Interpersonal group psychotherapy offers many unique and important benefits for our clients and some of these benefits are quite distinct from individual psychotherapy. This article discusses group psychotherapy primarily from the standpoint of interpersonal theory. This theory was initially developed by Sullivan (1955) but was later refined for group psychotherapy by Yalom (1985). According to this theory, in group psychotherapy clients learn effective interpersonal skills and transfer those skills to outside relationships.

Interpersonal group psychotherapy can even be considered an “applications” phase of psychotherapy. The sense of self is strengthened and dysfunctional relationship patterns are identified in individual therapy. Group therapy offers our clients the opportunity to change these dysfunctional patterns as they occur with peers and to further raise their self-esteem by increasing interpersonal skills.

These are the significant advantages to interpersonal group therapy:

Group therapy is a microcosm of the client’s interpersonal world. Interpersonal difficulties, i.e. projections and distortions, emerge in the relationships with others. The client experiences an urgency to resolve the underlying relationship issues as she/he comes to understand how these interpersonal difficulties create barriers to closeness with others.

Group therapy is an interpersonal learning environment; clients learn in vivo about healthy relationships. Effective communication styles and healthy behavior are modeled by peers. As clients learn these more effective patterns, they receive increasingly positive feedback from their peers and this feedback increases self-esteem.

Group therapy is a “corrective emotional experience.” For many of our clients relationships have been painful and difficult. Clients have often replicated childhood patterns of abuse in adult relationships. In group therapy clients become part of a community which is like a healthy family and have the opportunity to experience positive and healing relationships.

In group therapy, clients have the benefit of many different types of feedback from many different viewpoints. Clients learn how to relate on an emotional level to peers, not solely to a psychotherapist who is a trained listener. The transfer of skills to outside relationships is potentially greater than in individual psychotherapy.

Learning to reflect on the “process” in relationships and handle conflict successfully are very important process skills that are acquired in group. Many of our clients have avoided conflict and have not known how to resolve conflict in relationships and as a result have missed out on intimacy, closeness, and commitment.

Group therapy is team approach and a truly cooperative effort. Clients learn about problem solving, trusting their peers and community spirit.

Interpersonal group psychotherapy offers many significant therapeutic benefits. For many clients, peer feedback and support as well as in vivo interpersonal learning are essential to the change process. Group therapy can be considered another aspect or phase of the psychotherapy process. In this phase of psychotherapy, clients have an opportunity to take the insight, self awareness, and newly strengthened sense of self gained from individual therapy out into the world of peer relationships. Through this essential work in interpersonal group therapy, clients learn how to have close and rewarding relationships.

BIO:

Nancy Wesson, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Mountain View. With 20 years of clinical experience, and 12 years of experience as group therapist Dr. Wesson leads three weekly therapy groups and provides consultation to organizations and individuals on group therapy. Dr. Wesson has given several professional presentations on group psychotherapy and is a founding member of Association of Certified Group Psychotherapists. She can be reached at 650-965-7332.

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