Group Analysis Psychotherapy

Psychoanalysis

A form of therapy which works on the assumption that if we make unconscious thoughts conscious, people gain ‘insight’, (into.e. become aware of them) and so can be cured of the problems that the unconscious thoughts create

Group analysis

• Combines psychoanalytic principles with the social nature of human beings

• There is a recognition of the group unconscious ( underlying issues that may be pertinent to several members of the group)

• Through feedback, role play and problem-solving =, people will gain insight into their own behaviour through that of others

Assumption of the importance of early childhood experiences and our relationship with others

• In group analysis members often identify others as representing their own parents and siblings

• This will provoke behaviour towards the group that is representative of their feelings towards significant others in their lives

• The therapist will listen, watch and offer an interpretation for their emotions/behaviour

• Helps the group gain an understanding of the effect of their childhood experiences on their personality

Assumption that ego defences affect out personality

• During group analysis a person may use defence mechanism such as projection

• A person may become aware of a repressed aspect of themselves in another person

What are the main components of group analysis psychotherapy?

• Interaction between group members

• Role of the therapist

• Mirroring

Interaction between group members

• Typical group = 8 members meeting at least 1 a week

• Interactions between members, conversation + frank discussion

• Individuals will open up about past patterns of attitudes, feeling and behaviours

• The whole group can offer thoughts about these patterns as well as solutions

• Members often view their own behaviours in others, and so the problems are not solely assigned to the individual sufferer

Role of the therapist

• Less intrusive role

• Encourages all members to be ‘therapists’ for the group and and for themselves

• Facilitate discussions

• Over time, the therapist will sit back and let interactions develop between group members

• Encourages all members to verbalise through directive questioning and facilitation

Mirroring

• Mirroing = individuals will see themselves in others, encourages self-awarenss

• Antagonistic mirroring = develops when 2 inidivuals evoke feeling of impatience, fury and despair in each other, leading to regular confrontation. These confrontations have the danger of destroying the group and need intense mediation from the therpist

• Dialogue mirroring reaction = when group members are able to respond to the experiences of others without being overly defensive. They see themselves in others and accept the reality

Evaluation: Effectiveness

• Applications

• Group Therapy and depression

• Lack of Support

• Moderating Factors

Application

• Mental health

• Education

• Prisons - children of alcoholics

• Management constultancy

Group Therapy and Depression

• 49 studies

• 45/48 proved effective in reducing depressive sympotms

• 43/48 significant decrease in thse sympotms

• 9 = group vs individual psychotherapy did not differ in terms of effectiveness

Lack of Support

• Systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of group analysis

• 34 studies + 19 relevant reviews, they concluded that while group psychotherapy is an effective approach, there is a lack of evidence in relation to:

• Types of patients for who it is effective for

• Comparative cost of group vs individual therapy

• The number of high quality randomised control trials, i.e. trials which have confounding variables

Moderating factors

• 111 studies from the last 20 years were reviewed

• group therapy was better off than in 72% of controls

• Improvement is moderated by:

• Composition of the group - mixed gender responded better to treatment

• Nature of client problems s (homogenous groups better)

• Nature of treatment programme (outpatient better than inpatient)

• This research suggests that further research is need into the nature of client variables in group analysis

Ethical issues

Confidentiality

Confidentiality

• All group members have to maintain confidentiality

• The therapist m=is responsible for creating a sense of safety

• This trust is vital for encouraging self-disclosure

• Individuals are discouraged form meeting outside the group and discussing issues outside the session

• All group members will have to sign a confidentiality agreememtn

• Therapisst have legal obligation to disclose confidential agreement without consent if there is an immediate risk of harm to the client or someone-else

The Institute of Group Analysis

• IGA has a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct