Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy

Abstract

Therapeutic factors in group therapy are specific group phenomena that encourage beneficial changes that contribute to the recovery of persons with mental health difficulties. Therapeutic group factors are considered universal and occur in all groups regardless of the objectives and methods one implements. The paper describes therapeutic factors of instillation of hope, universality, provision of information, altruism, a corrective recap of the primary family group, development of social skills, imitating behavior, interpersonal learning, group cohesion, catharsis, and existential factors. The authors discuss the influence of these factors on the process of group psychotherapy.