Abstract
There is a paucity of published work on how group process informs the teaching and practice of dramatherapy. This article investigates ideas on groups and group therapy from the fields of analytical psychology and group analysis, and goes on to develop these in the context and practice of dramatherapy. First, the phenomenon of regression in groups from Foulkesian and Jungian perspectives is addressed, highlighting contrasting theories on the potential and pitfalls of group experience. The idea of the ‘matrix’ as a multi-layered intersubjective field in the group (Foulkes) and/or the entirety of the unconscious (Jung) is explored, offering a background for discussion on the nature of interpersonal and intrapsychic connections. Sesame drama and movement therapy is referred to as an approach which introduces cultural symbols through fairy tale and myth, and offers the chance to explore these through dramatherapy methods. The moment when a group creates a ‘montage’ from images from a story offers an example of a ‘constellation’ of the group matrix, which can lead to different modes of expression. The article finishes by returning to broader questions of group therapy as set out by Jung, and examining these in light of the ritual enactment of myth.
In this paper the author shares with the reader his reflections on running inpatient groups. He provides two detailed case studies of his groupwork. The first, took place in a traditional asylum in the early 1980s. The second was a more contemporary group, which took place in a hospital secure unit. Both case studies illustrate the importance of gaining the support of the ward team, including doctors and nurses, in establishing and maintaining a groupwork culture. He illustrates how groupwork can help individuals with serious mental disorders through exploration, reflection and acceptance. He ends by making a plea for using groupwork to cope with wider societal changes. Unlike the other papers in this series, this account has more of a narrative feel, and as such, it is told in the first person.
The primary aim of this equivalence study was to compare the outcome of a brief group therapeutic intervention, based on the principles of dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) with an intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in patients suffering from medically unexplained somatic symptoms (MUSS). Participants were 89 patients (aged 18 to 62) who were offered 20 sessions of either DIT or CBT, as central part of a treatment package, consisting of art therapy, psychomotor therapy, social therapy and physical therapy. Measurements were conducted at baseline, 10 weeks and 20 weeks, using self-rating scales measuring the level of anxiety and depression, the severity of medically unexplained symptoms and quality of life. Results showed that CBT and DIT were comparable. The conclusion was that it is recommended to design a larger scale randomised controlled trial to further elaborate the short-term and long-term effects of this novel psychodynamic group therapy for MUSS patients.
Monitoring progress in psychotherapy routinely (i.e., client feedback) has yielded positive results for improving both outcome and retention in individual and couple therapy; however, evidence of client feedback efficacy in a group format is limited. Using a randomized cluster design, group therapy participants (N = 84) were assigned to a client feedback or treatment-as-usual (TAU) condition in a university counseling center. Clients in the feedback condition used the Partners for Change Outcomes Management System (PCOMS; Duncan, 2011). Feedback participants had significantly larger pre–post group therapy gains (d = 0.41) and higher rates of reliable and clinically significant change when compared to TAU participants on the Outcome Rating Scale (Miller & Duncan, 2000). Clients in the feedback condition also attended more group sessions compared to TAU participants. Study implications and future recommendations are provided.
In this article a person-centered/experiential (PCE) approach of group therapeutic treatment for borderline clients in out-patient and day treatment is described. First, we focus on client-centered views on borderline processes. Then, we look at the general directives that are distilled from different borderline-focused treatment models to investigate to what extent these directives can be assimilated in a PCE approach. Next, we argue for a group therapeutic approach where possible and describe the selection criteria for participation. The core of this article describes the group process from the viewpoint of a client-centered/experiential and interpersonal orientation. A number of important processes and interventions are described according to the three main phases distinguished in the treatment process (beginning, middle and termination phase). These phases varyingly come to the fore in relation to changes in group composition. Typical borderline processes and challenges for the group therapist are illustrated with clinical vignettes.
In a randomized clinical trial, short- and long-term psychodynamic group psychotherapy (STG and LTG, respectively) schedules were equally effective for the ‘typical’ patient during a 3-year study period. Although several studies have reported good effects for patients with personality disorders (PD) in diverse forms of psychotherapy, the significance of treatment duration is unclear. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that PD patients would improve more during and after LTG than STG. Conclusion: The effectiveness of LTG is higher for patients with co-morbid PD. Patients without PD do not appear to experience additional gain from LTG.
Group therapy remains a popular treatment format for individuals experiencing bereavement. Although many innovative group treatments for grief are being developed, common therapeutic factors can also contribute to outcomes. The author integrates research on group therapy processes and treatment for grief, and examines evidence regarding group therapeutic factors that may influence bereavement group outcomes. Specifically, research on therapeutic factors related to sharing and support, interpersonal learning, and meaning-making is highlighted where it has relevance to bereavement groups. Potential research examining the interactions of these processes, their effects on group functioning and outcomes, and the moderators of these effects are discussed.
The primary aim of this equivalence study was to compare the outcome of a brief group therapeutic intervention, based on the principles of dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) with an intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in patients suffering from medically unexplained somatic symptoms (MUSS). Participants were 89 patients (aged 18 to 62) who were offered 20 sessions of either DIT or CBT, as central part of a treatment package, consisting of art therapy, psychomotor therapy, social therapy and physical therapy. Measurements were conducted at baseline, 10 weeks and 20 weeks, using self-rating scales measuring the level of anxiety and depression, the severity of medically unexplained symptoms and quality of life. Results showed that CBT and DIT were comparable. The conclusion was that it is recommended to design a larger scale randomised controlled trial to further elaborate the short-term and long-term effects of this novel psychodynamic group therapy for MUSS patients.