CBT Group Therapy: Harnessing the Power of Shared Healing & Cognitive Change

Introduction

Group therapy is a kind of psychotherapy wherein one or more therapists work with a group. Usually, group therapy is conducted for clients going through similar challenges or conditions in life. There are different kinds of group therapies, and Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT) is one of them.

At the NuView Treatment Center, we provide CBT group therapy to help our clients recognize and manage their thinking and behavioral patterns in group settings, fostering personal growth and interconnectedness on the journey to recovery and healing.

What Is A Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy?

Cognitive behavioral group therapy is based on the tenets of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). However, with CBT group therapy, it is about identifying and changing maladaptive thinking, emotional, and behavioral patterns within a group setting.

With group CBT, consistent sessions for over two months help in reducing anxiety, stress, and other negative emotional experiences.

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The Principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

To understand CBT group therapy, understanding the principles of CBT itself becomes important. After all, CBT group therapy draws its principles from the same.

• CBT works by identifying and challenging maladaptive thinking patterns and belief systems. By doing so, it seeks to change the consequent emotions and behaviors as well.

• CBT seeks to be an educative tool as well in that it educates the client to be their own therapist by equipping them with the understanding of how their thoughts and beliefs impact their behaviors, and how changing the latter will lead to changes in the former.  

• CBT is goal-oriented, it sets specific goals and identifies negative thinking patterns that might interfere with those goals. In this way, it challenges those negative thinking patterns as well.

• CBT focuses on the present, it does not delve too much on past experiences or future expectations.

• CBT emphasizes therapeutic alliance; it requires active participation and collaboration.

• CBT is structured and time-bound.

How CBT Group Therapy Works?

Cognitive behavioral group therapy begins like any other group therapy. It starts by specifying the group rules and an emphasis is placed on upholding confidentiality and respecting one another. Cognitive behavioral groups usually consist of 5 – 10 members, and each session can last anywhere between 1.5 – 2 hours. These groups can be open to allow new members or closed.

Certain principles on the basis of which CBT group therapy works are:

Cognitive Restructuring – Unhealthy and maladaptive thinking patterns are identified and challenged. At the same time, belief systems are also tested through behavioral experiments. This gives way to new experiences and perspectives, challenging and reshaping the old ways.

Normalization – CBT group therapy provides safe spaces for members to share experiences, which makes one feel less isolated, more accepted, and even goes a long way in reducing stigma.

Collaborative Relationships – In cognitive behavioral group settings, collaborative relationships are developed and fostered so as to contribute to each other’s healing.

In-Vivo Exposure – Members are encouraged to face their fears in a supportive group setting. Usually, one member might face the object or a circumstance they are most fearful of and the other members are there to offer support and encouragement.

Learning and Positive Reinforcement – Members learn by listening and observing, and within a group setting, positive reinforcement is also offered. This can lead to changes in the right direction.

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Benefits of CBT Group Therapy

Individual therapy and group therapy have their own importance in psychotherapeutic settings. In some ways, group therapy, especially cognitive behavioral group therapy can especially benefit clients:

• Reduced negative thinking patterns and belief systems. This leads to reduced negative experiences in life, increased self-esteem, and overall wellness.
• Opportunity to practice CBT techniques in group settings, especially in a safe and supportive environment. This motivates and protects members from harm as well.
• Personal growth in terms of new experiences and perspectives. Cognitive behavioral groups can especially open up new worldviews that were previously not considered.
• Increased connectedness and enriching interpersonal relationships. It also equips clients with interpersonal skills like conflict resolution skills that also lead to healthy relationships in their personal lives.
• Offers scope for empathy and compassion to be extended to others, which also works for improving self-concept.

Common Issues Addressed in CBT Group Therapy

Cognitive behavioral group therapy can address many mental health challenges, such as:

• Anxiety

• Panic disorders

• Phobias

• Depression

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

• Insomnia

• Anger management

• Chronic pain

Overcoming Challenges in CBT Group Therapy

Cognitive behavioral group therapy, while highly effective, does have its challenges. Some strategies that can be followed with CBT group therapy are as follows:

• Create a safe environment, characterized by respect, trust, and collaboration. With a safe environment, clients will feel like opening up, sharing their experiences, coming together, healing, and growing.
• Set achievable goals for CBT group therapy sessions. Do not lose sight of these goals, schedule sessions and activities accordingly, and always track progress.
• Adopt a structured approach, which will help clients to identify their negative thinking patterns and belief systems, and challenge them.
• Encourage conversations among clients. Open, honest conversations and open-ended conversations will help in understanding underlying issues and gaining new perspectives.
• Be collaborative. Encourage clients to work together and see to it that no person is left out. Collaboration fosters harmony, brainstorms solutions, and provides new perspectives and insights, and so on.

Who Can Benefit from CBT Group Therapy?

Cognitive behavioral group therapy has many benefits:

• It can help with a wide range of mental health challenges like anxiety disorders, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, chronic pain, and so on.

• It is problem-focused and goal-oriented, so if clients want to tackle specific problems head-on, it can be highly beneficial.

• In reducing isolation and increasing normalization, CBT group therapy works really well. It helps clients realize that they are not alone in their ordeals.

• If clients also suffer from feelings of loneliness and isolation, then CBT group therapy can benefit them by fostering interconnectedness and developing interpersonal relationships.

However, it is also important to realize that CBT group therapy cannot benefit all, especially those who value privacy, suffer from social anxiety or phobias, and have a history of abuse. In these cases, individual CBT sessions will be generally more preferable. 

Is Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy Effective?

Yes, cognitive behavioral group therapy is indeed very effective. It provides a safe space for clients to challenge negative thoughts and beliefs and reshape them into healthy and productive patterns. Moreover, it allows clients to practice skills and techniques in a supportive environment, where group members offer encouragement to one another. It also helps in fostering interconnectedness.

CBT group therapy has been known to be an effective line of treatment specifically for anxiety and depression. Certain studies have also shown promise with regard to bipolar disorder as well