Group-Based Treatment: Benefits and Tips

Navigating Group-Based Treatment

Working with groups is common when providing treatment-based services for individuals in a variety of settings with different conditions. This could include a chair yoga class within an assisted living facility or a group of 2 patients completing a game in a rehab gym. There are many other settings that may require group learning and treatment, such as outpatient programs, skilled nursing facilities, school-based groups, adult day programs, and general support groups. 

Engaging in social interactions can help build a sense of community and partnership, which may be intrinsically rewarding and beneficial for your clients. Beyond that, ensuring these groups target specific skill-building areas for all participants is essential. However, it can be tricky at times. Group-based treatment can be a powerful and flexible way to further support cognitive functioning for clients. While 1-on-1 treatment is valuable, group work provides other therapeutic advantages, such as mirroring real-world social interactions, increasing engagement, and generalizing skill-building for daily living. Let’s further explore the benefits of small group cognitive-based treatment! In this article, we’ll expand on practical tips for running effective and inclusive group sessions, including how HappyNeuron Pro can support your work.

Group-Based Treatment Benefits:

Reflecting real-world cognitive demands

Daily life requires a unique mix of memory, attention, problem-solving, and communication, which typically occur within social contexts. Group therapy supports building these skills through turn-taking, active listening, collaborative reasoning, and understanding others’ perspectives.

Motivation and engagement

Groups offer a sense of shared experiences and a greater sense of accountability and accomplishment. This can help clients feel more motivated to reach their goals.

Capitalizing on clinical time

In settings where caseloads and productivity are high, groups can help clinicians to use time and resources efficiently.

Social connection and growth

Group sessions, especially when performed consistently, can help build a sense of community, decrease loneliness, and support communication skills and confidence.

Working with Mixed-Level Groups

Small groups often include participants with varying cognitive strengths and challenges. Therefore, sessions may include:

1. Individualized scaffolding within group tasks
2. Varying instructions (e.g., visual cues for some, verbal cues for others)
3. Graduated cueing—minimal → moderate → maximum
4. Clear, predictable pacing to reduce overload
5. Built-in opportunities for each participant to contribute

This approach promotes group inclusivity while keeping each individual appropriately challenged, without becoming overwhelmed.

Pro Tips for Successful Small Groups: 

• Set clear goals from the beginning 
• Define what this group session will be focused on
• Be thoughtful in selecting activities. Choose activities that allow for collaboration, discussion, and teamwork.
• Incorporate assistive technology (AT) as needed. This may include timers, noise-reducing headphones, visual cues, graphic organizers, AAC devices, etc.
• Adjust the task to provide the “Just Right” Challenge. The goal is to have each individual appropriately engaged in a difficulty level that matches where they are at, but does not overwhelm them.
• Maintain a predictable session structure for recurring groups. If a group consistently meets, set the tone with consistent parameters, such as a welcome and warm-up activity, followed by a cognitive task, then a group discussion, and cool-down task. Establishing a routine reduces possible anxiety and overall cognitive load for group members.
• Develop peer interactions, such as having members share strategies, reflections on areas for improvement, and support.

HappyNeuron Pro and Group Treatment

When leading groups, especially ones that meet regularly, having more tools in your toolbox is helpful for both the clinician and clients. HappyNeuron Pro can help offer enriched interaction, consistency, and customization to your group sessions. 

Here are some tips and examples:

1. Use HappyNeuron Pro on a large screen with 2-4 group members working together to problem-solve specific exercises together, take turns, and discuss outcomes.
2. Have clients perform a HappyNeuron Pro exercise individually, and then discuss strategies, likes/dislikes, and tips.
3. Customize exercises based on the level of difficulty, required skill level, and the cognitive area of interest.
4. Streamline documentation of exercises for each individual through progress tracking data while still orchestrating group work.
5. Work on bridging for functional skill development. This includes discussions and education on how exercises relate to real-world activities, such as the cognitive demands required for medication management, household tasks, safe mobility and navigation, social interaction, and self-regulation
6. Maintain interest and engagement by rotating through different exercises or changing the level of difficulty mid-activity, if the group requires more or less support.

In Conclusion…

Group treatment within the context of addressing cognitive impairments helps to build cognitive skills while creating an opportunity for social interaction and promoting functional independence. In this way, group sessions can be a way to make treatment more dynamic and motivating, and have a higher impact on client success.

HappyNeuron Pro makes it easy to implement small-group cognitive treatment by offering flexible, customizable, and engaging mental exercises!