"A persuasive body of outcome research has demonstrated consistently and unequivocally that group therapy is a highly effective form of psychotherapy"
From: The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 6th edition, by Yalom I.D. & Molyn L.
Why group psychotherapy?
Human beings are social animals. There's no human deed or thought that can be grasped without the social context in which it is originated. This is because our Self, or identity, if you will, is constantly shaped over time through the interpersonal interactions and relationships we establish within our social world. Some relationships, especially those we engage in with our significant others in the early stages of our life, are pivotal in forging our personality which, in turn, determines how we respond to social situations. When tied to traumatic/dysfunctional interpersonal experiences occurred in the past, these responses can affect the individual's present life, leading to psychological suffering, symptoms, and mental health illnesses.
Promoting change
The primary goal of interpersonal psychoanalytic therapy is to encourage, rather than enforce, a transformation by enhancing the patient’s awareness and comprehension of their own deliberate and instinctive behaviors, ideas, and self-perceptions in social contexts. This goal can be achieved through various methods, with group psychotherapy serving as a dynamic environment where the unique characteristics of patients are not just identified but also demonstrated by the group members. This setting enables the analyst to examine these behaviors as they occur in the here and now and foster the previously mentioned awareness.
Since in our western culture therapeutic treatments are mostly represented in the form of individual psychotherapy, most therapists and patients overlook group therapy as a potential solution to the psychological suffering we, as humans, go through.
Group therapy is as effective as individual therapy. One of the main differences is that not only the therapist, but also the group contribute to fostering awareness regarding each participants' way of function within a social context. Being in a group can be intimidating at first, but what most patients later recognize is that it is a warm and welcoming environment where they can learn a lot about themselves.
How to join the group
Riders on the Beach I (1902) - Paul Gauguin
Since the group that will be created is a closed one, each candidate must undergo one or two individual psychotherapy assessment sessions with the therapist. The latter will evaluate both the patient's needs and their suitability for working in a group setting.
In order to start, a group must be composed of a minimum of 5 patients, with 8 being its maximum capacity. All participants must be strangers to each other prior to the beginning of group therapy.
Meetings last ninety minutes and are held weekly at the same time and location.
Although the duration of a psychotherapy treatment cannot be predetermined with certainty, adherence to it represents a crucial factor for the achievement of the therapeutic goals. The therapist and the patients will commit to not miss or cancel sessions.
Location and time
Weekly appointments.
Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
436 MacLaren St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0M8
Francesco Campanile's office (ground floor).
