Chapter 10: Creation of the Group: Place, Time, Size, Preparation

Chapter 10: Creation of the Group: Place, Time, Size, Preparation The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy Irvin Yalom, Ph.D.

Policy about the Lifespan of the Group • Open or Closed Group • Closed group - accepts no new members and usually is time limited • Can be long term but you would need a captive audience • Open group – accepts new members in order to sustain a consistent size

Policy about the Lifespan of the Group • Duration and Frequency • General principle is that the larger the group the longer time necessary. • 6-10 members generally 60-90 minutes • Frequency is usually once a week, but twice a week can be more intensive because the themes can be carried over better.

Policy about the Lifespan of the Group • Then there are the Time Extended Group or Marathon Group • Has anyone in the class participated in such a group? • 1960-1970’s groups which experimented with the variable of time and its effects on inhibitions, defense mechanisms, disclosure and cohesiveness. • There was a claim that the social microcosm effect developed more quickly.

Policy about the Lifespan of the Group • During this time, the mass media presented these groups as being equivalent to several years of therapy. • These groups produced affect laden experiences, however they may not generalize to other life experiences in general. • It was also considered state learning, however you need to be in the state to generalize.

Policy about the Lifespan of the Group • In Yalom’s experience, he with colleagues noticed that there were no measurable effects on the process of individual therapy. • Hence, the generalizing/ transfer of learning requires an irreducible amount of time – relapse cycle – hard wiring

Policy about the Lifespan of the Group • Brief Group Therapy • The most common of groups • In one study, only 8% of a long term group attended for the duration of the group which lasted 1 year. • These groups: • Strive for efficiency • Set and pursue goals • Present oriented • Focus more on interpersonal than intrapersonal • Homogeneous for a problem

Policy about the Lifespan of the Group • Brief Groups : • Aren’t truncated groups • Goals must be clarified • Brief groups are less forgiving of errors than long term groups. • The leader needs to keep group focused because they can tend to deny their limits. • Must keep time limitations in the forefront like Carl Rogers • Must focus on getting pts to transfer their learning. • Research on brief group is limited.

Group Size • In studies with four or fewer members resulted with the following conclusions: • Limited interaction • Passivity • Negative group image • Poor group development • Groups should begin with a larger group in order to account for dropouts.

Preparation • According to Yalom, the more a pt is seen prior to group the less % for premature termination. • This builds the therapeutic alliance. • It uses the therapist as a transitional object (the mutual identification with a shared object). • It decreases misconceptions leading to increased willingness and possibly motivation.

Preparation • Rationale Behind of Preparation • Unavoidable anxiety

Preparation • “The research findings on preparation, though not as secure and specific as we might hope, are nonetheless significant. We have substantial evidence from a variety of sources that indicates that pregroup training can have a significant effect on both group process and client outcomes.”

Preparation • A study in which 60 patients were observed. • Half were prepared = more faith in therapy, more interaction • Other studies show that preparation= more expressed emotion, more personal responsibility in group and lower drop out, more disclosure, work oriented participation, more popular to others in group,etc etc

Chapter 10: Creation of the Group: Place, Time, Size, Preparation