Section 2060.407  Group Treatment

Group treatment shall consist of didactic and counseling groups as follows:

a)         Didactic groups are, but are not limited to, a therapeutic activity the primary purpose of which is to educate patients and their significant others on a specific treatment related topic in a group setting.  All didactic groups shall be led or supervised by professional staff or by other professionals with credentials specific to the subject matter of the didactic group following a lesson plan or outline approved by the organization. Justification for all patients who attend any didactic group needs to be documented.  Didactic groups should not exceed an average of 24 people.

b)         Counseling groups are, but are not limited to, a therapeutic activity the primary purpose of which is to allow patients or their significant others an opportunity to process issues related to their treatment in a group setting. Counseling groups can have a specific focus (i.e., women, relapse, cocaine, etc.) but are generally less educational and more process oriented than didactic groups.  All counseling groups shall be facilitated by professional staff.  Justification for all patients who attend any counseling group needs to be documented as an assessed need.  Counseling groups at no time shall exceed 16 patients per group.

(Source:  Amended at 25 Ill. Reg. 11063, effective August 14, 2001)