What actually happens in group therapy? (VIDEO)
The most common question I get when group therapy comes up is: What actually happens in group therapy? Most people have some idea of what happens in an individual session with a psychologist. We have movies, TV series, books, stories from people we've met, and other ways to form an opinion about how individual psychotherapy can be helpful.
When it comes to group therapy, it has long lived a more secluded life away from the spotlight. If we have any perception of it at all, it is usually in the form of Alcoholics Anonymous, for example, which is not considered a therapy group but rather a leaderless non-profit community. For many people with addiction problems, this is helpful, sometimes life-changing, but it is very different from group therapy.
During an AA meeting, participants are encouraged to speak one at a time and not interact with what others are saying. In group therapy, on the other hand, interaction between participants in the group is the most important thing.
Until recently, one of the few popular portrayals of group therapy was the novel "The Schopenhauer Cure," written by American author Irvin Yalom, who also works as a doctor and psychotherapist.
Based on his book, the TV series Group was made, in which a number of professional actors attend group therapy with the real group therapist Elliot Zeisel. So far, this is the portrayal that best matches what actually happens in a therapy group.
It goes without saying that the series is primarily intended as entertainment and therefore does not have time to depict the slower processes that reality requires. The scene depicted is based on unusual circumstances in order to create a compelling drama to tell. It is also distinctly American, with all that that entails. But despite everything, it offers a unique insight for anyone who wants to see what goes on behind closed doors in a group therapy session.
The series is available to watch in its entirety on YouTube. Note how the participants' relationships within the therapy room are the group's main focus, rather than their lives outside the room. If you want to understand more about the reasons for this, or know how group therapy can be helpful, you can read more about it here.
