When I worked with older adults in assisted living facilities, I would use group therapy as an opportunity to motivate clients to participate in therapeutic interventions as most of my clients were suffering from a lack of social participation. In this setting, I found my clients were often willing to work longer and harder as they supported each other throughout this process fostering a sense of community and familiarity.
I’ve hosted pediatric occupational therapy groups, where a team of students learn a shared goal of enhancing their handwriting and their leisure participation and this was so rewarding! Group occupational therapy enhances social interaction, which can boost motivation and self-esteem. Additionally, it facilitates peer modelling, where participants observe and learn from each other's skills. I’ve seen firsthand that group activities promote teamwork, problem-solving, and collaboration - all skills that are crucial for successful participation in daily occupations.
I started using groups to enhance client outcomes after starting my private holistic Occupational Therapy practice. I quickly found that a masterful way to improve the results my clients were getting was to provide group work in addition to their private sessions. It was through the group work that clients really started to accept and take action toward the changes they wanted to make in their lives. Without the group, a client's goals feel more threatening to their current lifestyle and unattainable. With the group and the acceptance and celebration of others, a client more easily meets their goals and those changes are more likely to last. Group programming is a "secret ingredient" we use in our company to help our clients create lasting, lifelong transformation to this day.