Research Paper on:
Psychotherapy and the Group Counseling Approach

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Furthermore, the types of group therapy are also varied and range from emotionally-based interaction to far more objective analysis. In many circumstances, the unconditional positive regard and acceptance among  group members is more potent and meaningful than acceptance by an individual therapist for the participant in the process. Group experience often leads to a deeper self-exploration, self-understanding, and growth.  Group Therapy Models In general, the counseling group may be viewed as a cognitive or "educational" experience in which group members can learn and practice new behaviors and skills to  help them become more successful in their lives, regardless of whether that is dealing with grief, social fears, mental health issues, and an entire spectrum of other psychologically based issues.  Interestingly, in a study conducted by Holmes and Kivlighan (2000), researchers found that the ratings of relationship-climate and other-versus-self focus impacts were much higher in the group participants critical incident  forms, while emotional awareness-insight and problem definition-change ratings were higher in the critical incident reports of individual treatment participants. Clearly, different therapeutic processes take place in group and individual treatments.  In the existential approach to group counseling, the integration of existential psychology with the group model of psychotherapy can help conceptualize a clients world and provide a practical basis  for treatment. In the multidimensional framework that is presented in a group setting, Schneider and May (1995) explain that the existential-integrative approach "can be understood as emancipatory transitions (or footholds)  on the path to a broader liberation" (p. 124). Rugala and Waldo (1998) elaborate on that idea by explaining that: "Existentialism takes an essentially phenomenological perspective on human existence. Each  persons reality is based on his or her perceptions. Furthermore, the extent to which people are experiencing is the extent to which they are being fully alive. When people fail