Briefly describe the pros and cons of group therapy. Are there any disorders where group therapy appears to be more effective than one-on-one therapy? Please defend your answer.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students' examples may vary.

The answer should contain the following information:

Although most treatment takes place between a single individual and a therapist, some forms of therapy involve groups of people seeking treatment. In group therapy, several unrelated people meet with a therapist to discuss some aspect of their psychological functioning.

People typically discuss with the group their problems, which often center on a common difficulty, such as alcoholism or a lack of social skills. The other members of the group provide emotional support and dispense advice on ways in which they have coped effectively with similar problems.

Groups vary greatly in terms of the particular model they employ; there are psychoanalytic groups, humanistic groups, and groups corresponding to the other therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, groups also differ with regard to the degree of guidance the therapist provides. In some, the therapist is quite directive, whereas in others, the members of the group set their own agenda and determine how the group will proceed.

Because several people are treated simultaneously in group therapy, it is a much more economical means of treatment than individual psychotherapy. On the other hand, critics argue that group settings lack the individual attention inherent in one-to-one therapy, and that especially shy and withdrawn individuals may not receive the attention they need in a group setting.