A Time-Limited Structured, Developmental Group Model
Goldye P. Donner, LCSW and Richard U. Rosenfield, Ph.D.
Since 1991, we have successfully developed and employed a dynamic, time-limited, structured developmental group therapy model with clients in our private practices who are struggling to recover from the cognitive, emotional, behavioral and interpersonal consequences of dysfunctional childhood experiences. These clients have chronic problems and are caught in the revolving door of living from crisis to crisis and experience frequent periods of stagnation and relapse.
Our program design integrates our combined training and experience in psychotherapy, Ericksonian Hypnosis and Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP). To address unresolved issues from childhood wounds and limitations, we adapted John Bradshaw's developmental approach outlined in his book, Homecoming, into a powerful group therapy process where participants attend to the developmental tasks of each stage from infancy through adolescence to create a stronger foundation for coping successfully with adult life.
Typically, group therapy is guided by basic knowledge of psychodynamics, psychosocial development and group process. To these fundamentals we have added the structure of a developmental time-line model through which we emphasize the primacy of safety and the use of hypnotic and NLP patterns.
Early in our work with this process, we realized that an internalization of safety is the primary emotional learning experience that underlies all growth, developmental and therapeutic. If group members have not internalized safety, little change can occur and even less is held and maintained over time. Accordingly, we emphasize anchoring safety at the outset and continuously throughout the group to help participants attend to and trust their own feeling states and share their feelings authentically with other group members.
As we progress through each developmental stage working in large and small group formats, we provide participants with experiences that are designed to produce parallel outcomes: (1) a cognitive psycho-educational component to provide a structure through which developmental themes may be understood and related to present behavior, (2) a regressive experience to elicit feelings associated with each stage, and (3) an opportunity for change in interfering inner representations of childhood experiences and beliefs in order to strengthen self-esteem and enhance psycho-social skills.
We use hypnotic patterns to foster relaxation, inner focus, safety, regression, re-parenting and consolidation of new learning. We also incorporate various NLP patterns including anchoring, submodalities, growing up a part, future pacing, and our adaptation of re-imprinting that is designed to make the process interactive. Members participate actively in each other's change work and strengthen their own growth. In addition, we incorporate family systems perspectives, poetry and journal writing and psychodramatic/role play techniques to energize and focus the group process. The structure of each segment i.e., infancy, toddlerhood, pre-school, school age, and adolescence starts with a clear problem state and moves to a well-formed outcome state. The entire program is a structured time-line framework and a change personal history model.
While each technique is useful on its own, it is the cumulative process of addressing and repeatedly revisiting each individual's core themes and belief systems over time that facilitates each participant's progress. By the end of the group, participants have a clearer understanding of their own developmental history, a powerful re-parenting experience and multiple opportunities to re-claim parts of themselves. By having repeated opportunities to address their core issues, participants are able to build and strengthen their resources, increase the likelihood that they will be able to maintain positive changes and create a framework for a more desired and effective future.
Our 40 week structured group therapy program works very well as an adjunct to individual therapy and 12 step recovery programs. The group leaders coordinate with individual therapists to maximize client progress. Over the years we have had many mental health professionals participate in our groups for their own recovery and, of course, make client referrals to us.
Our next program begins September 20, 2006 in Springfield, VA. Please call Dr. Richard Rosenfield at 703-569-3443 or Goldye Donner at 703-569-6492 or gpdonner@aol.com with any questions or referrals.
Training for professionals interested in learning to facilitate this unique program can also be arranged.