Group Psychotherapy and Neuro-Plasticity: An Attachment Theory Perspective

Abstract

This article selectively highlights relevant areas of neuroscience research which have direct application for attachment theory and group psychotherapy. Emerging evidence from the neurosciences is revealing that the developing brain of the infant, sculpted by the earliest attachment relationships, continues to be malleable in adulthood and can be profoundly influenced by ongoing relationships throughout one's lifespan. Advances in the neurosciences are also supporting the idea that strong attachment bonds and external interpersonal interactions that arise within the context of these attachments are registered as a person's neurophysiology and neurobiology. Attachment theory in particular provides a common language and conceptual framework from which the contributions from the neurosciences can be made applicable to group psychotherapy.

Exploration of experiences in therapeutic groups for patients with severe mental illness: development of the Ferrara group experiences scale (FE- GES)

“…Sharing of emotions and experiences among group members appears to be the core element of self-disclosure, suggested by Bloch and Crouch [22] as a driver of change. Sharing emotions and experiences may also contribute to the quality of the relational climate that Dierick and Lietaer described as a fundamental dimension of group therapies [28,41-43]. …”

Multi-tiered Group Therapy Model to Identify and Treat the Root Causes of Domestic Violence: A Proposal Integrating Current Social Neuroscience Findings

“…Fallon argued that having such a gene may lead to antisocial and psychopathic behaviors in which violence may reach unexpected levels of aggression, especially if environmental factors cause significant stress. In this context, a person's DV in group may require different caring interventions that provide the capacity to understand how their unique neurobiology contributes to angry behaviors and disturbed relationships (Badenoch & Cox, 2010;Cozolino, 2006Cozolino, , 1010Flores, 2010;Siegel, 2010). Findings in the social neurosciences (Badenoch & Cox, 2010;Iacoboni, 2008;Lieberman, 2013;Porges, 2011;Schore, 2003aSchore, , 2003bSiegel, 2010) provide a unique way of understanding some of the underlying root causes of violence that are neurobiologically determined.…”

“…The small group therapy treatment method approximates the original family and the neuroscience assumptions of how all brains are structured for social attachment and communication (Lieberman, 2013) and how social brains are formed and how they respond to change (Doige, 2007;Flores, 2010;Lieberman, 2013;Rutan et al, 2007), using group therapy to treat serious behavioral problems and possibly the root causes of violence (Buchele & Spitz, 2005;Burlingame, Fuhriman, & Mosier, 2003;Yalom, & Leszcz, 2005).…”

“…The blending of the efficacy studies on group psychotherapy (Burlingame, Strauss, & Joyce, 2013) with the findings of the social neurosciences (Cozolino, 2006(Cozolino, , 2010DeHaan & Gunnar, 2009;Eckhardt et al, 2013;Frith & Wolpert, 2003;Harmon-Jones & Winkielman, 2007;Iacoboni, 2008;Lieberman, 2013) suggests that relational problems of domestic violence can best be treated in a group psychotherapy setting where the connections and attachments necessary for healthy relationships can be established (Bowlby 1969(Bowlby , 1976(Bowlby , 1988Flores, 2010;Lothstein, 2013Lothstein, , 2014McGregor, Nunez, Cebula, & Gomez, 2007;and cf. issue Group therapy is a microcosm of the family group (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005), in which core conflicts and triggers learned in the original crucible of the DV family of origin can now be experienced differently in the safety of the group, and with competent group leadership (Cozolino, 2010;Flores, 2010).…”

“…issue Group therapy is a microcosm of the family group (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005), in which core conflicts and triggers learned in the original crucible of the DV family of origin can now be experienced differently in the safety of the group, and with competent group leadership (Cozolino, 2010;Flores, 2010). Badenoch and Cox (2013) note that, "Because therapy group members often share some common implicit experiences-abandonment, shame, terror, grief-they can easily collaborate with one another in making meaning of the experiences that led to those painful states" (pp.…”