Group Theory
Definition
According to Barnes (1999), a group is defined as a collection of people coming together with a common aim. The group tends to have boundaries to create safety.
In the Arts for the Blues model, for the group to become a safe place to work, an initial contract is set up. The contract is normally co-designed with the group participants and should include:
- Information about experiential learning
- Confidentiality and its limits
- Agreements on ensuring emotional and physical safety
Classification
There are different ways of classifying therapy groups. Whitaker (1985) classifies groups according to:
- Characteristics of the group participants (e.g., clients with depression or workplace staff)
- Purpose of the group (e.g., self- development, peer-support, therapy)
- Shape of the group (e.g., short-term, long-term, closed, open, show-open)
- Theoretical orientation (e.g., pluralistic, humanistic, CBT, psychodynamic, action- orientated)
The Arts for the Blues group is normally offered as a closed therapy group for children and young people with symptoms or diagnosis of depression. It has a pluralistic character with strong theoretical and practical influences from arts psychotherapies but also from group analytic and humanistic group psychotherapy ideas.