Group therapy with adolescents who have learning disabilities and social/emotional problems

Abstract

This paper presents groltp therapy with adolescents who have learning disabilities and sociallemotional problents. First, the paper reviews the literature on prychosocial development ancl interventions offered to these adolescents. Thire is agreement in the literature that group therapy is beneficial for adolescents. I.earning disubled uclolescents meet the criteria Jbr receiving this intervention. Despite this, review of the literature sulgests that this population is not generally offered group therapy. Twct cuse examples ore presented. The group approach described combines princiltles cleriveel Ji'om prychodynamic group theory with udjustments to occotn,nodute the leaming disahilities. These examples ilfustrate is.rrre,r thut cutt he uddressecl in group with learning disabled adolescents.

Social Group Work for Young Offenders with Learning Disabilities

“…There is literature on the benefits of group treatment for this population, which notes that modifications may be required to address the members' communication difficulties (Brown and Papagno, 1991;Coché and Fisher, 1989;Mishna, 1996aMishna, , 1996bMishna, Kaiman, Little, and Tarshis, 1994;Pickar, 1988).…”

“…One agency specialized in work with children and youth who have LD, and utilized a group treatment approach that emphasized interpersonal treatment, mutual aid and adaptations to the LD (Mishna, 1996a(Mishna, , 1996bMishna et al, 1994;Yalom, 1995). The other agency worked with "high-risk, hard-to-serve" youth and primarily used CBT in group work.…”

“…Findings show that the emphases on changing anti-social, pro-criminal attitudes and on improving problem-solving strategies are particularly effective with this population (Izzo and Ross, 1990;Ross and Fabiano, 1985). A separate body of literature suggests that children and youth with LD can benefit from group work (Brown and Papagno, 1991;Coché and Fisher, 1989;Mishna, 1996aMishna, , 1996bMishna, Kaiman, Little, and Tarshis, 1994;Pickar, 1988).…”

Strong and Safe: a healthy relationships and empowerment group for women with disabilities

“…In addition, knowing when and if to include carers or supports can be a challenge. Mishna et al (1994) and Mishna and Muskat (2004) found that many youth with disabilities had experienced psychosocial losses with their barriers to connect with peers in a social environment. In their studies, the authors found that psychodynamic groups could be used to correct psychosocial losses experienced by adolescents with disabilities.…”

“…In their studies, the authors found that psychodynamic groups could be used to correct psychosocial losses experienced by adolescents with disabilities. Psychodynamic groups benefited group members as they experienced feelings of acceptance and safety among peers, empathy and caring for others, and a supportive environment through group therapy (Mishna et al, 1994;Mishna, 1996;Mishna & Muskta, 2004). Longhurst et al…”