WEIGHT LOSS: TYPES OF GROUP THERAPY
Psychoeducational and Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy
We heard about many cognitive-behavioral techniques. The same principles can work in a group setting as well.
Groups provide a natural forum for patients to learn the facts about eating disorders. Food diaries can be looked at in groups. Another advantage of groups is that they give patients an opportunity to share strategies for improving unhealthy eating and reworking outmoded patterns of thinking and feeling.
Family groups, often led by a social worker, involve members of anywhere from five to ten families of eating disorder patients. Families learn how to be more supportive of their child, how to set limits, and how to handle problems that crop up. In sessions, people share experiences and trade advice, giving each other much-needed emotional support in the process. Many participants report feeling much less shame and guilt following a course of therapy.
Other Types of Groups
These include creative therapy, such as movement or dance therapy, to help patients get in touch with their bodies, and art therapy, where patients draw or sculpt to express their feelings about their bodies, their relationships with others in their family, and so on. In psychodrama groups, patients act out scenes, playing different roles to carry on conversations or demonstrate feelings. This strategy helps a patient uncover her feelings and bring them into the room, where they then take on a life of their own. Women’s issues groups focus on concerns relating to sexuality and the role of women in society. Finally, there are self-help groups that offer emotional support, socialization, and hope.
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