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The theory and practice of group psychotherapy
by Irvin Yalom Basic Books, 93s
Professor Yalom's book will be
compulsive reading for all involved in group psychotherapy in this
country. Here in Britain, in contrast with the United States, group psychotherapists are relatively rare birds with little opportunity for
mutual exchange, so this book, with its valuable information and comment, will be greatly welcomed.
There are challenges too in the
constant emphasis on the need for follow-up and research into all
aspects of the field to avoid the
danger of group psycotherapy becoming merely a fashionable
mystique. Professor Yalom acknowledges
many varieties of group therapy and describes the proliferation of 'en-
counter' and 'sensitivity' groups in the United States, as well as the
importance of T-Groups, but is
principally concerned with inter-
actional group psychotherapy with its goal of characterologic change.
He begins with the research into the curative factors involved in
Group therapy. On the basis of the findings of this research, he sees the role of the group psychothera- pist as the facilitator of inter-
Personal exchange at a 'feeling level', this being the factor that both therapists and patients found the
most curative and crucial during treatment. The security necessary for this free exchange on a feeling level, via group cohesion, also
ranks high in this curative hierarchy. The here-and-now process is the
essential work of interactional
9roups and Professor Yalom des- cribes the characteristics of such
Qroups at differing stages of their development. He outlines the
factors that prevent early fall-out, which can be damaging for both
Patient and group, and indicates that pre-group preparation and
careful patient selection may reduce fall-out to a minimum.
This book illustrates how a group is a learning medium, with a skilled therapist offering a model for the
corrective experience. The rewards necessary for all successful learn- ing experience include the release from tension relating to the better
understanding of self, of others and the reality situation.
Professor Yalom indicates that a
force for a corrective learning ex- perience can have equal potential for maladaptive learning in the
hands of an untrained therapist with blind spots and so concludes that the training of group therapists is essential. His descriptions of
such training are likely to make us envious in this country, the use
of video-tapes being somewhat
remote, but nevertheless a great deal can be done with less sophis- ticated methods if we get the
message. The many and varied references
offered throughout this book are
beautifully listed and considerably enlarge the total view so that many who have hitherto been unaware of
this field of therapeutic help should have much food for thought.
Barbara Dick