Did your therapist recently suggest group therapy as part of your treatment plan for a phobia? That wouldn’t be unusual.A psychoeducational group is a common component in treatment plans for phobia, which includesagoraphobia,social phobia(social anxiety disorder), and aspecific phobia, an exaggerated or irrational fear of a specific object or situation.The Best Online Group Therapy, Tried and TestedCommon Characteristics of Psychoeducational Group TherapyA psychoeducational group is a specific type ofgroup therapythat focuses on educating clients about their disorders and ways of coping. A psychoeducational group is often based on the principles of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).Your psychoeducational group is likely to consist of members who all share the same diagnosis. In this case, education tends to focus on coping with that specific disorder.In other groups, members may have very different diagnoses, and the educational focus is on practical life skills such as managing stress or improving relationships.The leader of the psychoeducational group you attend could be a mental health expert, a peer counselor who shares a similar diagnosis, or a member of the community. There are specific formats for certain types of psychoeducational groups, but some may be less structured than others.Group Treatment for Adolescents with Social Anxiety DisorderA psychoeducational group is the first part of a successful school-based treatment plan for adolescents with social anxiety disorder (formerly known as social phobia) called Skills for Social and Academic Success (SASS). The students gather in small groups for 12 weekly sessions of 40 minutes each. The group leaders guide each session and supportive peers without social anxiety disorder are in attendance, too.During the first session, the group leaders use psychoeducation in a group setting to:Normalize the experience of anxietyPresent the behavioral symptoms and let students share their own symptomsGive students space to discuss their negative thoughts and how avoidance affects their livesIdentify students' goals for the SASS programThe next four topics presented in the subsequent sessions of SASS are:Realistic thinkingSocial skills trainingExposureRelapse preventionThe 9 Best Online Therapy ProgramsGroup Interventions for Specific PhobiasA psychoeducational group intervention is an effective approach for reducing the symptoms of thesocial anxietyknown as erythrophobia, a fear of blushing, and the specific phobia arachnophobia, a fear of spiders.When it comes to a fear of blushing, a study published in the journalClinical Psychology and Psychotherapyfound that when 47 erythrophobia participants attended one weekly psychoeducational group session for six weeks, they showed significant improvement from baseline on a Blushing, Trembling, and Sweating Questionnaire.In regards to the specific phobia of spiders, a pilot study published in a German medical journal on child psychology evaluated 36 children between the ages of 8 and 10. Researchers wanted to try and reduce the likelihood of developing this common fear using a psychoeducative group program. After completing the program, both boys and girls showed a reduction in their fear.10 of the Most Common PhobiasA Word From VerywellIf you think you may benefit from this type of therapy, consider consulting with your doctor or a mental health professional. For instance, it’s possible that a psychoeducational group on managing social phobia can teach you ways to reduce your anxiety in social situations.Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Did your therapist recently suggest group therapy as part of your treatment plan for a phobia? That wouldn’t be unusual.

A psychoeducational group is a common component in treatment plans for phobia, which includesagoraphobia,social phobia(social anxiety disorder), and aspecific phobia, an exaggerated or irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

The Best Online Group Therapy, Tried and Tested

Common Characteristics of Psychoeducational Group Therapy

A psychoeducational group is a specific type ofgroup therapythat focuses on educating clients about their disorders and ways of coping. A psychoeducational group is often based on the principles of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).

Your psychoeducational group is likely to consist of members who all share the same diagnosis. In this case, education tends to focus on coping with that specific disorder.

In other groups, members may have very different diagnoses, and the educational focus is on practical life skills such as managing stress or improving relationships.

The leader of the psychoeducational group you attend could be a mental health expert, a peer counselor who shares a similar diagnosis, or a member of the community. There are specific formats for certain types of psychoeducational groups, but some may be less structured than others.

Group Treatment for Adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder

A psychoeducational group is the first part of a successful school-based treatment plan for adolescents with social anxiety disorder (formerly known as social phobia) called Skills for Social and Academic Success (SASS). The students gather in small groups for 12 weekly sessions of 40 minutes each. The group leaders guide each session and supportive peers without social anxiety disorder are in attendance, too.

During the first session, the group leaders use psychoeducation in a group setting to:

The next four topics presented in the subsequent sessions of SASS are:

The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs

Group Interventions for Specific Phobias

A psychoeducational group intervention is an effective approach for reducing the symptoms of thesocial anxietyknown as erythrophobia, a fear of blushing, and the specific phobia arachnophobia, a fear of spiders.

When it comes to a fear of blushing, a study published in the journalClinical Psychology and Psychotherapyfound that when 47 erythrophobia participants attended one weekly psychoeducational group session for six weeks, they showed significant improvement from baseline on a Blushing, Trembling, and Sweating Questionnaire.

In regards to the specific phobia of spiders, a pilot study published in a German medical journal on child psychology evaluated 36 children between the ages of 8 and 10. Researchers wanted to try and reduce the likelihood of developing this common fear using a psychoeducative group program. After completing the program, both boys and girls showed a reduction in their fear.

10 of the Most Common Phobias

A Word From Verywell

If you think you may benefit from this type of therapy, consider consulting with your doctor or a mental health professional. For instance, it’s possible that a psychoeducational group on managing social phobia can teach you ways to reduce your anxiety in social situations.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schaub A, Hippius H, Möller HJ, Falkai P.Psychoeducational and Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Programs: Implementation and Evaluation From 1995 to 2015 in Kraepelin’s Former Hospital.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S81–S89. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw057Ryan JL, Warner CM.Treating adolescents with social anxiety disorder in schools.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2012;21(1):105–ix. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2011.08.011Dijk C, Buwalda FM, De jong PJ.Dealing with fear of blushing: a psychoeducational group intervention for fear of blushing.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2012;19(6):481-487. doi:10.1002/cpp.764Leutgeb V, Schaider M, Schienle A.Psychoeducation leads to a reduction in fear of spiders in 8- to 9-year-old children - a pilot study.Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother. 2012 Sep;40(5):325-30. doi:10.1024/1422-4917/a000189

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schaub A, Hippius H, Möller HJ, Falkai P.Psychoeducational and Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Programs: Implementation and Evaluation From 1995 to 2015 in Kraepelin’s Former Hospital.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S81–S89. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw057Ryan JL, Warner CM.Treating adolescents with social anxiety disorder in schools.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2012;21(1):105–ix. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2011.08.011Dijk C, Buwalda FM, De jong PJ.Dealing with fear of blushing: a psychoeducational group intervention for fear of blushing.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2012;19(6):481-487. doi:10.1002/cpp.764Leutgeb V, Schaider M, Schienle A.Psychoeducation leads to a reduction in fear of spiders in 8- to 9-year-old children - a pilot study.Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother. 2012 Sep;40(5):325-30. doi:10.1024/1422-4917/a000189

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Schaub A, Hippius H, Möller HJ, Falkai P.Psychoeducational and Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Programs: Implementation and Evaluation From 1995 to 2015 in Kraepelin’s Former Hospital.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S81–S89. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw057Ryan JL, Warner CM.Treating adolescents with social anxiety disorder in schools.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2012;21(1):105–ix. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2011.08.011Dijk C, Buwalda FM, De jong PJ.Dealing with fear of blushing: a psychoeducational group intervention for fear of blushing.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2012;19(6):481-487. doi:10.1002/cpp.764Leutgeb V, Schaider M, Schienle A.Psychoeducation leads to a reduction in fear of spiders in 8- to 9-year-old children - a pilot study.Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother. 2012 Sep;40(5):325-30. doi:10.1024/1422-4917/a000189

Schaub A, Hippius H, Möller HJ, Falkai P.Psychoeducational and Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Programs: Implementation and Evaluation From 1995 to 2015 in Kraepelin’s Former Hospital.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S81–S89. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw057

Ryan JL, Warner CM.Treating adolescents with social anxiety disorder in schools.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2012;21(1):105–ix. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2011.08.011

Dijk C, Buwalda FM, De jong PJ.Dealing with fear of blushing: a psychoeducational group intervention for fear of blushing.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2012;19(6):481-487. doi:10.1002/cpp.764

Leutgeb V, Schaider M, Schienle A.Psychoeducation leads to a reduction in fear of spiders in 8- to 9-year-old children - a pilot study.Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother. 2012 Sep;40(5):325-30. doi:10.1024/1422-4917/a000189

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