Group therapy techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Group therapy techniques - Essay Example The problem is that in therapy most of what is really meant is said non-verbally, so leaders need to pay special attention. For instance, Kline and Johannsen (1935) noted that the face is the primary way to identify the nature of the emotional response, and Mehrabian (1971) found that facial expressions were believed when words and expressions were inconsistent. Group leaders are required to be highly observant, if a member is blocking his/her emotions and the group leader fails to notice that it could lead to unexpected and tetchy outcomes. It is also essential for them to be aware of their own body language and facial expression lest they convey the wrong message. Group members want to feel like the leader isn’t judging them and yet is someone who is better off than them, i.e. someone who can help them. Group leaders need to make members feel like he/she is one of them and is still in a position to assist in every possible way. For this to be possible the depth of how well they understand their emotions and also of how well they understand needs to be conveyed. It should go without saying that confidentially is a key feature of any sort of leadership, it part of expected behavior. When it comes to group therapy, this fact needs to be re-emphasized to leaders. It is requisite for members to feel safe and believe that leaders can be entrusted with such personal information to progress in their sessions and reveal their true-selves. While it is true that it is only the members themselves that have control over what they disclose, they may be made to feel so comfortable that information that they usually wouldn’t want to divulge may just come out in the intensity of the moment. Obviously they need assurance that their privacy will be respected and once they have that trust they will be even more comfortable and this in turn