Group Therapy Course

Lesson 1 • Therapeutic Factors in Groups

Introduces Yalom's curative factors and their empirical support. Students connect specific factors to measurable client outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Group Therapy Versus Individual Therapy

Compares mechanisms, efficiency, and indications of group versus individual formats. Students apply criteria to match clients to the appropriate modality.

Lesson 3 • Core Theoretical Models

Examines psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and systems models. Students distinguish each model's assumptions and clinical implications.

Lesson 1 • Power, Influence, and Subgroups

Explores how power differentials and subgroup formation affect group process. Students detect and address hidden alliances and scapegoating.

Lesson 2 • Group Process Observation Skills

Trains systematic observation of here-and-now group interactions. Students document process patterns and use them to time interventions.

Lesson 3 • Roles and Norms in Groups

Examines how member roles and group norms emerge and stabilize. Students identify dysfunctional roles and intervene to reshape norms.

Lesson 4 • Understanding Group Cohesion

Defines cohesion as a multidimensional therapeutic agent. Students measure cohesion indicators and link them to treatment retention.

Lesson 1 • Practical Logistics and Environment

Addresses room setup, group size, seating, and scheduling for optimal engagement. Students evaluate how physical environment influences group process.

Lesson 2 • Informed Consent and Preparation

Covers disclosure of group procedures, risks, and member rights before entry. Students draft informed consent documents and conduct preparation sessions.

Lesson 3 • Defining Group Purpose and Goals

Guides selection of group type, population, and overarching treatment goals. Students write clear group rationales aligned with member needs.

Lesson 1 • Initial Stage: Orientation and Trust

Addresses member anxiety, dependency, and trust-building in early sessions. Students apply structured activities to accelerate safe engagement.

Lesson 2 • Transition Stage: Conflict and Resistance

Examines conflict, defensiveness, and power struggles that mark the transition stage. Students use conflict as a catalyst for deeper group work.

Lesson 3 • Working Stage: Cohesion and Productivity

Focuses on deepened self-disclosure, risk-taking, and therapeutic work. Students sustain momentum and deepen interpersonal exploration.

Lesson 4 • Stage Models and Their Evidence Base

Reviews Tuckman, Yalom, and other stage models with supporting research. Students evaluate model applicability across group types.

Lesson 1 • Leader Self-Awareness and Use of Self

Develops reflective practice and intentional use of the leader's personal reactions. Students identify countertransference and use it therapeutically.

Lesson 2 • Core Facilitation Techniques

Teaches active listening, reflection, linking, and blocking as foundational tools. Students practice each technique in simulated group scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Managing Difficult Leadership Moments

Prepares leaders for crises, monopolizers, silent members, and hostile challenges. Students apply de-escalation and redirection strategies in role-plays.

Lesson 4 • Co-Leadership Models and Dynamics

Examines benefits, challenges, and coordination strategies for co-led groups. Students negotiate roles and manage co-leader conflict constructively.

Lesson 1 • Ethical Use of Techniques and Exercises

Evaluates when experiential exercises, self-disclosure, and confrontation are ethically appropriate. Students apply risk-benefit analysis before introducing powerful techniques.

Lesson 2 • Confidentiality in the Group Context

Examines the limits and complexities of confidentiality when multiple members share information. Students develop strategies to reinforce and monitor confidentiality norms.

Lesson 3 • Ethical Principles in Group Practice

Reviews beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice as applied to groups. Students analyze how group format creates unique ethical obligations.

Lesson 4 • Boundaries and Dual Relationships

Identifies boundary risks unique to group settings, including member-to-member relationships. Students apply boundary management strategies to protect therapeutic integrity.

Lesson 1 • Adapting Interventions for Diverse Populations

Modifies group activities, language, and pacing for cultural relevance and accessibility. Students redesign standard interventions for specific cultural contexts.

Lesson 2 • Cultural Humility as a Leadership Stance

Distinguishes cultural humility from cultural competence and applies it to group leadership. Students practice ongoing self-reflection about cultural assumptions.

Lesson 3 • Identity, Intersectionality, and Group Dynamics

Examines how race, gender, class, and other identities interact within group process. Students recognize how intersecting identities shape member participation.

Lesson 1 • Evaluating Group Effectiveness

Applies program evaluation methods to assess whether the group achieved its stated goals. Students design simple outcome studies and interpret results for practice improvement.

Lesson 2 • Ongoing Progress Monitoring

Establishes routine data collection to detect member deterioration or stagnation early. Students use session-by-session feedback to adjust facilitation in real time.

Lesson 3 • Clinical Documentation for Groups

Teaches group progress note formats that balance individual and group-level information. Students write compliant, clinically meaningful notes efficiently.