Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

Group and Family Therapy599As I saw the widows dealing with their loss, and believing it a bit more, it helped meto accept it even more. It was easier with sharing together. Strength in numbers. Itmakes you feel less alone. Out of the thousands of people you bump into, not everyonecan understand what you’ve been through. If I am with any one of the families, Iknow they will understand what I am going through. We comfort each other. Even ablood sister might not understand as well.Group therapies in the aftermath of other disasters, including Hurricane Katrina,have provided similar support (Salloum & others, 2009).Fourth, group members may provide each other with helpful, practical advice forsolving common problems and can act as models for successfully overcoming difficulties.Finally, working within a group gives people an opportunity to try out newbehaviors in a safe, supportive environment (Yalom, 2005). For instance, someonewho is very shy and submissive can practice more assertive behaviors and receivehonest feedback from other group members.Group therapy is typically conducted by a mental health professional. In contrast,self-help groups and support groups are typically conducted by nonprofessionals. Selfhelpgroups and support groups have become increasingly popular in the UnitedStates and can be very helpful. As discussed in the In Focus box, the potential ofthese groups to promote mental health should not be underestimated.IN FOCUSSelf-Help Groups: Helping Yourself by Helping OthersEvery month our local newspaper publishesa list of more than 300 self-helpand support groups that meet in ourarea. These groups range from the familiar(Alcoholics Anonymous, Tough-Love)to the obscure (Abused by Religion, CultAwareness Group, Cross-Dressers ofGreen County), and from the general(Parents of Adolescents, Effective BlackParenting) to the specific (Multiple Sclerosis—NewlyDiagnosed). There are alsogroups for people dealing with life’stransitions and crises, such as divorce, retirement,or bereavement.What this bewildering array ofgroups have in common is that all ofthem are organized and led by nonprofessionals.Typically, such groups aremade up of members who have a commonproblem and meet for the purposeof exchanging psychological support.Some groups are focused on psychologicalgrowth and change. Other groups have a more practicalemphasis, providing information and advice. The groups either arefree or charge nominal fees to cover the cost of materials.The format of self-help groups varies enormously. Some groupsare quite freewheeling, but others are highly structured (McFadden& others, 1992). Meetings may follow a prescribed format, andthere may be rules regulating contacts among group members outsidethe meetings. For example, our friend Marcia attends weeklymeetings of a self-help group called Emotions Anonymous. In Marcia’sgroup, each person takes a turn speaking for five minutes. Interruptionsare not allowed, and other members simply listen withoutresponding to the speaker’s comments.Many self-help groups follow a 12-step approach, patterned afterthe famous 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).Alcoholics Anonymous Many twelve-stepself-help groups are modeled after AlcoholicsAnonymous. Founded in 1935, today AA hasmore than 2 million members worldwide. Peoplefrom all walks of life attend AA meetings, andmany credit AA for turning their lives around.The 12 steps of AA include themes of admittingthat you have a problem, seekinghelp from a “higher power,” confessingyour shortcomings, repairing your relationshipswith others, and helping otherpeople who have the same problem.These 12 steps have been adapted bymany different groups to fit their particularproblem. Some psychologists criticizethe 12-step approach for its emphasis onthe idea that people are “powerless” tocope with their problems on their ownand must depend on a higher power andon other group members (Kasl, 1992).Just how helpful are self-help groups?Research has shown that self-helpgroups can be as effective as therapyprovided by a mental health professional,at least for some psychologicalproblems (Christensen & Jacobson,1994). Given that many people cannotafford professional counseling, self-helpgroups may be a cost-effective alternative to psychotherapy forsome people.What is not known is why self-help groups are effective. Supportand encouragement from others are undoubtedly important.So may be the “helper therapy” principle on which all selfhelpgroups are based: People who help other people arethemselves helped. But more research is needed to clarify the elementsthat contribute most to a successful outcome.Research is also needed to identify the kinds of people andproblems that are most likely to benefit from a self-help approach(Christensen & Jacobson, 1994). One study suggests that 12-stepattendees who find sponsors and who have a high motivation tochange are more likely to stay involved in a program (Kelly &Moos, 2003).