Group Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories: Overview

Group counseling and psychotherapy theories and therapies span a wide spectrum of approaches and provide the frameworks to guide group leaders in the facilitation of their groups. Most of the theories and therapies are adaptations from individual theories and therapies but are applied to the group counseling and psychotherapy setting, which provides unique interactions and forces that apply to groups. The complexities of groups make it challenging to work with the individual group members while at the same time working with the group forces and factors to help all group members.

Group mental health treatment has shown considerable efficacy, with many studies providing evidence that it is beneficial for a wide variety of conditions and issues. Whether referred to as group counseling, group therapy, or group ...