Group Psychotherapy with Learning Disabled Adults

Abstract

An account is offered of group psychotherapy with five mildly learning disabled adults with emotional and maturational difficulties. Group content, dynamic process and problems, and evaluation are examined. Psychodynamic group psychotherapy with this client group is a treatment option not often undertaken but it is appropriate and potentially beneficial to this group of people. The task of the therapist is not easy and supervision and support are essential.

The nature of feelings and emotion-based learning within psychotherapy and counselling: neuroscience is putting the heart back into emotion

“…Group psychotherapy can also provide benefits to people with learning disabilities. Jones and Bonnar (1996) found expression of a wide range of emotions in a psychotherapy group for adults with intellectual disabilities, and also found that the participants had significantly engaged with the process.…”

The emotional lives of people with learning disability

“…Group psychotherapy provides an opportunity to observe and learn about the emotional aspects of learning disability within a group setting (O'Connor 2001). One recent published example found that the most frequent emotions expressed were loss, separation, sadness, abandonment, rejection, anger and ambivalence (Jones & Bonnar 1996). Sexuality and handicap were alluded to in the group, but not directly explored.…”

“…Hollins & Evered 1990; Tharinger et al . 1990; Garber 1991; Wagner 1991; Jones & Bonnar 1996; Wenz‐Gross & Siperstein 1996). Particularly, they comment that when it come to emotions, there exist few studies investigating psychological treatments for depression (Lindsay et al .…”

Using Staff Consultation to Facilitate the Emotional Development of Adults with Learning Disabilities

“…The three conventional methods of treating emotional problems have their limitations: (1) living in the community by itself does not necessarily promote emotional development and indeed can exacerbate problems of loneliness, sadness, stress and isolation (Richardson et al, 1979;Sullivan et al, 1988;Cullen et al, 1995); (2) Community learning disability teams find it difficult, and are not necessarily trained, to recognise the presence of affective disorder; and (3) psychological treatment is usually confined to medication, management, or symptomatic behavioural therapy. Although there are a growing number of examples of how individual and group psychotherapeutic techniques can be applied (Selan, 1976;Cohen, 1985;Hollins & Evered, 1990;Garber, 1991;Sinason, 1992;Waitman & Conboy-Hill, 1992;Jones & Bonnar, 1996), the main problem with psychotherapeutic approaches is lack of therapist interest and financial resources.…”