Group Analytic Psychotherapy
Information leaflet produced for patients by Gaskell House
Group Analytic Psychotherapy
Information leaflet produced for patients by Gaskell House
Psychodynamic group psychotherapy offers an opportunity for people to explore different problems and issues relating to both the past and the present. These are often to do with relationships and the group provides a safe setting to which to explore them. This can help you to understand yourself and to change.
Who Can Benefit From It
Psychotherapy is most suitable for long standing or persistent problems and can help with a range of issues and difficulties which include:
Membership
The number of members in a group tend to vary with a minimum of four and a maximum of ten. There is usually one therapist per group though occasionally there are two.
Timing
There are several analytic groups meeting in Gaskell House of different week days, usually in the evenings.
How The Group Works
Members meet regularly, and talk as openly as they can with each other about their thoughts and feelings. Often this will be about the things that bring you into therapy. Other group members can be helpful by providing a fresh view of these, in the same way that an honest talk with someone may often help.
What Is Expected Of You
You are encouraged to explore feelings and relationships which arise with other group members and the therapist. Talking directly to the others about feelings in the group can help in various ways: in particular, ideas about yourself and others can be tried out, and the group may help to express and deal with feelings which have seemed unacceptable or unbearable. This helps to challenge usual patterns of thinking and behaving which cause unhappiness, so that there is the possibility of change.
Your therapist may say less than you had expected, allowing you to bring your concerns and to find space and time for both of you to think about them. Your therapist will try to understand what you say and to comment on it in a helpful way. He/she will not normally give you advice, or suggest a course of action. You will not be told what to think, feel or do, but will be encouraged and have space to find your own way.
Group psychotherapy does not work for everyone. However, many people find that a period of group psychotherapy helps them to be much more at ease with themselves and to have more successful relationships.
Holidays And Absences
The therapist will give the group good notice of planned breaks, and you are asked to do likewise if you plan to be away. If you have to be absent at short notice, you can leave a telephone message between 9.00am and 4.45pm at Gaskell House reception on 0161-273-2762.
Child care
Unfortunately we do not have crèche facilities at Gaskell House and so if you have a baby or small child you will have to arrange for someone to look after him/her. In this form of psychotherapy it is not usually possible to have your child in the therapy room during sessions.
What You Should Do
It is important that you attend the group regularly, and join with the others as best they can. Clearly, talking openly can be hard and can feel risky. At the same time groups often provide more warmth and understanding than is readily available elsewhere.
How Long Will It Take?
Group psychotherapy is not a short-term treatment, and most people find that they need a minimum of twelve to eighteen months therapy to gain lasting benefit. It may take some time for you to feel part of the group and to decide whether it is for you, and so you are asked to make a commitment to attend for a minimum of three months. Similarly, you should give the group a month's notice of your intention to leave.
Medication
The use of medication for psychological difficulties is not a bar to psychotherapy treatment, though we discourage the use of minor tranquillisers, such as valium. It is important that you do not stop any medication without discussing this with the G.P. or psychiatrist supervising it. Your therapist will not supervise your medication.
Confidentiality
The proceedings of the group are confidential. This is essential if people are to trust each other. Your therapist will also respect confidentiality, with the proviso that he/she will discuss events from time to time with a small group of colleagues for the purpose of supervision.
Meetings Outside The Group
Difficulties arise in groups when members begin to see each other out of group time. Those involved usually try to protect the out-of-group relationship from the other group members, who feel shut out and wonder if they are being talked about in their absence. This can have a serious effect on group morale. For this reason, please avoid meeting other members out of group time, and let the group know of any meetings which take place.
Getting Involved With Other Agencies
Sometimes group of members find themselves getting involved with other agencies which offer help which overlaps with the work of the group. This situation is usually unhelpful. The person involved tends to fall between two stools and find themselves unable to work well in either setting. This causes a reduction in their commitment to the group which has a bad effect on group morale. There are grey areas here, especially with visits to the GP's, but you are asked to think carefully about this and to discuss possible conflicts with the group.
In Conclusion
Please bear this information in mind. If you can do this, and can make the group a priority in your life, you will contribute greatly to making the group a place in which you and others can benefit.
Gaskell House Psychotherapy Center
Swinton Grove
Manchester M13 0EU
England
Tel: 0161 273 2762
Fax: 0161 273 4876
email: gmcgrath@psy.cmht.nwest.nhs.uk
This page hosted by
N.W.I.D.P.
North West Institute
of Dynamic Psychotherapy