Yalom’s therapeutic factors are the eleven ways that group therapy helps people, as set out by the American psychiatrist Irvin Yalom in The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, now in its sixth edition with Molyn Leszcz. They explain why sitting with others who struggle, under a trained leader, changes things that advice does not.
Also called: the therapeutic factors of group therapy; Yalom’s eleven factors. Researchers sometimes use a 12-category version that adds self-understanding and splits interpersonal learning in two.
Examples
- Instillation of hope. Seeing someone further along than you.
- Universality. Learning you are not the only one. Often the first relief.
- Imparting information. Facts about your condition, and members’ practical tips.
- Altruism. Finding you can help someone else, which restores self-respect.
- Corrective recapitulation of the primary family group. The group starts to feel like a family, and old roles (the peacemaker, the scapegoat) show up where they can be changed.
- Development of socialising techniques. Practising how to listen, disagree and ask.
- Imitative behaviour. Borrowing what works for others, including the leader.
- Interpersonal learning. Honest feedback on how you come across, and the chance to try something different.
- Group cohesiveness. Belonging. Yalom treats it as the soil the other factors grow in.
- Catharsis. Saying the thing out loud and being accepted anyway.
- Existential factors. Facing, with company, that life is sometimes unfair and that your life is your responsibility.
How it works
The factors are not steps. They overlap, and different ones matter at different stages: universality and hope early, interpersonal learning later. The therapist builds the conditions for them, especially cohesion and safe, honest feedback, rather than delivering content. Several, such as hope and catharsis, work in individual therapy too.
In Nigeria
Universality carries extra weight where stigma makes people hide. On Mytherapist.ng, Circles are small group therapy sessions of up to 12 people, led by a licensed therapist on video, where members use first names or an alias and cameras are optional. The therapist sets the price, shown before you pay. Early evidence suggests online groups can work as well as in-person ones, though that is still being tested.
When to get help
If you want to try a group, read what is group therapy first, then browse Circles. If you would rather start one to one, you can book a licensed therapist on Mytherapist.ng.
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This entry is awaiting clinical review. It’s based on published research and health guidelines, and we’ll update it once a clinician has reviewed it.
List of terms
- group therapy
- Psychotherapy
- therapy
- hope
- individual therapy
- stigma