Foundations of Group Work and Types of Therapy

Week 3: Foundations of Group Work and Types of Therapy

 

And as participants improve, the group as a whole benefits. Members can be agents of change for each other. Seeing others’ progress can help group members realize they, too, can cope and feel better.

—Dr. Nina W. Brown, “Power in Numbers”

 

Group therapy can be very beneficial for clients. In fact, research has shown that for many clients, group therapy is as effective as individual therapy. Members of groups are not only able to influence change within one another, but they are often able to more easily relate to the guidance of peers than that of a therapist. With the increasing popularity of this therapeutic approach, it is essential for you to have a strong foundation in psychotherapeutic techniques for groups. 

This week, you explore group therapy and consider how you might apply current literature to your own clinical practice. 

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Evaluate the efficacy of group therapy techniques in counseling sessions
• Recommend strategies for leading group therapy sessions

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)

Optional Media

Psychotherapy.net. (n.d.-a). Group therapy: A live demonstration – With Irvin Yalom [Video]. https://waldenu.kanopy.com/video/group-therapy-live-demonstration

Psychotherapy.net. (n.d.-b). Group therapy for addictions: An interpersonal relapse prevention approach [Video]. https://waldenu.kanopy.com/video/group-therapy-addictions-interpersonal-relap

Assignment: Analyzing Group Techniques

To prepare:

• Select one of the group therapy video demonstrations from this week’s required media Learning Resources.

The Assignment

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.

By Day 7

Submit your Assignment. 

Reminder The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK3Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 3 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 3 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK3Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 3 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 3 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 3

To participate in this Assignment:

Week 3 Assignment