group psychotherapy

A form of psychotherapy that treats individuals simultaneously for emotional and behavioral disorders by emphasizing interactions and mutuality. Most professionals consider the term to be synonymous with group therapy. Some writers, however, make a distinction between group psychotherapy, group therapy, and social group work; they consider group psychotherapy to be only one type of group therapy. Whereas group psychotherapy uses group treatment techniques to help individuals resolve emotional problems, group therapy uses a wider range of intervention strategies to help individuals deal with both social maladjustment and emotional disorders. Social group work, although sharing some of these objectives and techniques, is not limited to treating disorders and problems but includes education support groups and positive group experiences that help healthy individuals achieve greater personal fulfillment and change conditions in the environment and society.