Practice Guidelines for Group Psychotherapy

Introduction

        The Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Practice of Group Psychotherapy are a product of the Science to Service Task Force of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA). This Task Force was formed in 2004 at the recommendation of Dr. Robert Klein, who was then President of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. The Task Force is part of AGPA’s response to the recognition of its responsibility to support its membership and all practitioners of group psychotherapy to meet the appropriate demands for evidence-based practice and greater accountability in the practice of contemporary psychotherapy (Lambert and Ogles, 2004).  The Task Force was composed to reflect the full breadth of scholarship and expertise in the practice and evaluation of group psychotherapy, combining researchers, educators and leading practitioners of group psychotherapy. Membership of the Science to Service Task Force is noted at the conclusion of this introduction. 

       These clinical practice guidelines address practitioners who practice dynamic, interactional and relationally-based group psychotherapy.  This model of group psychotherapy utilizes the group setting as an agent for change and pays careful attention to the three primary forces operating at all times in a therapy group: individual dynamics; interpersonal dynamics; and, group as a whole dynamics.  The task of the group leader is to integrate these components into a coherent, fluid and complementary process, mindful that at all times there are multiple variables, such as stage of group development, ego strength of individual members, the population being treated, group as a whole factors, and individual and group resistances, that influence what type of intervention should be emphasized at any particular time in the group.  Clients seeking group psychotherapy in this context experience a broad range of psychological and interpersonal difficulties encompassing mood, anxiety, trauma, personality and relational difficulties along with associated behaviors that reflect impairment in regulation of mood and self.  These guidelines may also have utility for a range of group oriented interventions. Many of the principles articulated here are relevant to diverse group therapy approaches which employ a variety of techniques, with various client populations, and in a variety of treatment or service settings.    

         Multiple perspectives on evidence-based practice have been articulated in the contemporary practice of psychotherapy.  One approach emphasizes the application of empirically supported therapies, predicating treatment decisions upon the efficacy data emerging from randomized control trials of discrete models of intervention applied to discrete syndromes and conditions.  This is a disorder-based approach.  An alternative approach to evidence-based practice integrates the best available research with clinical expertise applied within the context of client characteristics, culture, and preferences (APA, 2005). This is a client – based approach and is the model we have employed.

        This clinical practice guidelines document is intended to support practitioners in their practice of group psychotherapy. It is intended to be a relevant, flexible, accessible and practical document that respects practitioners and the clinical context of their work. It can be readily linked with a second AGPA resource, the CORE-R Battery (Burlingame et al., 2006), which assists in the accrual of data regarding  the effectiveness of treatment and provides outcome and process feedback for therapists regarding their clinical work.

          Clinical practice guidelines are distinct from treatment standards or treatment guidelines.  They are broader and aspirational rather than narrow, prescriptive and mandatory and address the broad practice of group psychotherapy rather than specific conditions. Clinical practice guidelines also respect the strong empirical research supporting the role of common factors in the practice of psychotherapy (Norcross, 2001; Wampold, 2001).   The aim of clinical practice guidelines is to promote the development of the field by serving as a resource to support practitioners as well as a resource for the public so that consumers may be fully informed about the practice of group psychotherapy.  The intent of these clinical practice guidelines is to augment, not to supplant, the clinical judgment of practitioners.

These clinical practice guidelines were constructed in the following fashion. The scope of the Clinical Practice Guidelines document was determined by consensus of the Task Force members. Each member of the Task Force, writing in pairs, assumed responsibility for one or two of the ten specific sections of the clinical practice guidelines.  Each pair of authors reviewed the empirical and clinical-theoretical literatures comprehensively seeking to integrate the empirical research with expert clinical experience.  In the next step the Task Force as a whole assumed responsibility for every section in the document, recognizing that in those situations in which the empirical literature might be an insufficient guide, expert clinical consensus would serve as a reasonable alternative.  The final document reflects both extensive review of the scholarly, empirical group therapy literature and expert consensus.  This approach was also employed to reduce the risk of bias or undue influence of particular models or approaches to group psychotherapy.  Many Task Force members have published textbooks and papers in the field of group psychotherapy and these are referenced as appropriate throughout the text.  There is no other evident area of potential conflict of interest or disclosure.

          Clinicians can actively link this document, to other American Group Psychotherapy Association resources, including the CORE-R Battery (Burlingame et al., 2006); the Principles of Group Psychotherapy (2006); Ethics in Group Psychotherapy (2005b); The International Journal of Group Psychotherapy; and, the range of educational opportunities provided through AGPA’s annual meeting of the AGPA and at regional affiliate societies.  The Task Force also notes that documents such as these require regular revision and would recommend a sunset clause on this document, necessitating its revision by the year 2015.