Kimberly Keiser & Associates Group Psychotherapy and Psychoeducational Groups
Childhood maltreatment occurs in a relational context. Research has shown that how securely attached an individual is after experiencing childhood maltreatment impacts the severity of a variety of mental health symptoms and disorders. ¹,²,³,⁴,⁵
Individual psychotherapy has been found to reduce attachment insecurity and increase attachment security. ⁶ Similarly, group psychotherapy has been found to increase the degree to which individual participants report feeling more securely attached and increase an attachment to the psychotherapy group improves an individual’s attachment security longer-term after the completion of group psychotherapy. ⁷
The added value of group psychotherapy is that attachment a variety of relationships occur as the relationships in a psychotherapy group are multi-faceted and include group members' relationships with each other, the group, and the therapist.
Conflict is common in interpersonal dynamics and often leads to ruptures in relationships. The therapeutic alliance is not immune from relationship ruptures, and the repair of ruptures in a psychotherapy context are perhaps some of the most transformative benefits of engaging in individual or group psychotherapy.
Depending on what conflict resolution skills were taught or observed in childhood lays the foundation for how adults resolve ruptures in and tension in interpersonal relationships. Group psychotherapy allows for a deeper exploration of relationship ruptures, due to the multiplicity of relationships found in a group dynamic. ⁶
Kimberly Keiser & Associates group psychotherapy service offerings are rooted in the foundations of interpersonal group psychotherapy.
Irving Yalom and Molyn Leszcz, in The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, outline the following therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy:
Universality: Members recognize that other group members share similar feelings, thoughts, and problems.
Altruism: Members experience a boost to their self-concept by extending help to other group members.
Instillation of Hope: Members recognize that other group members’ success can be helpful, and they develop optimism for their own improvement.
Imparting Information: Members benefit from the education and advice provided by the therapist or other group members.
Corrective Recapitulation of Primary Family Experience: Members have the opportunity to reenact critical family dynamics with other group members in a corrective manner.
Development of Socializing Techniques: The group provides members with an environment that fosters adaptive and effective communication.
Imitative Behavior: Members expand their personal knowledge and skills through the observation of other group members’ self-exploration, working through, and personal development.
Cohesiveness: Members experience feelings of trust, belonging, and togetherness with other group members.
Existential Factors: Members accept responsibility for their life decisions.
Catharsis: Members release strong feelings about past or present experiences.
Interpersonal Learning-Input: Members gain personal insight about their interpersonal impact through feedback provided by other group members.
Interpersonal Learning-Output: The group provides members with an environment that allows them to interact in a more adaptive manner.
Self-Understanding: Members gain insight into the psychological motivation underlying behavior and emotional reactions.
At Kimberly Keiser & Associates we are leveraging our in-depth knowledge in sexual health, sex therapy, and treating the impacts of childhood maltreatment in any of its various forms on the development of adult mental distress and illness to develop dynamic group counseling and psychotherapy to improve treatment outcomes.
Our current psychotherapy groups include:
Interpersonal Group Psychotherapy
While the fundamentals of interpersonal group psychotherapy will apply to most of our psychotherapy groups, the interpersonal group psychotherapy group provides a safe and effective way to allow group members to address issues currently impacting your interpersonal relationships. It is the only group offered at Kimberly Keiser & Associate that solely focuses on interpersonal dynamics and relationships with others as the method of change.
Learn more about interpersonal group psychotherapy.
Sex Positive Psychoeducational Group
This group will provide psychoeducation in a supportive space to learn about human sexuality. Individuals who choose to be part of this group can range from general interest and desire to have more advanced sex education to individuals who are actively engaged in sex therapy or counseling and would benefit from having a more in-depth, sex-positive understanding of human sexuality in their own health journey.
Learn more about sex-positive psychoeducational group therapy.
Out of Control Sexual Behavior (OCSB) Group
The goal of treatment for out-of-control sexual behavior (OCSB) is for group members to work towards meeting the goals of their sexual health plan as they define it.
Individuals who have sexual behaviors that are out of control usually have constructed highly secretive parts of their lives. Joining with an individual therapist to engage in disclosure and process the nature of their sexual behavior is a foundational first step. Individuals participating in OCSB groups are encouraged to bring disclosures in individual therapy to group therapy to further learn how to integrate all aspects of their sexual behavior to further bolster their sexual health plan.
Learn more about out-of-control sexual behavior group therapy.
Integration of Religion, Spirituality, and Sexuality
Sex-positive Christianity? Many individuals who grew up in religious environments carry the burden of negative thoughts and feelings about sex and themselves as sexual people. This group will help participants unpack religious impacts on sexual self and sexual functioning. Participants will work towards internal congruence of their sexual self and Christianity, in whatever that means to them.
Learn more about Integration of Religion, Spirituality, and Sexuality with group therapy.
Vaginismus Psychoeducational Support and Psychotherapy Group
Women with vaginismus almost always feel alone and like they are the only person experiencing the devastating and painful impact of having vaginismus. Most women with vaginismus feel shame and fear about seeking help for their condition and often feel there is no hope for recovery. The good news is that vaginismus is nearly 100% treatable and women with vaginismus are not alone. This group will provide psychoeducation in a supportive space to understand, share experiences, and celebrate new accomplishments.
Learn more about vaginismus psychoeducational support and group psychotherapy.
Transgender Psychotherapy and Support Group
As a sexual health specialty practice, advocacy, and support for the LGBTQ+ community is also central to our clinic's mission. Our clinic offers support and group counseling specifically targeting the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. This psychotherapy group will offer support through shared experiences, including personal stories of trans experiences, coping with minority stress, changes to relationship and family dynamics, and exploring personal and cultural trauma. This group provides a safe, confidential, and inclusive space for transgender individuals to find peer support, encouragement, and connections. This is an interpersonal psychotherapy group aimed to increase understanding of self through the relationship with peers.
Learn more about transgender group psychotherapy and support.
If you’re looking for more information or wanting to join a group at Kimberly Keiser & Associates, contact us today.
References
1 Struck, N., Krug, A., Feldmann, M., Yuksel, D., Stein, F., Schmitt, S., Brakemeier, E. (2020). Attachment and social support mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 273, 310-317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.04.041
2 Monteleone, A. M., Ruzzi, V., Patriciello, G., Pellegrino, F., Cascino, G., Castellini, G., Maj, M. (2020). Parental bonding, childhood maltreatment and eating disorder psychopathology: An investigation of their interactions. Eating and Weight Disorders, 25(3), 577-589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00649-0
3 Sheinbaum, T., Racioppi, A., Kwapil, T. R., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2020). Attachment as a mechanism between childhood maltreatment and subclinical psychotic phenomena: Results from an eight-year follow-up study. Schizophrenia Research, 220, 261-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2020.03.023
4 Charbonneau-Lefebvre, V., Vaillancourt-Morel, M., Rosen, N. O., Steben, M., & Bergeron, S. (2022). Attachment and childhood maltreatment as moderators of treatment outcome in a randomized clinical trial for provoked vestibulodynia. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 19(3), 479-495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.12.013
5 Muller, R. T., Thornback, K., & Bedi, R. (2012). Attachment as a mediator between childhood maltreatment and adult symptomatology. Journal of Family Violence, 27(3), 243-255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-012-9417-5
6 Taylor, P., Rietzschel, J., Danquah, A., & Berry, K. (2015). Changes in attachment representations during psychological therapy. Psychotherapy Research, 25(2), 222-238. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2014.886791
7 Marmarosh, C. L. (2021). Ruptures and repairs in group psychotherapy: Introduction to the special issue. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 25(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000150
8 Tasca, G. A. (2014). Attachment and group psychotherapy: Introduction to a special section. Psychotherapy, 51(1), 53-56. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033015