This document discusses group therapy, outlining its definition, functions, types, selection criteria, physical considerations, size, membership, the therapist's role, approaches, therapeutic factors, and techniques. Group therapy is a form of psychosocial treatment where clients meet together with a therapist to share experiences, gain insight, and improve interpersonal skills. It serves important functions like socialization, support, task completion, and empowerment. The document provides guidance on setting up effective group therapy sessions.

2. Group Therapy Sathish RAJAMANI. M.Sc (N) Lecturer - AMCON

3. Introduction Human beings are complex creatures who share their activities of daily living with various groups of people. Human beings are Biological organism Psychological organism Social organism

4. DEFINITION Group – Collection of individuals whose associations are founded on shared commonalities of interest. Group Therapy – A form of psycho – social treatment in which a number of clients meet together with a therapist for the purpose of sharing, gaining personal insight, and improving interpersonal coping strategies

5. GROUP FUNCTIONS Sampson and Marthas (1990) , have outlined eight functions that group serve for their members. Socialization Support Task Completion Camaraderie Informational Normative Empowerment Governance

6. GROUPS TYPES Clark (1994) identifies three types of groups. Task Groups Teaching Groups Supportive Therapeutic Groups Self – Help Groups

7. SELECTION Homogeneous Adolescents and patients with PD Families and couples where the system needs change.

8. Antisocial Patients. Actively suicidal or severely depressed patients. Patients who are delusional. CONTRAINDICATIONS

9. PHYSICAL CONDITIONS SEATING SIZE

10. SEATING There should not be any barriers between the members. A circle of chair is better than chairs around a table. Members should be encouraged to sit in different chairs for each meeting.

11. SIZE 7 – 8 members in a group favors the therapeutic environment. The larger the size, less time is available to devote to individual members.

12. MEMBERSHIP Open / Close – ended groups. Open ended groups are those in which members leave and others join at any time while the group exists. Open ended groups are commonly used in short – term in – patients.

13. MEMBERSHIP Close ended groups are usually pre – determined and have fixed time frame. All members join at the time the group is organized and terminate at the end of the designate time period.

14. Therapist role – Facilitator (Provides safe and comfortable environment). Focus on “Here and Now”. Protect members from any verbal abuse or scapegoating. Provide positive reinforcement. Therapist should approach the clients in a group in a gentle, supportive and non threatening manner. APPROACHES

15. APPROACHES Able to preserve the self – esteem of hallucinatory and delusional patients. Must able to set limits for the undesired behaviors of the clients. Use Silence. Encourage Introspection and Facilitate Insight. Laughter and Moderate Joking contributes to group cohesiveness. Role – playing helps members to develop insight.

16. Sharing Experience Support to and from group members Socialization Limitation Interpersonal Learning THERAPEUTIC FACTORS

17. TECHNIQUES Reflecting or rewarding comments of group members. Asking for group reaction to one member's statement. Pointing out any shared feelings within the group. Summarizing various points at the end of the session.

18. CONCLUSION Group Therapy plays a major role in rehabilitation of mentally ill patient. It gives an opportunity for immediate feedback. It facilitates chance for therapist to observe the patients emotional and behavioral response towards variety of people. Enhances patients IPR, Communication, decision making and assertive skills.