Group Psychotherapy for People With Intellectual Disabilities: The Interactive-Behavioral Model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12926/z43bj453Keywords:
group psychotherapyAbstract
The authors describe a model of psychotherapy designed to treat people who have intellectual disabilities in addition to psychiatric disorders. The model, termed interactive-behavioral therapy, represents a modification of standard techniques from group psychotherapy and psychodrama. The authors briefly review the historical context in which the treatment model evolved and establish the need for effective therapeutic intervention for this population of dually diagnosed individuals. They also present preliminary efficacy research on the model.
References
Blaine, C. (1993). Interpersonal teaming in short-term integrated group psychotherapy. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
Blatner, A., & Blatner, A. (1988). Foundations of psychodrama: History, theory and practice. New York: Springer.
Butz, M., Bowling, J., & Bliss, C. (2000). Psychotherapy with the mentally retarded: A review of the literature and the implications. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 31, 42--47.
Caine, A., & Hatton, C. (1998). Working with people with mental health problems. In E. Emerson, C. Hatton, J. Bromley, & A. Caine (Eds.), Clinical psychology and people with intellectual disabilities (pp. 210-230). Chichester, England: Wiley.
Carlin, M. (1998). Death, bereavement, and grieving: A group intervention for bereaved individuals with cerebral palsy. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus.
Charlot, L., Doucette, A., & Mezzacappa, E. (1993). Affective symptoms of institutionalized adults with mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 98, 408-416.
Daniels, L. (1998). A group cognitive-behavioral and process-oriented approach to treating the social impairment and negative symptoms associated with chronic mental illness. Journal of Psychotherapy Research and Practice, 7, 197--176.
Fletcher, R. J., & Dosen, A. (Eds.). (1993). Mental health aspects of mental retardation. New York: Lexington Books/Macmillan.
Furey, E. (1994). Sexual abuse of adults who have mental retardation: Who and where. Mental Retardation, 32, 173--180.
Hurley, A. D. (1989). Individual psychotherapy with mentally retarded individuals: A review and a call for research. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 10, 261-275.
Hurley, A. D., Pfadt, A., Tomasulo, D., & Gardner, W. (1996). Counseling and psychotherapy. In J. Jacobson & J. Mulick (Eds.), Manual of diagnosis and professional practice in mental retardation (pp. 371-378). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Keller, E. (1993). Process and outcomes in interactive-behavioral groups with adults who have both mental illness and mental retardation. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus.
Kipper, D. A. (1986). Psychotherapy through clinical role playing. New York: Brunner/ Maze!.
Mansell, S., & Sobsey, D. (2001). The Aurora project: Counseling people with developmental disabilities who have been sexually abused. Kingston, NY: NADD Press.
Mansell, S., Sobsey, D., & Calder, P. (1992). Sexual abuse treatment for persons with developmental disabilities. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 23, 404 0 9 .
Mansell, S., Sobsey, D., & Moskal, R. (1998). Clinical findings among sexually abused children with and without developmental disabilities. Mental Retardation, 36, 12-22.
Monday Morning: A newsletter of the New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Council. (2002). Surgeon General releases report on health disparities and mental retardation. Copy Editor, 6, 8.
Nezu, C. M., & Nezu, A. M. (1994). Outpatient psychotherapy for adults with mental retardation and concomitant psychopathology: Research and clinical imperatives. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 34 2 .
Nezu, C. M., Nezu, A. M., & Gill-Weiss, M. J. (1992). Psychopathology in persons with mental retardation: Clinical guidelines for assessment and treatment. Champaign, IL: Research Press.
Perlman, N., & Ericson, K. (1992). Issues related to sexual abuse of persons with developmental disabilities: An overview. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 1, 19--23.
Pfadt, A. (1991). Group psychotherapy with mentally retarded adults: Issues related to design, implementation, and evaluation. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 12, 261-285.
Prout, H. T., & Strohmer, D. C. (1995). Counseling with persons with mental retardation. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 26 (3), 49--54.
Razza, N., & Tomasulo, D. (2004). Healing trauma: The power of group treatment for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Reiss, S., Levitan, G., & McNally, J. (1982). Emotionally disturbed mentally retarded people: Diagnostic overshadowing. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 86, 567-574.
Schneider, N. (1986). Treatment and group therapy with dually diagnosed populations. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 11, 151-156.
Tomasulo, D. (1998). Action methods in group psychotherapy: Practical aspects. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.
Tomasulo, D. (1999). Group therapy for people with mental retardation: The interactive- behavioral model. In D. Wiener (Ed.), Beyond talk therapy: Using movement and expressive techniques in clinical practice (pp. 145-164). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities. (1991). At greater risk: Legal issues in sexual abuse of adults with developmental disabilities (A training guide for caregivers). Madison, WI: Author.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.