What Was That Session Like? An Empirically-Derived Typology of Group Therapy Sessions

Objective: This study developed a typology for classifying each session of counseling groups based on members’ perceptions of group climate. We further examined how the type of the group session changed over the course of the group and how these session types were associated with the types of group (structured trauma-focused group vs. unstructured interpersonal process group) and phases of the group. Method: Using a sample of 73 incarcerated women participating in 6 structured trauma-focused therapy groups and 36 university students in 4 unstructured interpersonal process groups, we assessed the members’ perceptions of group climate along three dimensions (engaged, avoiding, and conflict) after every session. Results: Cluster analysis identified five types of group sessions: prickly standoffish, polite working, heavy going, harmoniously involved, and negatively distancing. Results further suggested that (a) polite working sessions were more likely to occur in structured trauma-focused groups, whereas heavy going, harmoniously involved, and negatively distancing sessions were more likely to occur in unstructured interpersonal groups; (b) there was a “perseveration effect” of session types (continuity of climate-based group session type over the short-term); and (c) group session types were significantly associated with group developmental phases. Conclusions: Findings in this study supported a stage model of group development and provided a taxonomy system to describe group sessions for group researchers and practitioners.