Factors In Group Psychotherapy Research Articles

Obstacles, Challenges, and Benefits of Online Group Psychotherapy.

Although telepsychiatry is not new, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically boosted and legitimized it, especially in the field of group therapy. Group therapists have been forced to move online without enough training in leading online groups. Online groups are not the same as meeting in person and present specific obstacles and challenges that should either be compensated for or acknowledged as losses. In this article, the author summarizes these obstacles, identifying factors in group therapy, such as body-to-body interaction, that are absent online and suggesting ways to compensate for other differences, such as the therapist's reduced control over the setting. Surprisingly, some group members may benefit from online groups more than from in-person ones, but the online format is not for everyone. Research on online therapy has already shown this format's effectiveness, and the therapeutic alliance that is positively correlated with outcome seems to be achievable online as well. However, more research is needed, especially on cohesion in online groups, which seems to develop slower online.

A Thematic Analysis of Clients’ Reflections on the Qualities of Group Work for Sex and Pornography Addiction

A sample group of 19 recovering sex and porn addicts who had attended both one-to-one and group therapy at the Laurel Centre sex addiction clinic in the UK undertook an hour-long semi-structured interview relating to the usefulness of group work to their recovery. Interview data was analysed for themes and cross-referenced with Yalom’s 11 therapeutic factors of group therapy (Yalom and Leszcz, 2005). Some additional themes were also found that related specifically to the Hall Recovery Course psycho-educational programme that they each attended. Group work was found to be more important to participants’ recovery than one-to-one therapy but this was not consistent, and drawbacks to group work were also identified.

Questionnaire on the Experience of the Art Therapy Group in Psychosomatics from Patient View (FEKTP) - Construction and Validation of a Measuring Instrument

Art therapy is a clinically accepted method of therapy, but there are still very few studies that deal with the efficacy, change factors or mode of action of art therapy. In particular, there is a dearth of research instruments and psychometrically verified research tools specially fitted for art therapy which measures the experience dimensions of the art therapy group from the patient's point of view. Hence, it provides evidence of its effectiveness, better understands the art therapy group processes and serves quality assurance. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate the questionnaire on the experience of the art therapy group from patient view (FEKTP). This questionnaire is based on Grawe's and Yalom's conceptions of change factors in group therapy. 133 patients participated in the study and completed the FEKTP directly after the 6th art therapy session. Patients additionally received established questionnaires concerning clinical symptoms and experience processes at the beginning and end of treatment. Factor analysis demonstrated a clear factor structure of the FEKTP, which corresponded to the theoretically predicted subscales to the greatest extent. The test psychometric main quality criteria of the FEKTP (reliability, validity and objectivity) can be classified as acceptable to good range. The criterion validity appear to be given, but should be examined more exactly in future studies. Thus, a valid instrument for the systemic detection of general change factors for art therapy is now available. The questionnaire can be recommended for research as well as clinical contexts.

Validation of the URICA-S in Group Therapy: Associations of Stages of Change with Therapeutic Factors and Treatment Outcome

ABSTRACTStages of change could be driving forces to activate the realization of therapeutic factors and symptom change. Consequently, the aims of the present study were to investigate whether the stages of change concept is valid in group therapy settings shown by factor analysis, internal consistencies, and criterion validity. A total of 377 patients completed measures of stages of change, symptom change, and therapeutic factors. A confirmatory factor analysis replicated the stages of change factors for group therapy. Related to the criterion validity, stages of change demonstrated only low, non-significant associations with symptom change, but some stages of change were significant predictors of certain therapeutic factors. Further research is needed to explore whether a stronger focus on motivational stages of change could help to intensify the realization of therapeutic factors in group therapy.

Change Factors in Group Therapy: Development and Validation of a Questionnaire

While the efficacy of group therapy is sufficiently confirmed, there is a research gap concerning relevant therapeutic processes. Particularly, there is a dearth of integrative instruments that assess a broad spectrum of group therapeutic change factors. Hence, the aim of the current investigation was the validation of the newly developed "Scale for the assessment of therapeutic processes in group therapy (FEPiG)" based on Grawe's general psychotherapy and Yalom's conception of change factors in group therapy. 303 Patients (110 outpatients, 193 inpatients) participated in the study and completed the FEPiG as well as established measures concerning group processes. The outpatients additionally received established questionnaires concerning clinical symptomatology and filled out all instruments at the beginning and end of treatment. Factor analysis demonstrated an excellent factor structure of the FEPiG, which corresponded to the theoretically predicted subscales. Internal consistencies of the FEPiG were good to excellent and correlated with established process measures, which indicated convergent validity. While the FEPiG change factors subscales at the beginning of therapy were not correlated with outcome, associations between increases in change factors across the course of therapy and symptom reduction could be demonstrated.

Client perception of hindering factors in group psychotherapy and growth groups: no growth without pain? An empirical exploration

As part of the Leuven Group Psychotherapy Process Study, a questionnaire to assess group participants’ perceptions of hindering factors in group sessions was administered to 489 members of 78 psychotherapy and experiential learning groups of client-centered/experiential, psychoanalytic, behavioral, Gestalt, drama- and body-oriented orientations. In this article we focus on the specific meaning and impact of these hindering factors. Within this inquiry the following questions are empirically investigated: To what degree do group members experience these hindering factors and to what degree do they experience them as harmful? How do these hindering factors relate to therapeutic factors and to intermediate outcome ratings? Are they experienced differently as a function of severity of group members’ problems and as a function of therapeutic orientation? The central finding of the study points to the ambiguous character of hindering factors and their potential to become converted into corrective therapeutic experiences.

The Inspiration of Hope in Substance Abuse Counseling

This study used a grounded theory method to explore how counselors inspire hope in clients struggling with substance abuse. Findings from 10 participants revealed that hope inspiration occurred in 3 phases and consisted of several categories of hope‐inspiring processes. Implications for counseling practice, counselor education, and research are discussed.

Therapeutic Factors in Patient Groups with Psychosis

Therapeutic factors in group therapy are a series of action mechanisms that contribute to change in therapeutic processes. They are inherent to group dynamics and interaction, yet are not necessarily associated with a therapist’s intervention. These factors are elemental components of a therapeutic change phenomenon derived from the group matrix. We present five studies that thoroughly evaluate these therapy factors within groups of patients diagnosed with psychosis. All factors are measured with the Yalom Q-sort questionnaire that defines factors based on their value given by the patients. We evaluate and report these value differences between group context, patient diagnosis, and therapeutic orientation. Therapeutic factors act independently of diagnoses, theoretical framework, and classification; they are intrinsic components of unique group dynamics. In general, the factor claimed to be most important in patients with severe mental disorders was the instillation of hope.

Therapeutic factors and insight in group therapy for outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia

Aims: This study aimed to discover the most important group therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy with patients diagnosed with “schizophrenia”, according to Yalom's Q‐sort questionnaire, and to determine if these factors were related to insight. Method: Seventeen patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who came to weekly outpatient group therapy were evaluated. In addition to a sociodemographic questionnaire, a psychopathology scale (BPRS), the global assessment of functioning scale (GAF), insight scales (SAI‐E and Camarillo) and the Yalom Q‐sort questionnaire were administered. Results: The patients self‐rated “instillation of hope” as the most valuable therapeutic factor and identification as the least. The insight level of the patients was positively correlated with the self‐rated “self‐understanding” value within the group therapy factors. A reciprocal relationship was found between insight and the group therapeutic factor of self‐understanding. As the patients acquired better clinical insight, they gave greater importance to self‐understanding as a group therapy factor. Conclusion: This greater acknowledgement of the value of self‐knowledge increased their possibilities of acquiring even better clinical insight.

Therapeutic factors and language patterns in group therapy application of computer-assisted text analysis to the examination of microprocesses in group therapy: Preliminary findings

The aim of this single-case-design study was to examine the relationships between therapeutic factors in group therapy and the language features of the group dialogue. Forty-two transcripts from a group treatment were investigated. Emotion–abstraction patterns (EAPs) were identified for the group as a whole using computer-assisted text analysis, and therapeutic factors were rated by external judges using the Kiel Group Psychotherapy Process Scale. Significant positive relationships were found between insight and the EAP connecting and between catharsis and the EAP experiencing. Interpersonal learning–output, catharsis, and self-disclosure showed higher scores in connection with the therapeutic cycle, which, according to the therapeutic cycle model, represents a sequence of EAP related to a successful therapeutic process. The current findings show that the use of EAPs allows the identification of key moments in a group therapy process.

Client Perception of Therapeutic Factors in Group Psychotherapy and Growth Groups: An Empirically-Based Hierarchical Model

To assess group participants’ perceptions of therapeutic factors, we developed an extensive questionnaire of 155 items that was administered to 489 members of 78 psychotherapy and growth groups of client–centered/experiential, psychoanalytic, behavioral, Gestalt and drama– and bodily oriented orientations. Using multivariate analyses we found a model that reveals the structure and connections of therapeutic factors as they are differentiated in the experience of the group members. Our model encompasses three hierarchical levels of abstraction: 28 Basic scales that appeared to be structured into seven main scales (Group Cohesion, Interactional Confirmation, Cathartic Self–Revelation, Self–Insight and Progress, Observational Experiences, Getting Directives, and Interactional Confrontation) and two dimensions (Relational Climate and Psychological Work). Validity for these therapeutic factors was found in their grounded content, statistically analyzed constructs, importance ratings, and correlations to intermediate outcome measures.

Brief Report: Perceptions of Turkish Psychiatric Inpatients about Therapeutic Factors of Group Psychotherapy

Many studies on therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy were done during the 1970s and 1980s, primarily with Western samples. The present study was carried out in a psychiatric inpatient clinic in Turkey. Using Yalom’s (1975) therapeutic factor questionnaire administered at discharge, patients rated existential factor, instillation of hope and self–understanding as the most helpful factors and identification as the least helpful. There were significant differences among patients with regard to gender, age, education, and comorbid personality disorder, but not with Axis I diagnosis or number of attended sessions. Patients’ and psychiatrist’s ratings showed significant differences. Differences between this Turkish sample and those reported in common Western literature are discussed under the light of relatedness psychology, which is an important concept of cross–cultural psychology.

Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy: Different perpectives of patients and psychiatrists

Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy: Different perpectives of patients and psychiatrists

The Impact of Process Observers on Interpersonal Group Therapy

The impact of including process observers (all master's-level trainees) and their notes on the outcome of interpersonal group therapy at a university counseling center was investigated. For a total of four groups, one method per group of delivering the notes to the participants was designated and assessed for perceived differences. A self-report survey was designed and used to measure how the process observer might have enhanced or detracted from intra and interpersonal factors of group therapy. This survey was tailored for group participants, process observers, and leaders. At a rate of 92%, group members mildly, moderately, or strongly agreed that the process notes (regardless of delivery method) were helpful toward their overall group experience. A categorization procedure was used to identify participants' themes of what was liked and disliked regarding the process observer experience.

Focused group therapy: An integrative approach

Focused Group Therapy (FGT) was developed within a research project on treatment for burned out patients on long-term sick leave. The core of FGT is to find and formulate an individual focus expressed in behavioural terms. This focus is then worked with in the here-and-now of the group therapy. It is argued that the use of common factors in group therapy, rather than a special technique, improves the clinical work. Thesupport factor in group therapy is understood in terms of cohesion, therapeutic alliance and goal-corrected empathic attunement. Thelearning factors that are stressed are the experience of being a part of a developing group, building on similarities instead of differences, affective communication and the implicit knowledge developed in new ways of dealing with interpersonal relations. Theaction factor is considered to consist of challenging interpersonal situations corresponding to the individual focus, which are mastered in the here-and-now of the group.

Clinical factors in group psychotherapy for parents of adolescents with disruptive behaviour disorders.

This paper describes a group treatment approach to helping parents of youth with Disruptive Behaviour Disorders. These youth have a significant negative and pervasive impact on their parents, who feel incompetent and guilty. Parents are helped to express their grief at their many losses in a safe, supportive and non-blaming group environment. They gain insight into the factors that make it difficult for them to set limits and they begin to change themselves rather than "fix" their child. Parent's hope and confidence grow as positive change becomes evident. As their sense of shame, guilt and fear lessen, parents are able to act more effectively with their youth and others. This paper delineates the clinical factors that contribute to parental effectiveness.

Comparative Study of the Therapeutic Factors of Group Therapy in Schizophrenic Inpatients and Outpatients

Comparative Study of the Therapeutic Factors of Group Therapy in Schizophrenic Inpatients and Outpatients

Comparative Study of the Therapeutic Factors of Group Therapy in Schizophrenic Inpatients and Outpatients

Comparative Study of the Therapeutic Factors of Group Therapy in Schizophrenic Inpatients and Outpatients

Interpersonal Problems and the Perception of Therapeutic Factors in Group Therapy

Fifteen therapy and support groups in university counseling centers were studied to assess shift in therapeutic factors over time and the relationship between therapeutic factors and interpersonal problems. The levels of therapeutic factors tended to increase over time. Furthermore, significant associations were formed between certain interpersonal problems and perceptions of the therapeutic factors in group therapy. Implications for the conceptualization of clinical dynamics in group therapy and theoretical understanding of group development are discussed.

Inpatient group therapy in a managed health care environment: Application to clinical nursing practice

This article applies Gunderson's (1978) conceptual framework of the therapeutic milieu and Yalom's (1985) therapeutic factors in group therapy to the inpatient time-limited therapy group in the managed health care environment. Case examples demonstrate how Gunderson's therapeutic processes (containment, support, structure, involvement, validation) serve as a foundation to support Yalom's therapeutic factors. The combination of these two frameworks can serve as a model for a plan of care that promotes successful inpatient group therapy sessions in the time constraints of managed care. Constructive inpatient group therapy can be the catalyst for patients to continue with treatment after discharge.