Adolescents' perceptions of process and specialty group therapy.

Abstract

Adolescents' perceptions of process group therapy and time-limited speciality group therapy were surveyed. Participants were 82 emotionally disturbed adolescent clients living in a residential treatment center who rated their perceptions of process and speciality group therapies. Ongoing process groups were rated as more helpful for relating to staff and peers, and speciality groups were considered more helpful for cognitive, social, and interpersonal skill development. Despite the findings that both types of group therapy were helpful in different ways, all participants (100%) preferred to deal with their problems in individual therapy. These findings challenge the popular notion that adolescents prefer group therapy to individual psychotherapy, suggesting a need to offer both individual and group therapies to optimized treatment. We thank the Mapleton clinicians and clients for their participation in this research project. We express our appreication to The Devereux Institute of Clinical Training and Research, Steven Pfeiffer, Ph.D. and Paul LeBuffe, MA, for research assistance and support. A special thanks is extended to Mr. Kenneth Tenley, Executive Director of The Mapleton Center and Lawrence Lepisto, Ph.D. for editorial reviews.

The Role of Public and Self-Stigma in Predicting Attitudes Toward Group Counseling

“…Furthermore, group counseling has a number of unique strengths including time efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and being particularly well suited for certain types of issues (e.g., interpersonal skills) for which individuals often seek help (Kincade & Kalodner, 2004;Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Yet despite the potential benefits of group counseling, individuals seem to prefer individual to group counseling (Abraham et al, 1995). For example, although 92% of college counseling centers offer groups, only about one in five clients are willing to participate (Golden, Corazzini, & Grady, 1993).…”

“…However, although concerns about stigmatization have been clearly linked with negative attitudes toward individual counseling (Vogel et al, 2007), we know little about the role of stigma on decisions to seek other forms of counseling such as group counseling. Group counseling is utilized even less than individual counseling (Abraham, Lepisto, & Schultz, 1995); thus, the goal of this study is to fill in this gap in the research by examining the role of stigma on attitudes toward seeking group counseling.…”

Group Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Emotional Problems: A Review of The Literature

“…These studies were conducted across various presenting problems and utilising diverse formats. An early study by Abraham, Lepisto and Schultz [16] explored the perceptions of adolescents following their experience in structured group therapy and process group therapy. The study recruited 82 inpatient adolescents with psychotic, affective, behavioural problems or personality disorders.…”