Group Therapy: Stages and Process

Group therapy has become a popular method for treating a wide range of addictions, disorders, and grief processes. As Corey and Corey (1997) state: "Groups provide a natural laboratory that demonstrates to people that they are not alone and that there is hope for creating a different life" (p. 5) Other benefits of group therapy include information-sharing, a sense of belonging, catharsis, emotional support, progress through confrontation, and development of altruism and social skills (University of Illinois at Urbana Psychology Dept, 2010) There are many variations of group therapy, including multi-family, Adlerian, support, self-help, and counseling or psychotherapy (University of Illinois at Urbana Psychology Dept, 2010). Most therapeutic group programs involve 3 major stages: initial, transition, and working (Corey & Corey, 1997), or the 5 stage version: forming, storming, norming, performing, and terminating (University of Illinois at Urbana Psychology Dept, 2010).

In the initial stage...
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