizations. In studies comparing group psychotherapy to individual therapy, group therapy has been shown to be as effective and sometimes even more effective. In cases of medical illness, there is substantial evidence that this form of therapy helps people cope better with their illness, enhances the quality of their lives and, in some cases, such as breast cancer, has even been shown to help people live longer.

The behavior and feelings of members of the therapy group mirror behavior and feelings in other important relationships. Consequently, the group provides a setting in which to examine patterns of behavior in relationships. The group also provides a context in which members learn to identify, understand, and express their feelings, examine their thoughts and change their behaviors.

At Covenant Counseling Services, it is possible for a client to increase the level of intensity of therapy by a combination of individual, couple, family and group psychotherapy. In other words, a client at risk, may be able to schedule more than one individual session per week, may also be involved in couple or family therapy, or both, and may be in one or more group. One group may be more focused on a particular addiction, such as alcohol and drugs, sexual addiction or compulsive gambling. Another group may deal specifically with Bipolar Disorder or may be a more general group dealing with relationship issues, self-esteem, assertiveness and codependency. In addition, the individual’s treatment plan may also call for him or her to attend 90 12 Step Meetings in a 90 day period of time. This type of intense treatment program allows for an individual to go to their job and live at home and engage in normal every day activities, while at the same time making radical shifts in their schedule and how he or she lives their lives. The therapist’s role is to facilitate this group process. To foster these goals we believe that some ground rules are important. These are as follows:

1.      Group members are assessed by a therapist prior to joining a group.

2. Clients may remain in group as long as they find the group useful in working on important issues in their lives. Typically, it is recommended that individuals participate in group for a minimum of six months; prospective group member should make at least a one-month initial commitment in order to determine whether a particular group is right for them.
3. Regular and timely attendance at all sessions is expected.
4. Clients are responsible for notifying the group therapist when they know they will absent or late for group.
5. Group “vacations” will be determined by the therapist in discussion with the group. Since the group will continue to meet even if a client is absent, a client is responsible for missed sessions. Some flexibility regarding this policy may be granted in event of serious illness or family crisis.
6. Members of “recovery” groups are committed to maintaining abstinence. If a relapse does occur, it must be discussed promptly with the therapist as was as in the group. It is recommended that all clients reflect upon their own substance use and addictive behavior and be willing to discuss changes in their behavioral patterns and associated concerns.
7. Clients will notify the group when they are considering leaving the group. Because leaving the group is a process, they should give the group sufficient time to process their termination.
8. Clients will have a commitment to talk about important issues in their lives that cause difficulty in relating to others or in living life fully.
9. Clients will also have a commitment to talk about what is going on in the group itself as a way of better understanding their own personal dynamics.
10. Clients will treat matters that occur in the group with utmost confidentiality. To that end, members are expected not to discuss what happens in the group with people who are not members of the group.
11. Clients will not use controlled substances or alcohol before, during or after group     sessions.
12. Clients will conduct themselves respectfully and responsibly at all times. They will present themselves appropriately when coming to group. They shall wear proper attire, treat others with respect, and refrain from using offensive language or being offensive to anyone in group or while on premises.
13. Outside-of-group-contact often has considerable impact on the group’s therapeutic effectiveness, and in creating a "safe place". Therefore, outside of group contact is proscribed. Any relevant interactions between members which occur outside the group should be brought back into the next meeting and shared with the entire group. This rule does not apply if they are already a couple, as in a  premarital or marital group.
14. Clients are not to engage in sexual acts or develop romantic relationships with other group members, unless they are already a couple, as in a premarital or marital group.