Table 2 Definition and frequency of therapeutic factors (number and percentage of participants who named the relevant factor; N = 70)

1. Altruism

Members help one another through giving of themselves to others

2. Cohesion

The sense of belonging to the group and being understood and accepted

3. Universality

The sense of not being the only one to feel this way

4. Interpersonal learning input

Refers to members learning how they come across to others

5. Interpersonal learning output

Refers to members learning how to relate to others

6. Guidance

Group members receiving helpful, accurate information and therapeutic interventions

7. Catharsis

The expression of feelings, both positive and negative

8. Identification

Members imitate successful behaviours modelled by other members or the treatment staff

9. Family re-enactment

Frees group members from familial roles

10. Self-understanding

Refers to members discovering and accepting previously unknown or unacceptable parts of themselves

11. Instilling hope

Refers to sense that change is possible

12. Existential factors

Members learn to take responsibility for the way they live their lives

13 Self-esteem

A sense of worth within the group and of being self-confident

14. Turning point

Member pointing out a crucial moment of change in the group therapy

15. Resilience

The belief that one can cope with stressful life events

16. Epistemic trust

Learning to trust and learn from other people