Question

Discuss the possible advantages and/or disadvantages of having a diversity of different issues within a psychotherapy group. Make sure to use specific examples in your arguments.

Answer 1

Diversity of different issues within a psychotherapy group have both pros and cons.

Firstly, we can discuss about the advantages. Diverse members and issues in a group bring more life experiences, emotions, perspectives and different way of approaching challenges. One member's experience can be a solution for an another individual's issues. For instance, the emotion and traumatic experience of a child who is abused by someone may can open the eyes of an alcohol dependent parent who tortured his children. Group members can share their experience and they can understand the fact that there are lot of people in this world who are sufferenig from so many issues. Therefore it can reduce their negative thinking, self devaluation etc.

In contrast, sometimes more diversity is more challenging. With more diversity, there are less chance for the accomishment of individual needs because a grouptherapy is generally conducted with a general issue or topic. For example people who sufferening from neurotic disease is entirely different from psychotic problems. Therefore the solution for a diversity of issues is much difficult. Possibilty for a group conflict is more in a group with diversity. Moreover, creating common goal is not realistic in a diverse group because everyone's problem is different.