Therapy Show - #10 Dr. Molyn Leszcz Explains Why Group Therapy is One of the Most Effective Mental Health Treatments - If Performed Skillfully and Competently

#10 Dr. Molyn Leszcz Explains Why Group Therapy is One of the Most Effective Mental Health Treatments - If Performed Skillfully and Competently

09/09/19 • 37 min

Dr. Molyn Leszcz is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and his academic and clinical work has focused on improving integration in psychiatric care and broadening the application of psychotherapy within psychiatry. Dr. Leszcz co-authored with Irvin Yalom, the 5th edition of the Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (6th edition to be released in 2020), and also co-authored the book in the Psychotherapy Essentials to Go series, Achieving Psychotherapy Effectiveness. Dr. Leszcz is President-Elect of the American Group Psychotherapy Association and is a member of the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists as well as the Editorial Committee of the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy.

Group Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with several clients at the same time When facilitated with evidenced-based theory, Group Therapy can help individuals make profound and lasting changes in their lives. Group Therapy is often the main type of modality used in intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, inpatient psychiatric units and residential treatment centers, and is commonly integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes individual therapy and medication. Groups can be as small as three or four people; however, group therapy sessions typically involve around seven to twelve individuals. The precise manner in which the session is conducted depends largely on the goals of the group and the style of the therapist. Some therapists might encourage a more free-form style of dialogue, where each member participates as he or she sees fit. Other therapists instead have a specific plan for each session that might include having clients practice new skills with other members of the group.

AGPA on Twitter: @agpa01

AGPA on Twitter: @agpa01

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#9 Dr. Steven Hayes Developed ACT to Help Individuals Balance Acceptance and Change Leading to Emotional Flexibility

Dr. Steven Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada and the developer of a new approach to human thought called Relational Frame Theory. He has guided ACT’s extension to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) a popular evidence-based form of psychotherapy that is now practiced by tens of thousands of clinicians all around the world. Dr. Hayes was listed by the Institute of Scientific Information as the 30th “highest impact” psychologist in the world. Dr. Hayes is the author of many seminal books including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and my favorite Acceptance & Mindfulness Treatments for Children & Adolescents: A Practioner’s Guide. In August, Dr. Hayes released his new book A Liberated Mind. Whether you are a client or therapist, I encourage you to read his new book.

ACT uses mindfulness and acceptance skills to help individuals respond to uncontrollable experiences with behavior that is more consistent with their personal values and goals. A therapy model where clients learn to accept their inner thoughts, emotions and sensations and begin to practice psychological flexibility which is demonstrated by more adaptive behaviors. ACT teaches individuals to deal with their emotional and mental struggles through a balance of acceptance of their problems and encouraging them to move toward more adaptive change. In contrast to most Western psychotherapy which is based on a medical model, ACT does not have symptom reduction as a primary goal. This is based on the belief that the attempt to get rid of symptoms can actually cause a clinical disorder. As soon as individual’s experience is labeled a symptom, they begin to fight against that symptom in order to eradicate it. In ACT therapy, a person would look to have a new relationship with their difficult thoughts and feelings, change their perspective on them as harmless, albeit uncomfortable, transient psychological experiences. It is through this process that clients utilizing an ACT modality actually achieves a reduction in their psychiatric symptoms.

Dr. Steven Hayes on Twitter: @StevenCHayes

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#11 HELP: Does Your Local Hospital have a Hospital Elder Life Program? Dr. Sharon Inouye Explains Why You Should Inquire

Dr. Sharon Inouye is a Professor of Medicine and the Milton and Shirley F. Levy Family Chair at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Aging Brain Center in the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew Senior Life. Dr. Inouye is one of the world's leading researchers in the field of geriatric care and has developed a widely used validated assessment tool to identify delirium called the Confusion Assessment Method. Dr. Inouye is also known for creating the Hospital Elder Life Program which is commonly referred to as HELP. The mission of HELP is to prevent delirium in hospitalized patients.

Geriatric Therapists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues that occur more commonly in older patients, such as delirium, dementia, depression, anxiety, late life addiction disorders. Geriatric Therapists focus on the aging process and related psychological and biological issues and may look for the psychological effects of a chronic or acute physical illness. A geriatric therapist’s evaluation will take into consideration a geriatric patient's needs and perhaps modify their treatment plan to accommodate the aging person. They often will want to focus on prevention, environment, and social supports as a way to improve psychiatric symptoms and improve functioning and may even look to reduce or change medications depending upon the patient's needs.

Dr. Sharon Inouye on Twitter: @sharon_inouye