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Chapter 28: Psychotherapies
Table 28.3-1
Comparison of Types of Group Psychotherapy
Parameters
Supportive
Group Therapy
Analytically Oriented
Group Therapy
Psychoanalysis
of Groups
Transactional Group
Therapy
Behavioral Group
Therapy
Frequency
Once a week
One to three times a
week
One to five times a
week
One to three times a
week
One to three times a
week
Duration
Up to 6 months
1 to 3
+
years
1 to 3
+
years
1 to 3 years
Up to 6 months
Primary
indications
Psychotic and
anxiety
disorders
Anxiety disorders,
borderline states,
personality
disorders
Anxiety disorders,
personality
disorders
Anxiety and
psychotic disorders
Phobias, passivity,
sexual problems
Individual
screening
interview
Usually
Always
Always
Usually
Usually
Communication
content
Primarily
environmental
factors
Present and past
life situations,
intragroup and
extragroup
relationships
Primarily past life
experiences,
intragroup
relationships
Primarily intragroup
relationships;
rarely, history; here
and now stressed
Specific symptoms
without focus on
causality
Transference
Positive
transference
encouraged
to promote
improved
functioning
Positive and negative
transference
evoked and
analyzed
Transference
neurosis evoked
and analyzed
Positive relationships
fostered, negative
feelings analyzed
Positive relationships
fostered, no
examination of
transference
Dreams
Not analyzed
Analyzed frequently Always analyzed
and encouraged
Analyzed rarely
Not used
Dependence
Intragroup
dependence
encouraged;
members rely
on leader to
great extent
Intragroup
dependence
encouraged;
dependence on
leader variable
Intragroup
dependence not
encouraged;
dependence on
leader variable
Intragroup
dependence
encouraged;
dependence
on leader not
encouraged
Intragroup
dependence not
encouraged;
reliance on leader
is high
Therapist
activity
Strengthen
existing
defenses,
active, give
advice
Challenge defenses,
active, give advice
or personal
response
Challenge defense,
passive, give
no advice or
personal response
Challenge defenses,
active, give
personal response,
rather than advice
Create new defenses,
active and
directive
Interpretation No interpretation
of unconscious
conflict
Interpretation of
unconscious
conflict
Interpretation of
unconscious
conflict extensive
Interpretation of
current behavioral
patterns in the here
and now
Not used
Major group
processes
Universalization,
reality testing
Cohesion,
transference, reality
testing
Transference,
ventilation,
catharsis, reality
testing
Abreaction, reality
testing
Cohesion,
reinforcement,
conditioning
Socialization
outside of
group
Encouraged
Generally
discouraged
Discouraged
Variable
Discouraged
Goals
Improved
adaptation to
environment
Moderate
reconstruction
of personality
dynamics
Extensive
reconstruction
of personality
dynamics
Alteration of
behavior through
mechanism of
conscious control
Relief of specific
psychiatric
symptoms
Table 28.3-2
Therapist’s Role in Group Therapy
1. Size of group
2. Frequency of sessions
3. Patient composition
4. Confidentiality
5. Goals
6. Preparation of patients
7. Determine group processes
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of patients’ disorders is important in determin-
ing the best therapeutic approach and in evaluating patients’
motivations for treatment, capacities for change, and personal-
ity structure strengths and weaknesses. Few contraindications
exist to group therapy. Antisocial patients generally do poorly
in a heterogeneous group setting because they cannot adhere to
group standards; but if the group is composed of other antiso-
cial patients, they may respond better to peers than to perceived
