ABSTRACT
Group psychotherapy offers several clinical advantages over individual psychotherapy. Group therapy is regarded by many as the treatment of choice for trauma survivors. Groups restore the commonality and connection in relationships damaged by interpersonal violence. Several models of group psychotherapy for trauma survivors have been described in the traumatic stress literature. A stage-oriented model provides guidelines to clinicians with which to assess the right group for the right person at the right time. Groups that focus on the active exploration of trauma histories are appropriate for individuals who have mastered the need to act on self-destructive impulses and who have been sober from substance abuse for a significant period of time. Interpersonal process groups are helpful for individuals who are no longer overwhelmed by traumatic memories and affects. The time-limited structure of the group adds to its ability to provide containment for individuals who are flooded with post-traumatic symptoms.
