Group Psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy is when a psychologist meets with multiple clients simultaneously during a single appointment. Group psychotherapy can have added benefits in certain cases, especially if peer interactions and insights would help address one’s particular therapeutic needs. Group psychotherapy options may include weekly or biweekly meetings and may occur in person or virtually (via telehealth). Also, in all cases, client confidentiality is held at a premium, with signed confidentiality agreements required from all clients prior to their participation.

Recovery-based Relapse Prevention is a group-based treatment approach developed by Dr. James Broussard that utilizes elements of several evidence-based therapies to assist group members in achieving their relapse-prevention goals within a social environment. This approach allows clients to establish clear goals and then accurately track their progress using specially validated measures to ensure treatment is having the desired effect. Known as “measurement-based care,” this practice increases clients’ likelihood of success in reaching their goals by offering frequent and accurate feedback about their progress.

The group also employs a multifaceted recovery model that considers each client’s individual biology, psychology, social context, and spirituality. This allows a client to focus on specific risk factors and protective factors associated with each key area of his or her life. From that point, clients can better manage and mitigate risk while simultaneously developing and fostering protective factors, coping skills, and supports.

A notable benefit of treating such issues in group therapy, as opposed to individual therapy, is that group members can learn from others who often have similar experiences. Group psychotherapy clients often state that they feel supported and understood to a greater degree by their fellow group members than by other people in their lives. Furthermore, group members that have in the past or currently participate in fellowship groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, indicate that they gain added benefit from the specific processes and expert feedback that occurs in Recovery-based Relapse Prevention groups. Finally, many group members indicate that they feel a level of accountability towards the group, which helps them achieve their goals to a greater extent than when managing their own recovery efforts.

Recovery-based Relapse Prevention groups are “open groups,” meaning that members can join an existing group at any time and then participate on a weekly, bi-weekly, or in some cases a monthly basis. These groups are also open-ended, and group members can participate for any duration that they feel is useful for achieving and maintaining their goals.

If you are interested, please review the Group Enrollment Process in the section below.

A process group’s objective is to understand interpersonal processes that contribute to a client’s emotional and/or behavioral difficulties. In process groups, a psychologist educates and demonstrates to clients the impact of various interpersonal factors, including group cohesion, interpersonal learning, development of knowledge and self-understanding, and the instillation of hope. Through this training, members can better understand their own interpersonal processes (with the help and support of the group leader and their fellow group members) and experience themselves and others in a more effective and positive manner. This, in turn, facilitates their ability to make improvements to their own lives, thereby reducing emotional and behavioral symptoms as well.

Process groups are small groups containing anywhere from 5 to 10 members. Process groups are “closed groups,” meaning once the members are identified and join the group, new members will only be allowed to join under certain circumstances. This is unlike many other groups and fellowship services within the community that are “open” and allow members to come and go as they please.

The benefit of a closed process group is the chance to develop trust and familiarity with other members of the group within a supportive environment. Process groups may be either time-limited or open-ended, depending on the needs of individual group members. It might be decided at the outset of a newly formed group that sessions will be limited in number, while others might decide to remain open-ended and may continue for a year (or longer). Finally, process group sessions may occur either weekly or every other week and usually last from 60 to 90 minutes per session. However, all specifics of the group are discussed and decided upon at the outset. You can learn more about the principles, benefits, and effectiveness of process groups by clicking on the following link: Very Well Mind: An Overview of Group Psychotherapy.

Individuals interested in enrolling in group psychotherapy must complete enrollment paperwork and are required to meet with one of our psychologists for initial screening and an intake evaluation. This is required for all individuals prior to being placed on an interest list for group psychotherapy. Once a sufficient number of individuals have expressed interest, the group leader will contact individual group members for scheduling. Please keep in mind that you may be on the interest list for several weeks or months before a sufficient number of potential members has been reached to initiate a new group. If a opening in an existing group becomes available, individuals on the interest list will be notified in the order in which they were placed on the list. If the maximum number of groups has been met, individuals will be notified and provided with referral information for other individual and group options, if available.

To be evaluated for potential enrollment in group psychotherapy, please call 601-809-5324 or send an email to information@lefleurbehavioralhealth.com.