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christian counseling today
Vol. 20 no. 4
F
Families, churches, schools, sports teams, choirs, clubs and
most work environments are groups that shape our identi-
ties, behavior patterns, expectations, and personal preferences.
Healthy groups develop positive, competent people; unhealthy
groups have serious negative impacts.
Group Therapy is effective and efficient treatment for a
wide range of emotional and relationship problems. The Bob
Newhart Show (1972-78) portrayed a process therapy group
and the recent sitcom, Go On, with Matthew Perry, depicted
group therapy for grief. Though comically outrageous, these
shows reflect the public’s perspective of content and procedures
in therapeutic group settings.
Groups have improved since Bob Newhart. Research
validated, or research evidenced, group therapies are manual-
ized treatments that have been studied and judged effective for
treating specific disorders. For example, my practice currently
has a team that runs Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
informed groups (combines standard cognitive-behavioral
techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with
concepts of distress tolerance and mindfulness), which enhance
our clinical reputation in the community, increase in-house
team building, and provide a steady source of revenue.
I have participated in many mixed gender, men only, and
couples small groups. Twenty years ago, I personally spent two
years in a group. Week by week we peeled away the veneer
of socially accepted conversation until we got down to an
earthy, sometimes repugnant, level of confession. One man
broke through the denial of a childhood relationship he had
with a priest with intense shock and grief at the revelation he
was a victim of abuse. I will never forget him looking at his
shoes saying, “I can’t look at you guys. I am so ashamed.” The
group declared Christ’s love and forgiveness. My friend was
rescued from self-condemnation and empowered to eventu-
ally confront the abusive priest. All the while the group was
“(provoking him) to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
In this article, I want to present how to develop a successful
group therapy program. I will address ethical principles, as
well as the costs and benefits of group therapy.
n
Group therapy will expand your referral networks.
Groups can broaden the appeal of your practice. Many people
ask for it when they contact our office. Courts often refer for
Paul H. VanVal i n
Expanding
Your Practice
Starting and
Running Effective
Therapy Groups
Jesus Christ changed the world by mentoring 12 men.
This group shared trauma, love, hate, envy, conflict, hope, doubt, amazing
miracles and tremendous loss as they followed Him. He taught them
to minister in groups. The founding of churches became the context of
Christian community for centuries.
