Psychotherapy
What group therapy techniques were demonstrated? How well do you believe these techniques were demonstrated? What evidence from the literature supports the techniques demonstrated?
The group therapy session involving six individuals: two therapists and four clients (Gerber, 2013). The session demonstrates four group therapy techniques. Firstly, there is an introduction with the individuals introducing themselves. This technique is helpful in the individuals knowing each other and establishing confidence in the therapists. Also, the introduction presents schizophrenia as a common feature among the four clients. Secondly, the session is conducted within a room with a closed door. This is a closed and controlled environment that creates the perception of privacy and safety. This ensures that no outside person interferes with the session. In addition, it ensures that the clients are confident enough to disclose information and express themselves as they expect privacy. Thirdly, the therapists act as moderators who manage the interactions. They lead and guide the conversations, using expectation and demand for change and discussion. Also, they keep the conversation flowing, allowing each member to contribute. Finally, reflection is applied to help the clients personalize the conversation. The reflection also makes use of active listening to pay attention to the conversation and its nuances (Beck & Kulzer, 2018). Psychotherapy Essay Example
What did you notice that the therapist did well?
The therapists did well in the communication techniques applied. They applied silence to encourage the clients to open up with more details and comments. In fact, silence created the expectation of more information so that the individual feels compelled to provide more information. In addition, they applied reflection to clarify the points made and convey emotion and encouragement. Reflection helped in describing the effective states of the clients, thereby accurately sensing each client’s world. Besides that, paraphrasing was used to clarify information. Through paraphrasing, the therapist clarified the points put across by the clients and indicated active listening. Also, summarization was used to clarify misconceptions and develop themes that described each client while connecting different topic areas (Varcarolis & Fosbre, 2020).
BUY A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Explain something that you would have handled differently.
Although the therapy session was well conducted, there were two areas that could have been improved. The first area is giving the session more direction. Other than the clients opening up about the struggles they experienced, the session did not appear to have a direction. The session should have a quantifiable goal with measurable intentions that can be used to track achievements and setbacks. The second area is exploring issues with the clients. The therapists appeared to offer advice instead of exploring choices, patterns and issues with the clients. This is important for harnessing client autonomy, increasing their decisiveness and making them more independent (Lindhiem et al., 2016).
What is an insight that you gained from watching the therapist handle the group therapy?
Insight gained is that a therapy session is a profound experience with many nuances. With a focus on improving the lives of the clients, a session must make use of communication and counseling techniques to get the clients to open up on their goals, needs and dreams while guiding them. The discussion occurs within a closed, controlled environment that excludes outside influence while giving a perception of safety that allows the clients to disclose information. Besides that, the presence of a therapist is important for mediating and guiding the therapy, ensuring that it proceeds as intended. Overall, the session shows that therapy should be conducted in a safe environment that allows the clients to process their feelings, values and thoughts (Ezhumalai et al., 2018).
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?
A disruptive member is not an unusual presence in a group therapy session. This is especially the case when the member is forced to attend the group therapy session, such as in a court mandated therapy in which a court orders an individual to attend the session. When an individual is mandated to attend therapy, there is a possibility of that individual undercutting the therapy goals. The disruptive group members can be handled engaging communicative approaches. This involves being respectful and presenting convincing, valid reasons for attending the therapy. In addition, it is important to set rules for the group therapy with clear guidelines on how to handle disruptions. Besides that, it is important to intervene when there is a disruption and confront the disruptive member. Members who continue being disruptive can be assigned to other groups and subjected to individual therapy (Marmarosh, 2021).
What would you anticipate finding in the different phases of group therapy?
A group therapy has five phases. The first phase is forming, in which the members experience anxiety and uncertainty as they come together to form the group. I anticipate that the members would avoid conflict, controversy and misunderstanding. The second phase is storming, in which the members struggle with power, compete and have disputes. They present questions on evaluation criteria, structure, responsibilities, norms, policies, rules, authority and leadership. The third phase is norming, in which members integrate and cooperate with the sessions becoming more fun and enjoyable. They have easier, cooperative and productive interactions characterized by open communication, bonding and mutual respect. The fourth phase is performing, in which members have synergy with a sense of belong to the group. They actively acknowledge the talents, skills and experiences brought into the group. The final phase is adjourning, in which the group therapy ends as the set goals are achieved (Jones, 2019).
What do you see as the benefits and challenges of group therapy?
Group therapy presents benefits to include promoting social and communication skills, allowing for self-reflection and awareness, offering support and encouragement, acting as role models, and presenting a safe, private environment. Still, group therapy presents challenges to include being uncomfortable for the members, loss of trust, clashes between personalities, and social anxiety (O’Beney, Salm & Lavender, 2019).
References
Varcarolis, E., & Fosbre, C. (2020). Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Communication Approach to Evidence-Based Care. Elsevier.
Beck, K., & Kulzer, J. (2018). Teaching Counseling Microskills to Audiology Students: Recommendations from Professional Counseling Educators. Seminars in Hearing, 39(1), 91-106. https://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1613709
Lindhiem, O., Bennett, C. B., Orimoto, T. E., & Kolko, D. J. (2016). A Meta-Analysis of Personalized Treatment Goals in Psychotherapy: A Preliminary Report and Call for More Studies. Clin Psychol (New York), 23(2), 165-176. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12153
Ezhumalai, S., Muralidhar, D., Dhanasekarapandian, R., & Nikketha, B. S. (2018). Group Interventions. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 60(Suppl. 4), S51-S521. https://dx.doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_42_18
Marmarosh, C. L. (2021). Ruptures and Repairs in Group Psychotherapy: From Theory to Practice. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 71(2), 205-223. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2020.1855893
Jones, A. (2019). The Tuckman’s model implementation, effect, and analysis & the new development of Jones LSI model on a small group. Journal of Management, 6(4), 23-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.34218/JOM.6.4.2019.005
O’Beney, R., Salm, A-M., & Lavender, T. (2019). An exploration of members’ experiences of group therapy: an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Group Analysis, 52(1), 82-99. https://doi.org/10.1177/0533316418814054
Gerber, B. (2013, November 21). Psychotherapy Group for Schizophrenia [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Dzus8WGqA
In a 3- to 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. Psychotherapy Essay Example