Group Process and Group Therapy (PSY 595)
Examines the techniques and processes of group therapy through readings, discussion and group exploration of various techniques. Experimental group therapy under professional supervision. 2 lectures/problem-solving. Prerequisites: Admission to clinical MS.
Expected outcomes: This course is designed to help the student be able to delineate between content-oriented and process-oriented aspects of group therapy, articulate basic issues and approaches to group work, assess problems arising in group work, and identify process-oriented interactions among group members. As a part of this, the course will familiarize the student with stages of group work. This includes the practical aspects of screening prospective members and educating them about the group, developing trust and rapport in the group, keeping the group on track, dealing with problems, using group interactions as a way of helping clients address issues, and conducting termination at the conclusion of group work. In addition to process-oriented psychotherapy with high-functioning adults, the student will gain exposure to aspects of group therapy for children, teens, parents, and the elderly, involving psychoeducation in various forms.
Required reading:
Corey, M. S., & Corey, G. (2006). Groups: Process and Practice (with InfoTrac), 7th ed.. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. This is an updated, best-selling text in which the authors draw on extensive clinical experience.Grading: The midterm (week 6) will be 30% of the grade and the comprehensive take-home final exam will be 40% of the grade. Exams will be short answer and essay questions regarding the assigned readings and the lecture/discussion material. Homework assignments (e.g., specific workbook exercises, brief reaction papers) will constitute 20% of the grade. Instructor rating (0-100) of classroom participation will constitute the remaining 10% of the grade, based on thoughtful contributions and effort by the student to contribute to a meaningful and constructive classroom learning experience. Therefore, grades will be calculated by the following formula:
(Exam 1 percentage score, such as 100, 95, etc. x .3) + (Exam 2 score x .4) + (% of homework correctly completed x .2) + (Participation rating x .1).
An "A" in the course may be earned by obtaining 90% of available credit (a 90 using the formula above), a "B" by 80%, a "C" by 70%, a "D" by 60%.
Topics/readings/week:
General discussion of group therapy experiences/Wk. 1
Introduction to group work/Ch. 1/Wk 2
Group leadership/Ch.2/Wk 3
Ethical, legal, and professional issues in group practice/Ch. 3/Wk. 4
Forming a group and initial stage of a group/Ch. 4-5/Wk. 5
Midterm exam/Wk. 6
Transition Stage, Working Stage/Ch. 6-7/Wk. 7
Final Stage and wrap-up of group stages/Ch. 8/Wk. 8
Groups for Children and Adolescents/Ch. 9-10/Wk. 9
Groups for Adults and the Elderly/Ch. 11-12/Wk. 10
Final Exam (take-home, due via email by end of officially scheduled final exam period)
Supplemental materials
Viewing and discussion of video-taped group therapy sessions (by the textbook authors) will accompany the lecture-discussions on the assigned material. Following the modeling provided by the therapists in the videos, class members will sometimes be asked to role-play as group therapy leaders and participants when appropriate to the learning experience. Homework assignments will assist students in understanding the stages of group therapy.
Students are encouraged but not required to enroll in group therapy experiences outside of class to experience participation in group therapy.
Students who wish further information on process-oriented group psychotherapy are encouraged to read Yalom's revised classic text on group psychotherapy, which provides an in-depth look at the interpersonal dynamics involved in the group experience:
Bill Lombardo wrote a good review of Yalom's book.
Students interested in guidelines for cognitive behavioral approaches to group therapy with specific populations may want to read the edited book by White and Freeman (2000), which has chapters by Michelle Craske and other cognitively oriented authors:
Please also see the AGPA information on group therapy (including ethical guidelines) at the American Group Psychotherapy Association's website.