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doi: 10.1080/00207284.1994.11490754pmid: 7927973
An ongoing controversy in the field of group psychotherapy is whether transference regression is greater in groups than in individual treatment. There appears to be a general consensus that group behavior may be understood as operating on at least three levels—the conscious–rational, the oedipally determined transference, and the preoedipal maternal transference level. The more rational levels are associated with transference dilution, whereas the more primitive levels accompany transference intensification. Dilution occurs as a result of reality demands and inputs of the group situation and because of multiple targets of displacement. Transference intensification is a product of mutual stimulation, contagion effect, frustrating inputs, and support of the group theme. Certain patients benefit most from the dilution features of a group, and others profit most from intensification. The therapist's technique and the patient's pathology are the main determinants of which aspect gets emphasized and utilized.
Piper, William E.; Joyce, Anthony S.; Rosie, John S.; Azim, Hassan F. A.
doi: 10.1080/00207284.1994.11490755pmid: 7927974
A recently completed clinical trial that investigated the effectiveness of a group-oriented, day treatment program provided an opportunity to pursue a multidimensional approach to the prediction of treatment outcome. The sample consisted of 99 psychiatric outpatients, most of whom had received diagnoses of affective and personality disorders. The predictor variables included a patient personality characteristic (psychological mindedness), a group process variable (patient work), and their interaction. Univariate analyses revealed significant direct relationships between psychological mindedness and both work and favorable outcome, and between work and favorable outcome. Multivariate analyses indicated that psychological mindedness and work had independent significant relationships (additive or interactive) with several of the outcome variables. In combination they accounted for up to a quarter of the outcome variance. The results demonstrate the benefit of using a theoretically consistent multidimensional approach. The time-efficient nature of the predictor measures used in the study make them particularly amenable for use by clinicians and researchers.
Winer, Jerome A.; Ornstein, Eric
doi: 10.1080/00207284.1994.11490756pmid: 7927975
The authors present a model of psychiatric inpatient community meetings run as large group interpretive psychotherapy. They developed this model in part from Gill's notion that patients attach plausible meanings to therapist behavior based on the patient's characteristic and stereotypical ways of experiencing relationships. The model provides a framework for the description of 11 clinically derived “unconscious relational configurations” that can frequently be detected as organizing “relational themes” of community meetings. The authors present two clinical vignettes in which staff detect these themes and interpret them together with the defenses against them. They then discuss the prominent negative affective valence that characterizes the “unconscious relational configurations.”
doi: 10.1080/00207284.1994.11490757pmid: 7927976
The process group for staff and trainees in institutional settings has become increasingly unpopular as a resource, although ironically, the need for such a group has grown. The author presents the idea that the process group is not used more often because of a general lack of understanding of the nature of such groups as well as a failure to clearly distinguish process groups from traditional psychotherapy groups. The author goes on to give a clear definition of the task and the boundaries of a process group and, using knowledge of systems thinking, discusses special techniques for running such groups with illustrative examples.
Counselman, Eleanor F.; Weber, Robert L.
doi: 10.1080/00207284.1994.11490758pmid: 7927977
Group therapists often lead consultation groups. For effective leadership it is important to distinguish between consultation groups and psychotherapy groups. A consultation group is one in which a leader serves as consultant to the members. Group process variables of task, contract, role of the leader, and effect of the larger system should be understood by the consultant. The process of defining, testing, and maintaining these variables encourages exploration of resistance and parallel process, and is an important aspect of the ongoing learning. Consultation group leaders should understand the importance of serving as group leader but not group therapist.
doi: 10.1080/00207284.1994.11490759pmid: 7927978
An important goal of therapy is to help patients develop ego boundaries that are flexible and adaptive. This paper proposes use of the term “insulation barrier” to describe the defensive structure that allows a person to withstand toxic stimuli and also enables nutrient experiences to flow through. There is no better arena in which to develop a serviceable insulation barrier than group therapy. In this setting the insulation deficiencies of both rigid overinsulated patients and oversensitive underinsulated ones are easily diagnosed. The author explicates specific techniques that the therapist may employ to help patients become aware of their limitations and practice ways of reacting to stimuli that make them more receptive to new learning.
doi: 10.1080/00207284.1994.11490760pmid: 7927979
This article recognizes the development of a close same-sex friendship as a developmental task, distinguishable from general successful peer relations. It is argued that a close friendship includes the component of relational competence, which is effectively developed in interactional group psychotherapy and therefore may be a viable method to promote intimate friendships in preadolescence. The rationale for linking growth in intimate friendship with group psychotherapy is provided and supported with illustrations of the therapeutic process as well as with research data.
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