Which Group is Best for Me?
In general, groups can be divided into 5 types: 1) Psychoeducational Groups, 2) Interpersonal/Process Groups, 3) Process Groups for Special Populations or Topics, 4) Mixed Psychoeducational/Process Groups, and 5) Support Groups.
Psychoeducational Groups
Psychoeducational groups are very popular right now. Many parenting courses and anger management courses are of this variety. These are generally led by a mental health professional or student and focused on a particular topic. While they do encourage involvement, they are primarily focused on teaching or educating a person about a topic. Self-disclosure is generally limited. These groups are generally time limited to a certain number of meetings.
Interpersonal/Process Groups
Interpersonal groups (also called process groups) focus on self-disclosure and interaction as the basis of the group. They are often led by 1 or 2 group therapists training in therapy and group process. Although the therapist may do some teaching, as is true in any therapy, the interaction of group members is the primary healing and growth agent. The therapist's role is primarily facilitating the process and helping individuals becomes aware of 1) their relationship patterns, 2) effective/ineffective ways of communicating, and 3) how their own issues may interfere with relationships.
These are generally open-ended groups. Group members attend regularly over time until they 'graduate' from group therapy. As one person graduates, another person will often be added. This is a very powerful form of therapy.
Interpersonal Process Groups for Special Populations
This is a variant of the interpersonal group discussed above in which there is a central theme for the group. For example, it may be a women's or men's group or a divorce recovery group. The difference from the process group is primarily the criteria for inclusion in the group. These are often ongoing groups, though they are more likely to be time-limited than the regular interpersonal process groups.
Mixed Psychoeducational/Process Groups
These groups mix the process with psychoeducational group therapy. Generally, the group begins with a topic. Individuals in the group are asked to share events from their lives that relate to that topic. The discussion is much more focused than an interpersonal process group and the therapists are generally more active in teaching and directing group members. These are generally time-limited groups.
Support Groups
Support groups are often run by people who aren't professionals. When professionals run them, they are often more focused just on offering support as opposed to process groups which also focus on increasing self-awareness. Support groups are often in a more open format in which individuals come and go as needed, so there is not as much consistency in the group. An advantage is that these groups are often free. However, I would highly recommend caution in becoming involved in a support group not run by a qualified mental health professional unless you are also in therapy with a professional. I've heard of too many bad experiences entailing people getting much worse because of involvement in poorly run groups.