Linton 0:05

Hello everyone and welcome back to our Licensure Exams podcast for budding mental health professionals . I'm Dr Linton Hutchinson from hot and sunny Florida , and I'm with my co-host , stacey Frost , who is up there snowshoeing around the frozen tundra of Michigan . And while I'm basking in the sun here in Florida , I'm sending out a warm shout out to Kelly in Mason , michigan , probably freezing along with you , stacey .

Stacy 0:34

Lucky you , Linton . I woke up to frost on the windows this morning and a hundred-year-old furnace iced over in the basement . While you're sipping on your cool and refreshing celery juice down there , I'm perfecting my skills , thawing out from being a human popsicle . Right Thank goodness for space heaters and hot apple cider .

Linton 0:52

Are you sure that apple cider and that suspicious oversized coffee mug you seem to be enjoying so much ?

Stacy 0:59

Why yes , Linton , as long as I'm not slurring my words , let's just assume it's apple cider .

Linton 1:04

Okay .

Stacy 1:06

Well , today we are going to explore the world of group therapy , specifically Irvin Yalom's theory of group development .

Linton 1:13

That's right . You need to know about more than just individual therapy . For your exam , you also will be tested on other therapy modalities , including group couples and family therapy . So if you've taken classes for marriage and family therapy , you're in good shape . If not , you may want to listen to some of our other podcasts or start hitting the books .

Stacy 1:37

Good , point Now . Group therapy has been proven to be effective in treating a wide range of disorders . It's not just about simply sitting in a room with other people sipping apple cider , but it's about the dynamics and processes that unfold . So our story today begins with Dr Irvin Yalom , who got his start in psychiatry in the 1950s . Like that Linton 1950s .

Linton 1:59

Love it .

Stacy 2:00

He developed a fascination with the human condition , as he called it , and he approached therapy from an existential standpoint , believing that people are constantly battling with existential dilemmas like the fear of death , being alone and living a life of meaninglessness . Existential therapists believe that mental illness is caused by struggles related to our very existence , and Yalom believed that , by exploring these issues in a group setting , individuals could find support and meaning through their shared experiences . Issues in a group setting , individuals could find support and meaning through their shared experiences . Now we take it for granted , but back in the day , you remember , linton , those old school approaches to therapy , don't you ?

Linton 2:37

Right .

Stacy 2:39

The only kind of therapy was individual therapy , and the thought of group therapy was pretty radical . Yalom was one of the first psychiatrists to truly recognize and utilize the power of group dynamics in therapeutic settings .

Linton 2:51

Yeah , he was really a unique individual for that time and he didn't just write about some stuffy academic material again , and he didn't just write about it in some stuffy academic journal . He actually led group therapy sessions himself and studied the interactions and processes that occurred within them . If the book the Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy sounds familiar to you , it's probably the text that was used in your master's degree program in counseling . And since you obviously kept your textbooks for your future reference library for your private practice , rather than selling them to get some fast cash to go clubbing , you're in good shape .

Stacy 3:40

And if not , now's a good time to reinvest in some of those classic textbooks as you study for your exam . And we'll also try to hit the highlights in this episode .

Linton 3:49

Right books as you study for your exam , and we'll also try to hit the highlights in this episode Right . So Yalom identified 11 therapeutic factors that engage in group therapy . He believed that the curative again curative factors help to bring about change in each person within the group . Stacey , again , again setting . Stacey want to kick off the first one .

Stacy 4:14

Sure thing , linton , all right . The first therapeutic factor identified by Yalom is installation of hope . This is the belief that things can get better and that change is possible . In a group setting , individuals may see others who are further along in their recovery journey , and this instills hope in them for their own progress .

Linton 4:34

The next factor is the concept of universality . Again , the next factor is the concept of universality . This is the idea that others have similar feelings , problems and challenges . Recognizing these commonalities can help individuals feel less alone in their struggles .

Stacy 5:09

Yalom called imparting information . In a group setting , members can share facts , knowledge and advice with one another based on their own experiences . This exchange of information can lead to greater understanding and growth for all who are involved .

Linton 5:25

And I thought again , and let's not forget factor four the power of altruism . This is when individuals experience a sense of joy and fulfillment by helping others in the group . By giving support and guidance to others , they also receive in return , leading to a positive and supportive environment .

Stacy 5:46

You know , I really think the idea of altruism ties in really well with the existentialist search for meaning and value . Helping others in the group can give individuals a purpose and boost their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth .

Linton 5:58

Absolutely , and that's what you're all about as therapists in the helping professions , and something you do every day .

Stacy 6:07

Well , I'll have a sip of apple cider to toast to that . All right , and another one of Yalom's curative factors . Number five on our list is corrective recapitulation of the primary family group .

Linton 6:20

That's a mouthful .

Stacy 6:21

That is definitely a mouthful , but it really just means that the group can act as a mirror to an individual's early family life and past patterns can be explored and corrected within the group . Dynamic Exactly can be explored and corrected within the group dynamic Exactly .

Linton 6:34

Yalom also observed the development of socializing techniques , a factor number six that emerges in group settings . This refers to individuals learning from one another how to better interact and communicate with others outside of the group . In this way , it's sort of like a training group for social skills .

Stacy 6:58

And as group members are honing their social skills , they may also engage in imitative behavior , which is curative factor number seven . Group members can model their behavior after the positive behaviors of other group members or the therapist even .

Linton 7:12

Who does that remind you of Stacey ?

Stacy 7:15

I think something about Albert Bandura .

Linton 7:19

Right , exactly with his social learning theory . Exactly he was really big on that idea and for the most part , human behavior is learned by observation , with either a live model , symbolic model or verbal instruction like this podcast . He did some interesting experiments , but we'll save this for another podcast . Now back to Yalom . What is the next factor , Stacey ?

Stacy 7:47

All right . Factor number eight is something called interpersonal learning , where , through feedback from others , members can gain insight into how they come across to others and how they relate to others . Yalom emphasizes the idea that people have a tendency to perceive others in a distorted way . Now , these distortions stem from the person's interpretations and potential misunderstanding of the approval or disapproval expressed by important people in their lives .

Linton 8:19

So group therapy provides an opportunity for individuals to receive accurate and constructive feedback from others , leading to greater self-awareness and improved interpersonal skills Exactly , and number nine is group again , and number nine is group cohesiveness the sense of belonging and connection that develops within any kind of group . When individuals feel that they belong to a group , they are more likely to be open , share their feelings and invest in the therapeutic process . The presence of group cohesiveness can amplify other therapeutic factors identified by Yalom . Other therapeutic factors identified by Yalom , for example , a cohesive group might facilitate altruism , because members are more willing to support and help one another . Similarly , catharsis might also be a more profound experience in a cohesive group , as members feel safe to release any pent-up emotions that they may have .

Stacy 9:18

Speaking of catharsis Linton . That is the 10th curative factor . Sharing personal feelings and experiences with a supportive group can really provide relief from emotional pain .

Linton 9:29

And finally , we have existential factors . The group setting can help individuals confront and understand the reality of their everyday living , that there is going to be pain , death and sadness . With the group support , members learn that it's possible to learn how to accept and live with these conditions without running from them , fighting them or being paralyzed by them .

Stacy 9:56

Well , that's a good one to end on . Here's a quick recap of Yalom's 11 curative factors Installation of hope , universality , imparting information , altruism , corrective recapitulation of the primary family group , development of socializing techniques , imitative behavior , interpersonal learning , group cohesiveness , catharsis and existential factors . Quite a bit Now are you going to remember all of these therapeutic factors for the exam ?

Linton 10:36

Right , sure , yeah .

Stacy 10:39

Probably not . But your takeaway of Yalom's group method should be that people are constantly battling existential dilemmas like the fear of death , being alone and living a meaningless life . So if , in a case study on the exam , if you have a client who's experiencing any of these issues , consider using Yalom's group process as your first choice .

Linton 11:00

Well , thanks everybody for joining us today . Now it's time for me to head over to Publix and get some of that BOGO sushi , and I'm sure you , Stacey , are off to Meyers to pick up those delicious Midwestern pickled turkey gizzards . Oh my gosh .

Stacy 11:19

I saw those the other day in a jar and I almost just left the store because I lost my appetite .

Linton 11:26

I guess there's no accounting for taste , so until next time , remember it's in there .