AODS 160: Interpersonal Process Group Counseling Techniques

An interpersonal process group (often shortened to simply “process group”) is one of a number of different types of group counseling formats typically offered in substance use treatment programs. In other types of group counseling there is often a focus on a topic (e.g., psychoeducational groups) or a topic combined with practice/demonstration (e.g., a skills group). Even groups that have a specialized intervention component—such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups, emotional regulation or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) groups, or the many variations of trauma groups—are most often topic focused where the facilitator introduces the material and then structures the discussion, lesson, skills demonstration, etc., around that topic.

The interpersonal process group is a less structured group environment. Although a trained facilitator leads the interpersonal process group—which is one of the things that distinguishes the interpersonal process group from a traditional peer-led support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous)—the primary focus is on material (i.e., topics, relational patterns, problem-solving, support, etc.) that is generated by or derived from topics introduced by the group members themselves or the peer-to-peer interactions between the group members. Although it is considered best practice for a trained interpersonal process group facilitator to have a prepared topic or activity for an interpersonal process group in case the group becomes stagnant or off track or “needs a boost,” this facilitator prepared topic is best seen as a “Plan B” with Plan A being that the group will focus on material generated by the group members.

The interpersonal process group is perhaps most similar to a support group, in which members are encouraged to give support and provide feedback to other members (in the form of “I-statements” and relating personal experience rather than giving advice). However the interpersonal process group goes much further with a goal of deeper reflection and examination of the reactions, responses, and reflections that emerge from peer-to-peer interactions between group members. The interpersonal process group also encourages addressing real-time, here-and-now interpersonal conflict and adverse reactions from group members with a goal of learning and practicing social and confrontational skills in the group setting that can be applied to the lives and social interactions of group members outside of group in the world-at-large

Out of all the group counseling formats, the interpersonal process group requires the most training for facilitators. While facilitator-generated topic groups like psychoeducational of skills groups require training also, those groups more typically use a type of formal or informally prepared curriculum that the facilitator presents. The interpersonal process group, by comparison, goes not provide the facilitator with very much structure. This requires flexibility and skill from the facilitator, who needs to be well-trained in the format and purpose of an interpersonal process group, with a considerable variety of therapeutic interventions and techniques at his or her disposal to help group members generate material and interact with each other in a way that is therapeutic and focused on treatment goals—without the group devolving into either uncontrolled interpersonal conflict, power struggles, and withdrawal, or a less-than-therapeutic focus on topics unrelated to the treatment goals of the substance use treatment.

This lecture will introduce the concepts and format of the interpersonal process group.