Therapeutic Outcome, Group Climate, and Client Satisfaction in Online Trauma Group Therapy

Abstract
Background
The option of offering group trauma therapy online reduces many barriers associated with traditional individual trauma therapy. By allowing multiple survivors to receive treatment simultaneously, clinicians can reduce waitlists and costs per person. Online group therapy also helps reduce social isolation, normalizes the trauma experience, reduces stigma, and allows survivors from outside the immediate area to access needed services. To offer effective online trauma groups, it is imperative to understand how factors such as group climate (i.e., the perception of interpersonal relationships within a group) and client satisfaction develop in an online context, and the potential impact these factors may have on therapeutic outcomes.

Method
Data were collected from participants in phase-I group trauma therapy programs from May 2020 to May 2022 (N = 91) at Trauma Practice for Healthy Communities Charity in Toronto, Canada. Before the start of the group, pre-group questionnaires were provided, which included demographic information, the life event checklist (LEC-5), the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the trauma symptom checklist (TSC-40). Next, participants attended a weekly 90-minute group therapy session for eight consecutive weeks. After the group, participants completed post-group PCL-5 and TSC-40 questionnaires. Additional post-group measures included the Group Climate Questionnaire – Short Form (GCQ-S) and the clinic’s satisfaction survey.

Results
Initial analyses indicated a positive group climate (i.e., low conflict and high engagement), as well as high overall satisfaction in the groups. Linear regressions are currently being conducted to assess the relationship between group climate, treatment satisfaction, and therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions and Implications
Initial results indicate that virtual group therapy is an effective and accessible treatment option. Further analyses will provide insight into the process by which group climate and satisfaction are related to treatment outcomes.