Essay Sample on Essential Therapeutic Factors in Group Versus Family Therapy

Introduction

The starting concern for both group and group therapy is inclusion. With family therapy, there is little choice. The question of whether all the family members should participate in family therapy is a concern that brings about several difficulties. With group therapy, the issue of inclusion raises several concerns such as members being cautious about getting hurt.

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In most cases, the patients are reluctant as they have not fully accepted their condition and don't understand the scope of their challenges. The development of group therapy is usually affected by the homogeneity and heterogeneity of group composition. While heterogeneity is a positive factor in a group, too much of it will result in scapegoating and premature termination (Shulman, 2009). Noah's Ark principle of group composition provides a way of bringing in heterogeneity without promoting scapegoats. In a family therapy setting, heterogeneity exists in terms of role, age, and power. Certainly, most families comprise of at least one parent, one child, or one male member. Therefore, the family seems to be ensnarled in ways that are dysfunctional and hinders members from developing their individuality.

Group therapy experience can help in enhancing the social skills for adult children and find opportunities for interacting with role models. In group settings, these children associate with others on a level that is different from that in a family setting and are free from assuming a particular familial role. In group therapy, new members have to be initiated into the group culture by the group leader because they lack a shared history. Group settings normally operate under a democratic value that gives all the members equal power, and the facilitator works to ensure that all the members are provided with an equal chance of participation. In contrast with groups, family settings have pre-existent power variations, and the facilitator might choose either to create other power differentials or promote the existing differentials.

Assessment

A family therapist normally examines the family structure, the relationship between the family members, the hierarchical arrangement, decision making, and the family values and myths. A loss in a family can bring different reactions. For this reason, the therapist might also inquire about the relationship of the members with the extended families as well. Irrational aspects of relationships between individuals in group therapy will impact the group a great deal. Group therapy would be effective for a person in family therapy as they would get nurturance which might have been lacking because of the various challenges that the family may face (Yalom& Leszcz, 2005). Patients will learn how to cope with their behaviors by seeing how others handle similar circumstances. This benefits the patients as it allows them to view their problems from different viewpoints.

Also, a person in group therapy can benefit severally from participating in family therapy. Family therapy often involves treating an individual's problem that is impacting the entire family in various ways such as divorce, behavioral problems, and addiction. In family therapy, the individual with the problem is considered as a part of the subsystem and the unit of the treatments is the family. The problem in the family system interconnected and affects the other members of the family. For this reason, the problem is not dealt with on an individual basis but rather involves all the members of the family. The end goal of family therapy is to achieve the needs of all family members. It aims at getting the family system to function better which reflects the performance of the individuals.

Intervention

Contracting happens in both family and group therapy. Contracting for family treatment can sometimes be difficult because members may find it hard to acknowledge the need for family work or because they see the problem as an individual and not collective. Contracting in group therapy has to be clear to avoid members having unrealistic expectations. Reluctance to participate in a group has sometimes been as a result of having a shared history. Members fear being isolated for being different. From the beginning to midway of group therapy, the therapist must strive to come up with group norms. To help in achieving this, the members of the group must develop appropriate norms that include helping each other, respecting differences, and listening to each other.

Nonetheless, this can be a big challenge when the members are either too needy or too hurt. Members who have experienced trauma and loss can provide support to other members and make their transition easier. The members may come up with norms that to assist them in coping within their new environment and learn the elements of mutual assistance.

Family therapy, on the other hand, has pre-existing norms. A therapist may even find it difficult to connect with the family due to the already established norms. It is important that the family's values and norms such as work and education are first explored. After this process, the therapist will then create appropriate norms because they are now part of the therapy.

Treatment Models and Techniques

While both group and family therapy use similar models and techniques including reframing, confrontation, and interpretation to cause changes, it is always important for therapists to be mindful of the differences. Group members are never in contact during sessions as it is highly discouraged in group therapy. Family therapy, on the other hand, will have their family members participating in therapy living within the family (Yalom& Leszcz, 2005). The proximity in family therapy demands a very cautious approach in the use of interpretation and confrontation due to the risks of possible negative consequences. Family therapy models include structural, strategic, psychodynamic, communication, and narrative. Group therapy models include a remedial model that reflects therapeutic aspects and treatment orientation. This model anticipates a change in the individuals and all the activities are focused on fostering change. With group therapy, the scope of interventions can be supportive, psychodynamic, or psychoeducational.

Termination

Termination in family therapy is very different from termination in group therapy. When a group terminates, the members of the group may never get to come into contact with each other again. Therapists, however, must maximize the experience in the sessions and must also work through individual feelings regarding termination. On the other hand, when a family terminates, all the family members involved in the therapy will still see each other often. During the final stages of the treatment, previous feelings of loss and trauma may reoccur on the family member because of termination. For this reason, the therapist must be ready to address the issue before termination. Families who have suffered recent losses may experience acute feelings of loss.

References

Shulman, L. (2009). The skills of helping individual, families, groups, and communities (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Yalom, I., & Leszcz, M. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (5th ed.). New York: Basic Books.