Six Group Therapies
Six Group Therapies Edited by SAMUEL LONG Empire Slale Poll, Inc. New York, New York Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Six group therapies. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Includes bibliographies and index. 1. Group psychotherapy. I. Long, Samuel. [DNLM: 1. Psychotherapy, Group. WM 430 S625] RC488.S55 1987 616.89 / 152 87-7187 ISBN 978-1-4899-2102-4 ISBN 978-1-4899-2102-4 ISBN 978-1-4899-2100-0 (ebook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-4899-2100-0 10 98765432 Springer Science+Business Media New York 1988 Originally published by Plenum Press, New York in 1988 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1988 All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher
To my parents
Contributors Raymond J. Corsini Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96821 John Grimes 3480 Dixiana Drive, Lexington, Kentucky 40502 Sheenah Hankin Cognitive Psychotherapy Associates, 68 East 91st Street, New York, New York 10128 Robert L. Harman Counseling and Testing Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816 Melvyn Hollander Department of Psychology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York 11367 and the Center for Behavioral Psychotherapy, White Plains, New York 10605 Frank Johnson Department of Training and Management Development, Ethyl Corporation, 330 South Fourth Street, Richmond, Virginia 23217 Katsushige Kazaoka. Late of the Greer-Woodycrest Children Services, Pomona, New York 10703 and the Center for Behavioral Psychotherapy, White Plains, New York 10605 Samuel Long Empire State Poll, Inc., 154 East 29th Street, New York, New York 10016 Richard L. Wessler Psychology Department, Pace University, Pleasantville, New York 10570 vii
Preface Five basic objectives were set for Six Group Therapies when it was conceived. It was to be limited to the presentation of six of the most prevalent group psychotherapies practiced today, reflecting a diversity of orientations, including personal growth, improvement of interpersonal relations, cognitive restructuring, and habit change. This resulted in the choice of Adlerian, encounter, transactional analysis, cognitive, Gestalt, and behavior group therapies for inclusion in this volume. Second, each chapter was to be original in content. A common outline was to be followed in the writing of each chapter. Authors were to be actual practitioners of group therapy. Finally, the book was to be written for an audience composed of professionals, as well as upper level undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in courses in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, counseling, and related subjects. These objectives have been met. The common outline followed by all authors in Six Group Therapies was designed to structure the discussion of the group therapies and to facilitate comparisons among the group therapies. Following a brief introduction, each chapter offers a definition of the group therapy under discussion, especially from the vantage point of its philosophy, theory, and system of techniques. A history of the group therapy is then presented, in which the group therapy's precursors and development are elaborated. Then the primary and secondary goals of the group therapy are outlined, particularly as they compare to the general goals of psychotherapy. The theoretical rationale section in each chapter is comprised of four components. First, the central concepts, unique to the group-therapy orientation, are presented and discussed. The philosophical underpinnings of the theoretical system, as contained in the therapy's fundamental assumptions regarding human nature, are then presented. The theory of personality associated with the group therapy is described. Fiilally, the theory is compared to other theories of group therapy. Three aspects of each system's conception of therapy follow. The system's theory of the etiology of psychological disturbance and how this disturbance can be modified is first stated. Second, the actual process of therapy and the reasons for its effectiveness are then discussed. Third, specific therapeutic mechanisms contributing to the amelioration of clients' disturbances are also considered. Elaboration of four factors in the practice of each group psychotherapy follows. Frequently encountered problems in therapeutic practice, as well as ix
x PREFACE typical solutions to these problems, are presented. Methods of psychotherapeutic evaluation and assessment are then outlined. Various treatment formats and approaches are discussed by the authors. Management issues, particularly those relating to the group therapist's role and responsibilities, conclude this section. The application section of each chapter focuses on seven issues common to the six group therapies. Processes of group selection and preferences regarding group composition are examined. The setting and physical structure of the group session are considered. Parameters of group size are weighed. Each author describes factors relating to the therapy's frequency, session length, and duration. Space is devoted to the various media used by each group therapy. The qualifications and skills required of a group therapy leader are explored. Finally, ethical issues unique to group psychotherapy are detailed in each chapter. Both process and outcome research germane to each system of group psychotherapy are cited and evaluated. To better convey the essential nature of each group psychotherapy described here, a hypothetical group therapy session is illustrated. Each group therapy's fundamental strengths and weaknesses are also addressed. In order to aid the reader, a glossary of key concepts concludes each chapter. A number of individuals have played an especially important role in the development of my thinking about, as well as contributing to my appreciation of, group psychotherapy. Members of this group would include Delton Beier, Vincent Harren, Kenneth Heller, Leon Levy, James Miller, Thomas Mitchell, Gordon Rader, David Rimm, and Thomas Schill. Sheenah Hankin was also quite helpful in arguing and illustrating the benefits of the cognitive school with me. The authors of the following chapters were very cooperative, helpful, and patient in the preparation of Six Group Therapies. I have learned much from them. And I have greatly enjoyed working with them on this project. SAMUEL LONG
Contents 1 Adlerian Groups Raymond J. Corsini 1 Introduction 1 Definition 2 Twelve Basic Propositions of Individual Psychology 2 History 3 Goals 4 Theory 5 Basic Concepts 5 Assumptions about Human Nature 6 Personality Theory 8 Comparisons with Related Theories 11 Comparisons with Other Theories 11 Therapy 12 Theory 12 Process 13 Mechanisms 15 Practice 17 Problems 17 Evaluation 18 Treatment li9 Management 24 Application 28 Group Selection and Composition 28 Group Setting 29 Group Size 32 Therapy Frequency, Length, and Duration 32 Media Usage 32 Leader Qualifications 33 Ethics 33 Research 34 Group Session Illustration 35 Comments 41 Strengths and Limitations 41 Summary 43 xi
xii CONTENTS References Glossary 44 45 2 Transactional Analysis in Group Work John Grimes 49 Introduction 49 Definition 50 History 50 Goals 52 Theory 53 Basic Concepts 53 Assumptions about Human Nature 78 Personality Theory 79 Comparison with Related Theories 80 Therapy 82 Theory 82 Process 83 Mechanism 84 Practice 85 Problems 85 Evaluation 87 Treatment 88 Management 89 Application 90 Group Selection and Composition 90 Group Setting 90 Group Size 91 Therapy Frequency, Length, and Duration 91 Media Usage 91 Leader Qualifications 93 Ethics 93 Research 94 Group Session illustration 96 Strengths and Limitations 107 Summary 107 References 108 Glossary 109 3 Encounter Group Therapy Frank Johnson 115 Introduction Definition 115 115
CONTENTS xiii History 116 Goals 123 Theory 128 Basic Concepts 128 Assumptions about Human Nature Comparisons with Related Theories Therapy 139 Theory 139 Process 140 Mechanisms 142 Practice 143 Problems 143 Evaluation 145 Treatment 146 Management 146 Application 146 135 138 Group Selection and Composition 146 Group Setting 147 Group Size 147 Therapy Frequency, Length, and Duration 147 Media Usage 148 Leader Qualifications 148 Ethics 150 Research 151 Group Session Illustration 154 Summary 156 References 156 Glossary 157 4 Rational-Emotive Therapy and Related Cognitively Oriented Psychotherapies 159 Richard L. Wessler and Sheenah Hankin Introduction 159 Definition 159 History 160 Goals 162 Theory 163 Basic Concepts 163 Assumptions about Human Nature 169 Personality Theory 170 Comparison with Related Theories 172 Therapy 175 Theory 175
xiv CONTENTS Process 176 Mechanisms 180 Practice 192 Problems 192 Evaluation 194 Treatment 195 Management 197 Application 198 Group Selection and Composition 198 Group Setting 198 Group Size 198 Therapy Frequency, Length, and Duration 198 Media Usage 199 Leader Qualifications 199 Ethics 200 Research 200 Group Session Illustration 203 Comments 207 Strengths and Limitations 209 References 210 Glossary 214 5 Gestalt Group Therapy 217 Robert L. Harman Introduction 217 Definition 217 History 218 Goals 219 Theory 220 Basic Concepts 220 Assumptions about Human Nature 222 Personality Theory 223 Comparisons with Related Theories 225 Therapy 226 Theory 226 Process and Mechanisms 229 Practice 238 Problems 238 Evaluation 240 Treatment 241 Management 241 Application 242 Group Selection and Composition 242
CONTENTS xv Group Setting 244 Group Size 244 Therapy Frequency, Length, and Duration 244 Media Usage 245 Leader Qualifications 245 Ethics 246 Research 246 Strengths and Limitations 248 Group Session illustration 249 Summary 253 References 253 Glossary 255 6 Behavior Therapy Groups 257 Melvyn Hollander and Katsushige Kazaoka Introduction 257 Definition 258 History 261 Goals of the Behavioral Therapy Group 262 Theory 264 Basic Concepts 264 Assumptions about Human Nature 267 Personality Theory 269 Comparisons with Related Theories 273 Therapy 278 Theory 278 Process 285 Mechanisms 288 Practice 290 Introduction 290 Practice I: Skills-Training Groups 291 Practice II: Self-Management and/or Self-Control Groups 299 Practice III: Comprehensive Behavior Therapy Groups 304 Application 308 Group Selection and Composition 308 Group Setting 308 Group Size 309 Therapy Frequency, Length, and Duration 309 Media Usage 309 Leader Qualifications 310 Ethics 310
xvi CONTENTS Research 310 Group Session Illustration Strengths and Limitations Summary 317 References 318 Glossary 324 311 316 7 The Six Group Therapies Compared Samuel Long References 337 327 Index 339