Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy
Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy
Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
When selecting a psychotherapeutic approach for a client, you must consider the unique needs and characteristics of that particular client. The same is true when selecting a psychotherapeutic approach for groups. Not every approach is appropriate for every group, and the group’s unique needs and characteristics must be considered. For this Assignment, you examine psychotherapeutic approaches to group therapy for addiction.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Evaluate psychotherapeutic approaches to group therapy for addiction
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide on group therapy for addiction.
- View the media, Levy Family: Sessions 1-7, and consider the psychotherapeutic approaches being used. (See downloaded files)
The Assignment
In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following:
- Identify the psychotherapeutic approach that the group facilitator is using, and explain why she might be using this approach.
- Determine whether or not you would use the same psychotherapeutic approach if you were the counselor facilitating this group, and justify your decision.
- Identify an alternative approach to group therapy for addiction, and explain why it is an appropriate option.
- Support your position with evidence-based literature.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
Introduction
Psychotherapy involves a wide range of interventions that are used by a therapist to ensure that the patient gets the most out of the treatment. The case assesses the Levy family sessions and establishes that he experienced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of a life-threatening experience in Iraq. PTSD is associated with several other issues such as addictive behaviors, anger, and depression among others (American Psychiatric Association 2013).
The Psychotherapeutic Approach
At the beginning of the session, the facilitator employs individual therapy intending to get information about Levy. The method is successful and the facilitator can obtain information such as the war experiences, alcohol use as well as the relationship issues that he is facing in his marriage. In the process, Levy breaks down but the facilitator employs behavioral therapy approaches to help him through the process. The psychotherapeutic approach to group therapy for addiction that is employed is the exploratory psychotherapy. The exploratory, also known as the psychodynamic approach, is derived from psychoanalysis and aims at understanding the thoughts and feelings that are unconscious (Levi et al. 2016).
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In the psychodynamic approach, the therapist and the patients uncover the links between the past experiences and the present behavior that the patient is exhibiting. Levi explains the ordeal that he went through in Iraq and especially seeing his colleague die, something that haunted him leading to his drinking problem. He narrates the other challenges that he experienced during his mission and this explains the present problem of addiction and the severed marriage. One characteristic of the exploratory forms of psychotherapy is that they may be disorganizing mainly because the patient has to recount some of the memories that may be very painful. In this case, Levi gets anxious and the facilitator has to employ some behavioral strategies to calm him down so that he can be able to go through with the session.
I would use the approach to help patients manage the challenges of substance abuse. Patients that struggle with addiction usually feel lonely and therefore, group therapy is important as it allows them to experience a platform where they can share their problems, frustrations as well as solutions (Srivastava, Singh, and Chahal, 2019). The psychotherapy approach is a useful one because it provides support for the patient and establishes processes that in establishing the problem as well as the best option to solve them. It extends beyond simply counseling a patient because it involves several talk therapies that aim at restoring normal status.
An alternative psychotherapeutic approach is Supportive psychotherapy, which seeks to help the patient master their difficulty and gain control over the problem that they are facing (Lysaker et al. 2015). In this approach, the therapist only comes in when it is necessary and is only involved as a guide that outlines what they need to do and what they should avoid. The difference between this and the exploratory approach is that this approach does not delve into the past of the patient. Supportive psychotherapy makes it possible for therapists to help clients through the challenges without necessarily discussing the traumatic experiences of their past.
Conclusion
Substance abuse presents numerous challenges and is brought about by various things including PTSD. Patients undergoing these challenges often feel lonely and consequently, group therapy becomes ideal as it helps them recognize the fact that many other people are struggling with the problem. Furthermore, group therapy helps them to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions as well as an opportunity to offer support to each other. In Levi’s case, the facilitator uses the explorative psychodynamic group which discusses the past experiences. An alternative to this approach is the Supportive psychotherapy, which not only helps patients gain control over their problems, but it also avoids the painful memories.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, DSM-5. (5th edition). Washington, DC American Psychiatric Association. ISBN-13: 978-8123923796
Levi, O., Bar‐Haim, Y., Kreiss, Y., & Fruchter, E. (2016). Cognitive–behavioural therapy and
psychodynamic psychotherapy in the treatment of combat‐related post‐traumatic stress disorder: A comparative effectiveness study. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 23(4), 298-307. doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1969
Lysaker, P. H., Kukla, M., Belanger, E., White, D. A., Buck, K. D., Luther, L., & Leonhardt, B.
(2015). Individual psychotherapy and changes in self-experience in schizophrenia: a qualitative comparison of patients in metacognitively focused and supportive psychotherapy. Psychiatry, 78(4), 305-316.
Srivastava, P., Singh, K., & Chahal, S. (2019). Application of Motivational Enhancement
Therapy in Group settings among Patients with Substance Abuse. Indian Journal of Psychiatric Social Work, 10(1), 22-27.
Wendt, D. C., & Gone, J. P. (2017). Group therapy for substance use disorders: a survey of
clinician practices. Journal of groups in addiction & recovery, 12(4), 243-259. doi: 10.1080/1556035X.2017.1348280
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