Grounding Strategies for Online Group Facilitators: A Scoping Review on Managing Self-Disinhibition With Implications for Clinical Supervisors

Background The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid transition to online group psychotherapy. While research confirms its effectiveness in promoting mental wellbeing and common humanity, achieving these objectives requires a grounded facilitator. However, the virtual environment presents unique challenges that can leave facilitators feeling ungrounded and disinhibited. Method This scoping review identifies and maps literature on how online group facilitators return to groundedness when facing self-disinhibition. Using a somatic framework—prioritising internal physical perception—grounding is defined as maintaining an embodied connection to the self. Six articles met the inclusion criteria following a systematic search of published and grey literature. Findings were evaluated using JBI quality appraisal tools and analysed via thematic synthesis. Findings Data were summarised into four themes: body-oriented practice, techniques, ethics, and technology. Results highlighted that somatic practices help facilitators regulate themselves by tuning into bodily sensations, while technological features, such as chat functions and breakout rooms, can serve as active grounding tools. Discussion Despite increased research on online therapy effectiveness, a paucity of studies addresses specific facilitator grounding skills. This review identifies interventions and barriers to efficiency, aiming to guide future research and best practices. While theoretical extensions from gestalt and mindfulness-based approaches offer promising frameworks, rigorous empirical testing is required to confirm their efficacy in digital spaces.