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SALEM UNIVERSITY NIGERIA
LECTURER MATERIAL ON CORRECTIONAL GROUP THERAPY

LECTURE: Dr
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Working in groups helps patients to: learn about themselves and others; to improve
moods and feelings; to improve overall quality of life;
Who can benefits? Convicted criminals; people with difficulties in interpersonal
relationships; aged, children from abused homes; depression and trauma; addictive and
personality disorders; mental/medical illnesses;
Purpose of Correctional Group Therapy; to assist inmates in changing dysfunctional
attitudes , beliefs, values, and criminal behavior; to lower drug usage within the
institution, to decrease violence, to improve their custody status, to lower stress, to
increase and improve inmates interactional and communications skills and improve
interpersonal relationship, to improve on their mental health by providing means of
treatment, to provide the prison system with professionals trained in psychology
Difference between group/individual therapy
In individual therapy the issues are brought forth with one therapist listening and
responding to the concerns
...
The highly personal nature of the exchange between
the therapist and the client allows for specific focus on the issues presented
...

Group therapy, on the other hand, involves simultaneous interaction with people typically
outside the client's social and familial network: relative strangers
...


WHO IS GROUP THERAPY FOR?
Group therapy can help people work toward and meet many types of goals
...

This could be because it is a good fit for that individual or better for treating their
concern
...
Others may not have pressing concerns but still wish for
training or support
...
Some of the topics
addressed in group therapy include:


Addiction



Domestic violence or abuse



Anger management

THE ROLE OF GROUP THERAPY IN TREATMENT
Many people use group therapy alongside medication, individual therapy, or other
types of care
...

However, there are many benefits to participating in group therapy
...
They can also lend social support in difficult times
...
Also, listening to others speak about their personal experiences can
help put your own thoughts into perspective
...

Group therapy is not the same as a self-help or support group
...
During
sessions, a therapist teaches research-backed techniques
...

PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL VERSUS PROCESS-ORIENTED GROUP THERAPY

There are many different types of therapeutic groups, but most therapy groups can be
divided into two main approaches
...



Psycho educational groups provide members with information about specific
issues
...
These groups are led by a
qualified therapist who directs sessions and sets goals
...
In this type of group therapy, the therapist takes on the role
of teacher
...
While the therapist
leads the group discussion, they act as a facilitator rather than an instructor
...
Group members
participate by engaging in group discussions and activities
...
In process-oriented group therapy, the group is in charge of their
sessions
...

They may be dialogue-driven, such as reading and sharing stories
...
If used, ice breakers can help group
members get to know each other in an informal way
...
These exercises aim to build trust and respect
...
Role-playing,
wilderness ventures, and other games may be used to strengthen trust between group
members
...

ETHICS OF GROUP THERAPY

Potential group members have the right to know about the group's rules, goals, and
methods when they first meet with the therapist
...

All group members must agree to protect the identities of fellow members
...
Unless permission is given,
nobody should discuss another member’s personal history with anyone else
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Therapists are obligated by law to tell the authorities if members express intent to
harm themselves or others
...
They need to keep sessions free from discrimination, sexual
misconduct, or behaviors that make a member feel uncomfortable, harassed, or
threatened
...

DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION
Addiction, or dependence on a particular substance or activity, is one of the most
complex areas of mental health
...
Individuals who find themselves experiencing an addiction
to drugs or alcohol often find the services of a mental health professional to be
helpful in overcoming the addiction
...
For some, any use of an illegal drug or any use of alcohol
with the primary purpose of intoxication constitutes abuse
...




Physical injury or illness
...




Relationship problems with intimate partners, friends, and family
...




Diminished interest in other activities
...


SIGNS THAT ABUSE HAS BECOME ADDICTION
Substance abuse can lead to substance dependence or addiction when both the
amount of substance used and the rate of use increase
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Alcoholism, for example, occurs when people become chemically dependent on
alcohol, and those who are addicted may become ill if they suddenly stop drinking
...
Some people deny or are unaware that they have a problem with addiction,
and sometimes a person’s substance dependency and abuse remains hidden from
loved ones
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

Requiring the substance throughout the day
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

Dismissing or resenting expressions of concern from loved ones
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

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms in the absence of the substance
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

Binging—using heavily—for many hours or several days
...


WHAT LEADS A PERSON TO MISUSE DRUGS OR ALCOHOL?
Psychological, biological, social, and physiological factors might all play a role in
whether or not a person comes to abuse drugs or alcohol
...
In addition, once a person begins using
heavily, physiological changes often take place, and that person may then become
physically dependent, requiring him or her to continually use the substance in order
to avoid withdrawal symptoms
...
Some researchers are searching for
an addiction or alcoholism gene, while others point out that simply witnessing a
parent drink in response to stress increases a child’s likelihood of choosing to drink
in response to stress
...
Some of these genes increase a person's risk, while some may
instead decrease the risk of a person's developing alcoholism
...
About half of all people with mental health
diagnoses will face challenges with drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives,
usually as a result of using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate
...
Whether they are equipped
with appropriate coping strategies or not, people who misuse substances rely on the
immediate gratification of drugs and alcohol as an alternative to facing the issues at
hand
...
Chronic self-medication may be a
sign that therapy is warranted in order to address an underlying condition or
difficulty
...
There are many reasons
for the behavior
...
Domestic violence
has different levels of severity
...

It may happen in any type of relationship
...

Domestic violence is also known as intimate partner violence, spousal abuse, and
domestic abuse
...

Staying in an abusive situation can have negative long-term effects
...

Types of domestic violence include:


Physical abuse
...

This could also include forced ingestion of drugs or alcohol
...
Forced or coerced sex acts, rape, or sexually demeaning
treatment
...
Put-downs, name-calling, blaming, or criticism
...




Psychological abuse
...
This may include keeping a partner from socializing or going
to work or school
...




Financial abuse
...
This includes restricting

access to financial resources
...
But
anyone can be affected
...
The effects of domestic violence reach beyond the
victims and abusers
...

Statistics on domestic abuse reveal that:
WHY DO PEOPLE ABUSE THEIR PARTNERS?
Many factors affect whether a person will commit domestic abuse
...
These factors are also
found in victims of domestic violence
...
But many factors link to the behavior
...
This factor is having
been a victim of abuse in the past
...
These may or may not be temporary
...
These may
include:


Anxiety



Depression



Posttraumatic stress (PTSD)



Trust issues



Problems with sleep



Fear of intimacy



Suicidal thoughts



Emotional distance

Therapy can help those who experienced abuse work with these issues
...
In therapy, healing
from the trauma of abuse may occur
...
This cycle occurs in violent relationships
...



Tension
...




Violent incident
...
The violence
may become more severe over time
...
The abuser makes an apology
...
On the other hand, the abuser might blame the victim for the abuse
...
The victim may accept the blame or
denial
...
A period of calm ensues
...
But it does not represent every violent
relationship
...
It can be important for
someone being abused to understand this cycle
...

Leaving an abusive relationship and seeking help may remove you from a dangerous
situation
...


Anger Management
Anger management refers to a process
...
People
learn steps to help them stay calm in anger management
...

The purpose of anger management is to help a person decrease anger
...
It is generally impossible to
avoid all people and settings that incite anger
...
The support of a mental
health professional may be helpful in this process
...
These may include:


Internal events such as perceived failures, injustices, or frustrations



External events such as loss of property or privileges, teasing, or humiliation

Anger may result in externalizing behaviors
...
Anger can also cause internalizing behaviors
...
People may show anger
through aggression
...
It is an
evolutionary response that helps prepare people to fight off threats
...
People who receive anger management therapy learn skills to slow their
reaction to anger
...
The roots
of anger may be buried in emotional trauma, addiction, grief, or other issues
...
This can obscure
the true cause of the anger
...

HOW ANGER MANAGEMENT WORKS

Anger management therapy provides a clear set of recovery guidelines
...
At the
same time, it aims to achieve constructive responses, rather than destructive ones
...
They try to
become aware of their emotions at each level of arousal
...

In therapy, people gain insight into how their body responds to past and future
events
...

Therapists also help people notice anger responses that may be defense mechanisms
for other concerns
...

Anger management therapy often helps people with anger issues
...
Uncontrollable anger may lead to harmful
psychological and physical conditions
...
This allows people to reduce stress
...
These can include heart disease and high blood pressure
...
It also helps people adjust how they look at situations
...
Some techniques used in anger management therapy include:


Impulse control



Self-awareness



Meditation



Frustration management (sometimes by writing in an anger diary)



Breathing techniques



Relaxation strategies

Anger management therapy may take place in one-on-one or group settings
...
These can include relationship issues,
parenting, teens, and work-related anger or rage
...
This can be a result of a domestic or legal
issue
...
People interested in anger management
may also take a retreat or online course
...
These strengthen the techniques learned in
therapy
...

COURT-ORDERED ANGER MANAGEMENT
The judicial system may mandate some people to complete an anger management
course
...
Offenses may
include, but are not limited to:


Disturbing the peace



Damaging or destroying another person’s property



Assault



Battery



Intimate partner violence (IPV)

Many court-approved agencies offer anger management programs
...

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ANGER MANAGEMENT?
Anger management courses are beneficial for people in the fields of business or
health care
...
Anger management may
benefit anyone seeking to improve their relationships with others
...
These include:


Violent offenders



People with bullying behaviors



People affected by behavioral changes associated with traumatic brain injury
(TBI)



People with behavioral changes associated with posttraumatic stress (PTSD)



People experiencing substance dependency or undergoing recovery



People with cognitive or mental health issues that make it difficult to control
anger

LIMITATIONS OF ANGER MANAGEMENT
Anger management therapy may not be effective with people who do not recognize
they have anger issues
...
These treatments are sometimes based on
principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
...
Doin g so may make
future anger management more effective

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