An exploration of clients’ experiences of group therapy

Abstract

Purpose – Much previous research has explored the impact of group work on the therapist. The purpose of this paper is to examine how group members tolerate the powerful material discussed in groups in a prison-based therapeutic community. The authors briefly describe the regime at HMP Grendon and previous research into the impact of group work on therapists. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach using a focus group was used to explore the impact of group work from the perspective of the group members. Themes emerging from the focus group were analysed using thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006). Participants included adult male violent and sexual offenders (n=10). The focus group was facilitated by two therapists, both based within HMP Grendon. Findings – Overarching themes emerged from the data which included – the type of material that has an impact on residents; the impact of this material on group members; and how residents manage it. A series of subthemes within these were identified, with salient themes including: the difficulty in listening to others offence histories and past experiences, managing the feelings of guilt and shame which can be overwhelming, feeling vulnerable/exposed, experiencing positive feelings for the first time as well as the benefits of therapy in eliciting change. Research limitations/implications – Uniquely the current study explores the impact of group therapy from the perspective of the group members. This is a previously unexplored area of research. As the study was conducted on a prison sample, it is unclear how well the findings would generalise to other populations. As such it is recommended that further research be conducted to validate the findings here. Practical implications – The present study indicates that group members process transference and counter-transference similar to therapists. It is suggested that therapists can use these findings to build resilience in group members. Originality/value – Previous research has described the impact of group work on therapists, uniquely this paper goes on to describe how group members process the material they are exposed to and how they manage their heightened emotions rather than acting on them. This should help therapists consider how best to develop resilience in group members.

A Scoping Review of Qualitative Research Methods Used With People in Prison

“…These included encouraging people to speak generally about sensitive topics in focus groups without personal disclosure (Hatton et al, 2006; Pritchard, Jordan, & Jones, 2014; Staton-Tindall et al, 2007) and designing study advertisements to allow people to attend groups because of general views on a topic rather than personal experience (Pritchard et al, 2014). Some researchers discussed the need to carefully ensure participant understanding of focus group methods and the limits on privacy and confidentiality in the prison context (Akerman & Geraghty, 2016; Kuo et al, 2014). A useful strategy was to hold meetings ahead of the focus groups to discuss their scope and process so participants were more comfortable and were less likely to disclose any sensitive personal matters during the actual focus groups (Akerman & Geraghty, 2016).…”

“…Some researchers discussed the need to carefully ensure participant understanding of focus group methods and the limits on privacy and confidentiality in the prison context (Akerman & Geraghty, 2016; Kuo et al, 2014). A useful strategy was to hold meetings ahead of the focus groups to discuss their scope and process so participants were more comfortable and were less likely to disclose any sensitive personal matters during the actual focus groups (Akerman & Geraghty, 2016).…”

Providing Treatment in a Prison-Based Therapeutic Community for Those Who Have Committed Sexual Offences

“…Managing integration of men who have committed sexual offences into a TC is not without its challenges; emotions are raised in residents and staff when hearing the details of offences, and hierarchies can still be in place and need to be recognised and explored (see Akerman & Geraghty, 2016). Just as in the community outside of custody, inside prisons, there can be negative attitudes toward those who commit sexual offences.…”

“…Many applicants identify problems from their childhood that they want to understand and manage and, through doing so, negate the powerful and destructive repressed emotions. They report having experienced adverse childhood experiences (e.g., at the time of Akerman & Geraghty's research 50% report having had acts of self-harm, 52% having experienced physical abuse, 32% having a history of sexual abuse, and 69% report having had a significant separation from their primary caregiver), and as Akerman and Geraghty (2016) explained, this has impacted on their interpersonal relationships and behaviour. As is often the case with those who have had adverse experiences, their response to reactivated trauma can be aggressive, and so maintaining a trauma-informed approach is vital (see Jones, 2018).…”

Gangs and groups: the impact on therapeutic processes

“…They note similarities to how other youths have managed their emotions, while also recognising differences too. Those involved in the programme, albeit a small sample, indicated that they thought there was a need to be more creative in the approach to tackling gang crime and the importance of adopting a holistic approach which can address both psychological and societal issues (Akerman and Geraghty, 2016;Geraghty and Akerman, 2017).…”